Deutsche ErdWärme (DEW) is Germany’s largest private developer and operator of geothermal plants. Driven by energy security demand and the need to decarbonize to lower carbon fuels.

In 2022, Expro was awarded a multiservices contract for Deutsche Erdwärme’s Graben-Neudorf geothermal project near Karlsruhe, Germany. Detailed appraisal well testing can provide significant benefits for the de-risking and development of geothermal projects. The expected high fluid temperatures in conjunction with high flow rates anticipated from the resource meant that standard well testing equipment could not be utilized, and a bespoke project solution would be required.

Expro delivered a customized, project-specific solution for high-rate mid-enthalpy well testing, effectively managing surface pressures, temperatures, and fluids with a focus on safety and efficiency.

The package consisted of a modular Geothermal Muffler, built specifically for the project, and designed to promote efficient bulk separation of the steam and liquid phases which was augmented with a remotely actuated Flow Control Valve to reduce personnel exposure risks and regulate flow to better optimize assisted gas lift efficiency and unloading of the well.

Real-time data gathering and transmission of critical reservoir characterization data allowed our customer to make immediate data-driven decisions to better optimize operations and maximize resource potential. The datasets collected during the operations will provide vital data on the geothermal well’s productivity and potential and be used for optimization of long-term plant design.