Iceland enters the smart era of geotechnical investigation
Vegagerðin
Vegagerðin is an Icelandic state-owned company responsible for managing the country’s roads and infrastructure. The company has recently adopted Geomachine’s GMTrackerCloud service, which enables it to conduct geotechnical investigations in the most intelligent way possible.
Thanks to the GMTrackerCloud service, geotechnical projects can now be carried out more efficiently. The service enables the data-logging, storage, processing, and real-time availability of data for all members of the value chain. “GMTrackerCloud makes the data supply chain smarter,” says Pasi Majakangas, Head of Digital Products at Geomachine. “It reduces the amount of manual work, and the data is always effortlessly accessible to everyone who needs it.”
According to Sverrir Sverrisson, Project Manager at Vegagerðin, GMTrackerCloud is now used by all stakeholders involved in geotechnical projects in Iceland. “Geotechnical engineers upload their drilling plans to Geomachine’s cloud and allocate tasks to the drilling rigs. The field investigator performs the investigations as requested and uploads the data to the cloud service. Geotechnical engineers receive the data in real time from the cloud and can utilize it in their work without delay.”
The activation of the GMTrackerCloud service also eases the workload of field investigators in other ways. “We have implemented a Bluetooth-enabled CPTu solution. This allows the transfer of investigation data wirelessly from the CPTu probe to the GMTracker data-logger. Additionally, we use DGPS positioning, which ensures that the precise location of the investigation point is measured and also saved to the cloud in real time.”
Since Vegagerðin is the sole organization conducting geotechnical investigations in Iceland, the adoption of the GMTrackerCloud service means that the entire country’s investigations are now carried out in a more efficient, high-quality, and intelligent manner.
Interested? Contact us!
Der Geothermie Kongress
In October 2024 Geomachine participated in Der Geothermie Kongress event in Potsdam, Germany. During the three-day event, congress attendees were presented with a comprehensive lecture series on various topics related to geothermal technology, one of them being Geomachine’s GM2000 drilling solution.
“We joined the event at the suggestion of our new German distributor, BODO,” says Ari Kuhalampi, Geomachine’s Product Line Director. “It turned out to be a good decision, as deep geothermal drilling is currently a hot topic worldwide. In Europe, DTH drilling technology is still relatively unknown, so Geomachine’s presentation on the subject was met with great interest at the event.”
The congress attracted approximately 600 visitors over three days, with 110 presentations given. “Geomachine’s presentation focused on showcasing the unique benefits of the GM2000 solution. In our presentation we put emphasis on the fact that drilling requires only a small land area nowadays and opened up the GM2000’s sectored drilling process. In addition we presented our GMTrackerCloud service, which makes the drilling process intelligent and this way also enhances it’s efficiency.”
In many parts of central and southern Europe, the soil is soft. This means that deep well drilling in these regions requires combining multiple drilling technologies. “When drilling through soft soil layers, appropriate methods must be used, such as reinforcing the well walls. Once through the soft soil, Geomachine’s solution allows drilling to continue as the ground turns to rock at greater depths. Different technologies are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary.”
Geomachine’s presentation piqued the interest of professionals in the well-drilling sector from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “There was particular interest in how drilling has progressed with the GM2000 solution at the waste-to-energy plant in Salo, Finland. Additionally, questions were raised about daily drilling progress and drilling costs. Now that we have concrete evidence of how efficiently and replicably deep wells can be drilled today, it’s easy to explain it clearly to all those interested in the topic.”
News of Geomachine’s GM2000 solution had already reached many congress attendees before the event. “We have been actively producing content related to deep well drilling for our website and social media channels lately. These efforts have clearly been noticed and received with interest. This encourages us to continue sharing information on the topic. It strongly seems that our solution is attracting significant interest and meets a real need.”
Geoenergidagen
Geomachine wants to actively engage in the discussion on renewable energy. For this reason, it often participates in the events that are organized on this topic worldwide.
“In the beginning of October 2024 we participated in the Geoenergidagen event, held in Nynäshamn, Sweden,” says Ari Kuhalampi, Product Line Director at Geomachine. “The two-day event brought together some of the most prominent players in the geoenergy sector from around Sweden and the Nordic countries.”
Geomachine focused on highlighting the unique features of the GM2000 drilling solution during its presentation. “Drilling geothermal wells has truly become replicable and cost-effective thanks to our GM2000 solution. The required area for drilling is minimal, just a 30m x 40m space is enough. The equipment is easy to set-up and transport. The actual drilling, machine control, and drilling progress monitoring are made possible with the GMTracker data-logger.”
