Petratherm has successfully differentiated itself in the geothermal energy sector through both its innovative Exploration Model and the Heat Exchanger within Insulator (HEWI) Model.
The Exploration Model that aims to find "shallow hot rocks close to market" has been further enhanced with the completion of a comprehensive economic pre-feasibility study and financial model to assess Petratherm's (current and proposed) projects and the projects of competitors.
The Exploration Model aims to optimise the five key economic parameters namely:
The Exploration Model has been vindicated by excellent temperature results at Paralana, which confirmed the Company's expectations of temperatues of 200ºC being reached as shallow as 3.6 kilometres.
Petratherm's unique "Heat Exchanger within Insulator" (HEWI) model which aims to achieve "low risk, low cost, higher return" is different from other EGS companies. The HEWI model (refer figure below) contends that significant cost and risk reductions can be achieved by creating the requisite underground heat exchanger within the naturally permeable and porous insulating rock above the granite heat source.
The aim of the HEWI model is to achieve optimal energy exploitation (extraction) through shallow (lower cost) drilling, controlled rock fracture and obtaining appropriate fluid flows and circulation.
Confirming the validity and applicability of the HEWI model will form the next major stage of the development work at Paralana.
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