All in all, nine more geothermal wells will be completed – six in São Miguel and three in Terceira. An international team of about 40 people is currently working in São Miguel Island 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a drilling work of great technical complexity in terms of engineering and geology, very similar to the discovery of new oil wells.

The work on new geothermal wells in São Miguel and Terceira will continue until next year. It started with the execution of the PV12 Geothermal Well, located in the area of Pico Vermelho, in Ribeira Grande’s Geothermal Field, according to information provided to Açoriano Oriental by EDA Renováveis.

This well, together with wells PV13 and PV14, aims at providing additional geothermal fluid to the Pico Vermelho Power Plant, increasing the current power by at least five megawatts (MW), while ensuring the sustainability of its operation.

The execution of these wells had to comply with a strict schedule, taking into account the contracting of the drilling services company. Selected by international public tender, the Icelandic company “Iceland Drilling Company” signed an 18.8 million euros contract with EDA Renováveis.

However, as explained by EDA Renováveis, the drilling rig will be mobilized for the CachaçosLombadas sector, where, in a new area of the geothermal field, Mata do Botelho, it is expected to reach new parts of the geothermal reservoir, with higher temperatures.

The CL8, CL9 and CL10 wells will be executed in this area. The first one will be executed vertically and the other two directionally, allowing the saturation of 13 MW from the Ribeira Grande Geothermal Power Plant.

At the moment, the Icelandic drilling company is working, in São Miguel, with two teams of eight people, in 12-hour shifts: one team ensures the day shift and the other ensures the night shift.

According to EDA Renováveis, two drilling supervisors from the United States of America control and continuously monitor operations on the ground, acting as the "voice" of EDA Renováveis.

The preparation of the drilling fluids is entrusted to an Italian technician, an employee of the international company NEWPARK.

Geological monitoring and interpretation of conditions at depth is carried out by a team of four drilling geologists, belonging to the staff of EDA Renováveis. In addition, a team of 10 locally recruited staff members supports the collection and preparation of rock samples for analysis by the geologists, as well as helps with work logistics.

Finally, there is the EDA Renováveis project management team, composed of five elements whose function is to guarantee contract compliance, both in terms of work quality, price and deadline, and of the promoter's obligations regarding project logistics, such as water supply and consumable materials necessary for drilling.

As stated by EDA Renováveis in a note to Açoriano Oriental, "this project requires total dedication and focus from the EDA Renováveis team as regards the execution of the nine geothermal wells. It also entails the additional effort of maintaining the geothermal plants in operation, as well as all related activities, from operation to maintenance and to monitoring the geothermal resource".

Pandemic requires special safety measures in geothermal works
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was rather difficult bringing to the Azores the international team currently working on the new geothermal wells in São Miguel Island.

The arrival of these foreign technicians required prior authorization from the Regional Health Authority, which demanded a Covid-19 test upon arrival, as well as another one on the following sixth day, before starting work. On site, the technicians must keep, whenever possible, a distance of two meters from each other and wear a mask. At mealtimes, the number of workers in the canteen is also limited.