The University of Michigan is testing a deeper approach to geoexchange technology that could expand the capacity and efficiency of sustainable heating and cooling on campus.
The University of Michigan is testing a deeper approach to geoexchange technology that could expand the capacity and efficiency of sustainable heating and cooling on campus.
Instead of using conventional water-well drilling rigs, crews are applying oil and gas drilling techniques to install a closed-loop system farther below the surface.
Crews are drilling a test borehole capable of reaching a depth of 1,600 feet—a little over four football fields end to end. That is about twice as deep as conventional geoexchange bores, which typically extend to around 800 feet. Such test bores are a standard step in developing new geoexchange systems, allowing engineers to assess subsurface conditions and performance before full-scale installation. The results will help evaluate the university’s capacity for sustainable heating and cooling.
Read more at: University of Michigan
A crew drilling a test borehole capable of reaching a depth of 1,600 feet. (Photo Credit: Scott Soderberg, Michigan Photography)