According to Ari Kuhalampi, the efficiency of the drilling process and, therefore, the timely completion of the well is based on the phased drilling process. “In the first phase, the attention is paid to surface layer, then the water, and in the final phase, drilling is carried out to the target depth using data collected by the GMTracker data-logger. Using the latest IoT and cloud technologies this information can also be saved and shared in real-time with everyone who needs it.”
According to Ari Kuhalampi, another factor contributing to the cost-effectiveness of the drilling process is how the machines are maintained. “At Geoenergidagen, we also introduced Geomachine’s GMCare maintenance service, which helps shift from reactive to predictive maintenance of drilling equipment. When the necessary maintenance can be done systematically and by communicating efficiently with the service, the utilization rate and productivity of the machines can be maximized.”
Documentation
When considering the development of work machinery, good product documentation is often not the most glamorous or trendy aspect to focus on. However, easy access to information can significantly improve the user experience, operational efficiency, and safety of the machine. Documentation also serves as the backbone of communication between the machine’s user and manufacturer, thereby enhancing not only the operation of the machine but also speeding up the resolution of any issues.
At Geomachine, over the course of a year-long project, we have elevated our user, maintenance, and spare parts documentation to a new level. We began with the development projects of new products, including the GM2000 geothermal drilling rig, the GM22S stabilization rig, and the GMair35 compressor. At the same time, we have also focused on the documentation for ground investigation rigs, and the updated documentation package is now included with all machines delivered from the beginning of this year.
We have thoroughly reviewed the user manuals with an emphasis on safe and efficient operation. The manuals are organized into clear sections at a main level, such as safety, operation, and transportation. The manuals include step-by-step instructions for operating the machine, as well as general and case-specific safety precautions. We have also invested in illustrative visual materials to make the information as easy to understand as possible.
The maintenance instructions are based on years of experience, proven maintenance practices, and the requirements specified by the suppliers of the machine’s various components. Special attention has been paid to daily and frequently recurring maintenance tasks. For example, lubrication points are clearly illustrated with images.
Spare parts manuals are created individually for each machine unit according to a new process, ensuring that the specific differences between machines are taken into account and that the correct parts can be quickly and easily found for each machine. The manuals aim to include the machine’s structure as comprehensively as possible, so that the appropriate part or assembly can be located effortlessly.
The updated documentation is delivered with the machines and is also available in Geomachine’s cloud service, where it is always easily accessible to the customer.
Interested? Contact Geomachine!
GM2000
The GM2000 geothermal well drilling rig has been in action at the Lounavoima Waste-to-Energy plant in Salo, Finland for quite some time now. So, it’s the perfect moment to assess how the rig has been performing on-site in real life.
“We are now in a situation where the third well, drilled with the GM2000 rig, is completed at a depth of 2000 meters,” says QHeat operator Hannu Ylitalo. “In total, there is four wells finished now, as we drilled the first one with another brand’s rig.”
Hannu Ylitalo has been involved in the Lounavoima project since the drilling of the first 2000-meter deep well began. “The first well was drilled at the Lounavoima site in 2021. It was 1600 meters deep. After that, we started using the Geomachine GM2000 rig for the drilling.”
The first one makes adjustments
The GM2000 rig is the first in the world specifically designed for drilling geothermal wells at a depth of 2000 meters. At the Lounavoima site, it was understood that pioneering this technology would require learning new skills and likely adjusting the rig to achieve optimal drilling efficiency. “I knew in advance that since this was the first machine of its model series, we as its first users, would be part of its product development process.”
Hannu Ylitalo was there when the new rig was put into operation. “I was involved in the commissioning of the GM2000 rig. Its transfer to the drilling site was easy, and setting up the booms was straightforward. At first, we made many adjustments, but gradually the drilling process started to streamline.”
Success is a combination of many factors
The progress of the drilling process is largely dependent on what is found beneath the surface. “In our case, the bedrock is such that the rock material turns into fine powder during drilling. If water enters the well, the rock material turns into sludge and adheres to the walls of the well. When the borehole becomes narrow due to this, the air pressure in the well starts to rise, making drilling difficult without adjusting the machine. The collapse of the well walls also naturally slows down the drilling process.”
According to Hannu Ylitalo, the GM2000 rig has one feature that stands out in anticipating what happens beneath the surface. “Geomachine’s GMTracker data-logger is an invaluable tool for the driller, as it makes visible what cannot be seen with the eye and the ear cannot hear. By being aware of the bedrock conditions during drilling, regardless of the drilling depth, the machine can be adjusted in advance to suit the conditions. This way, equipment damage can be avoided, for example. Without the data-logger, drilling would be practically blind and hit-or-miss.”
