|
|
The Geothermal Museum:
Larderello (Temporary Headquarters)
[Historical Notes] [The Factories]
[The
Chemistry] [Drilling] [Electricity]
Drilling
Drilling was begun in 1828 in order to obtain greater -amounts of boracic water. Only later was drilling used to
obtain greater quantities of high temperature and high pressure steam to produce electric energy.
The first drilling machines were made in the shops at Larderello, the towers were made of wood as in the scale
mode!. Percussion was created by workers using hand winches like the one shown and drills that that were turned
manually. After a few years the working platform was raised to protect the workers from being scalded by the hot
water or steam.
The boring rods were made of steel, and special tools were used to salvage those rods that broke in the pits, as
were core barrels for straight-ahead core boring, pipe collars and the other tools on display.
By the early twentieth century steam power had been harnessed to drive the winch to create mechanical percussion
replacing manpower. This made it possible to drill much deeper and obtain even greater amounts of steam that were
needed to operate the new electric power stations.
In the 'twenties the first rotating drilling machines with electric motors, driving the rotary tables came into
use along with hollow boning rods that allowed mud circulation.
In 1931a probe managed to reach the reservoir rocket released approximately 220 tons of steam at 200'C at a pressure
of 4.5 Ata per hour. It was called Soffionissimo and created considerable technical problems which, when resolved,
made available enormous of hot, high pressure fluid that gave a boost to the development of electric power production
and relegated the chemical industry to second place.
After World War II, rotating drilling equipment, like the machinery used for oil drilling appropriately adapted
to Geothermal prospecting came into use. Geothermal drilling requires large-diameter wells, and the high temperatures
(over 400"C) create problems regarding the composition of the materials and equipment that can be used. Existing
wells go as deep as 5000 meters.
[Historical
Notes] [The Factories] [The Chemistry]
[Drilling] [Electricity]
|
|
|
|
