Exploration and development wells are a major cost component of geothermal energy projects. In the exploration phase, when wells are being used to derisk geothermal prospects, it is important to be as economic as possible, so slimhole wells have been increasingly utilised to reduce costs.
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After geological and geophysical field work has identified and investigated potential hydrothermal reservoirs, the associated derisking of this potential resource could support the decision to move to exploration drilling.
Volcanic geothermal prospects with surface manifestations can be very striking with hot ground temperatures, steam releases from the ground itself, and fumaroles continuously expelling gases and fluids. Ground surface temperature measurements have exceeded 100°C in some locations.
Volcanic island arc geothermal plays can be located in a chain of islands or across the length of larger islands. These islands are formed when two oceanic tectonic plates converge and one plate is subducted below the other plate.