Comfort and safety in work
In addition to the GMTracker, Hannu Ylitalo wants to highlight two other features of the GM2000 rig. “The remote control of the machine significantly enhances comfort and safety while working. The rig can be operated from a site cabin, which is especially nice when working in poor weather conditions. Another really good feature relates to rod handling. The opening and tightening of rod connections have been made easy with a hydraulic clamp and a sliding rod holder. The compressed air released when opening connections is directed to the back of the machine through silencers. This greatly increases the smoothness and safety of the work, as there can be up to 80 bar of pressure inside the drill rod.”
According to Hannu Ylitalo, the physical workload when drilling with the GM2000 rig has significantly decreased. “This machine is really pleasant to use. The only area where we still do some physical work is in handling the rods. However, it is known that in the future, this will also be eliminated for the operators, as an automatic rod handling system will be available for the GM2000 rig.”
Pioneering collaboration
Even though drilling at the early stages of the Lounavoima project involved a lot of new learning, working as a pioneer in a renewable energy project has been a rewarding experience for Hannu Ylitalo. “We are constantly learning new things, and it’s gratifying to see that drilling is becoming smoother all the time. Currently, the challenges that arise are related to the bedrock, not so much the drilling rig itself. And these challenges can never be completely anticipated in advance.”
The collaboration with Geomachine has been a key aspect of learning new things and streamlining the process. “It has been important that we have had the necessary support available at all times. We have received answers to our questions quickly, and through collaboration, we have gradually learned more about the drilling process, allowing us to drill wells more smoothly and with quicker turnaround times.”
Interested? Contact Geomachine!
GM2000
Lounavoima’s Waste-to-Energy plant in Salo, Finland wants to improve the utilization of the waste and the excess heat. This is being done by storing the heat in wells drilled to a depth of 2000 meters.
“Increasing the waste utilization rate and storing excess heat were on Lounavoima’s agenda already in 2018 when I joined the company,” begins Petri Onikki, CEO of Lounavoima and Salo District Heating. “It was known that the plant produced excess heat, and various possibilities for utilizing this heat were already being explored.”
While investigating the implementation options for the project, Lounavoima also explored the new well-drilling technology developed by QHeat. “This solution seemed most suitable for us, and once we received an investment grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the project really got going in 2021.”
Pioneer recognizes the risks
When something is done for the first time in the world, it must be accepted that not everything can be known in advance. “There were many uncertainties associated with drilling a 2000-meter-deep well. We started to drill with Geomachine’s GM2000 drilling rig, which was the first machine specifically designed for drilling wells of this depth. We knew that once we’d start using it, adjustments and configurations would inevitably be needed. Another risk when going underground is, of course, that you can never fully predict what you might encounter there.”
Despite the uncertainties, it was decided to proceed with the project. “We moved forward by minimizing risks as effectively as possible. We drilled the first well purely with the mindset that it was a demo well. Based on the data and calculations we gathered from the drilling process, we could then plan the drilling of the next wells.”
Decisions regarding the scope of the project were made as it progressed. “Once we had completed and partially brought three wells into production, it was easy for us to decide to drill the next three. We’ve always been aware that we are pioneers in this project, so we’ve approached it with caution. We’ve continued the project based on the results we’ve obtained during the work process. This approach has proven to be very effective.”
On track towards the goal
Lounavoima’s project has progressed as expected, and soon the fourth 2000-meter-deep well will be operational. “As we’ve gained more drilling experience with the GM2000 rig, the drilling time has shortened. In this project, every party involved has learned something new along the way and will undoubtedly benefit from this knowledge in the future.”
The project is well on its way, with only two wells left to drill. Once all six wells are operational, it is possible to start reaping the benefits. “Naturally, we expect the project to start paying for itself in terms of our business figures. We also hope it will have a positive impact on our district heating customers. In a situation where rising costs are constantly pressuring the energy sector, we hope that utilizing excess heat will help us keep our pricing competitive. Perhaps we’ll soon be able to offer a solution to district heating customers who want to source all their energy from environmentally friendly excess heat.”
A sustainable and smart heating solution for tomorrow
Lounavoima’s project is unique, as apparently nothing like it has been implemented elsewhere in the world before. “This project will surely serve as an inspiring example for all countries with high energy demands due to cold climates. In addition to storing excess heat, deep wells can naturally serve as an inexhaustible source of energy. Now that we’ve seen that drilling wells to 2000 meters is practically feasible, interest in this topic will surely grow.”
The numbers also support the use of geothermal wells. “Once we complete our energy storage system consisting of six wells, we will be able to heat 700 single-family homes annually with the excess heat stored in them. Utilizing the full potential of these wells will also have a direct impact on our carbon dioxide emissions, which will decrease by 2000–3000 tons annually. This is a very significant number for the Salo area, as opportunities for reducing emissions are quite limited.”
Boldly moving forward
The district heating industry is constantly seeking new solutions for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables. Both nationally and at the EU level, there is increasing pressure to adopt greener alternatives. Public discourse also increasingly demands better consideration for the environment.
Petri Onikki encourages the energy sector to boldly explore and adopt the possibilities of geothermal energy. “I believe that the geothermal well project is worth considering for all energy companies looking to operate more environmentally friendly, cost-effectively, and competitively in the eyes of consumers. At Lounavoima, we have tested the functionality of this technology as pioneers, and we know that drilling 2000-meter-deep wells is feasible today with standardized and smart costs. Now that the solution has been proven to work in practice, it’s easier also for others to implement it in their own businesses.”
Interested? Contact Geomachine!
GM2000
The technology company QHeat has developed a solution that makes geothermal energy more accessible to those who need it. Wells drilled to a depth of 2000 meters can now be used not only as an inexhaustible source of energy but also as energy storage in a cost-effective way.
“For decades, the oil and gas sector has been drilling down to kilometers of depth,” explains Erika Salmenvaara, CEO of QHeat. “There’s nothing particularly new about drilling deep wells, but what is new is how we can now extract geothermal heat cost-efficiently from these wells.”
Between 2016 and 2020, a well-drilling project was underway in Espoo, Finland but it was ultimately discontinued. “The project in Espoo drilled to a depth of about 6 kilometers. Our company’s founder, Rami Niemi, was involved and realized that the method used at the time was not economically viable. To smartly extract energy from bedrock that was compressed during the ice ages, a new type of solution needed to be developed.”
2000 meters is enough with the right technology
QHeat realized that drilling to a depth of 2000 meters was sufficient to achieve an optimal input-output ratio. “The deeper you drill, the greater the well’s heat production potential becomes, but the drilling costs also increase. When comparing the costs and the value of heat production at different depths, the best cost-efficiency ratio is found at 2000 meters.”
QHeat’s solution collects heat in a completely new way. “Our innovation is based on creating a coaxial flow in the well. An insulated central pipe is installed in the well, allowing energy to be brought from the depths to the surface without heat loss. Previously, the deeper the well was drilled, the greater the heat loss became.”
Installing the central pipe in the geothermal well also offers another excellent benefit. “By reversing the flow direction of the well, it can be turned into a heat storage unit, releasing energy when needed.”
By drilling to 2000 meters, heat production can also be brought closer to its end users. “Traditionally, heat energy has been produced by burning fossil fuels in centralized heat production plants, far from the end user. Deep geothermal is suitable for the needs of a decentralized district heating network, as it can be produced and stored close to those who need it.”
Impressive also in terms of facts
To convert different forms of energy into heating energy, heat pumps are required, and their efficiency varies depending on the energy source used. Heat pump efficiency is measured by the COP (Coefficient of Performance). It indicates how many units of heat energy a heat pump can produce with one unit of electricity. “In district heating networks using air-to-water heat pumps, the COP is 2.5,” says Erika Salmenvaara. “If the energy source is a geothermal well 200–300 meters deep, the pump’s efficiency is 3.5. By using our technology and a 2000-meter deep well, we can achieve a COP of up to 4.5. This means that despite the initial investment, a deep well is the most cost-effective energy source.”
Drilling deep geothermal wells is also smart beyond just economic factors. “A 2000-meter deep well produces emission-free, clean energy. It takes up 97% less land area than traditional wells, making it possible to implement in densely built urban environments. Overall economic efficiency is also improved as the well serves as both an inexhaustible energy source and an energy storage unit.”
Geothermal energy’s positive effects are also societal. “This energy form improves the country’s energy production self-sufficiency. It shortens the energy production supply chain and ensures its responsibility.”
Multiple applications, many beneficiaries
The most significant beneficiaries of deep well drilling are those who generate waste heat. “For example, deep energy storage is a smart solution for waste incineration plants. When the waste heat produced by the plant is stored in the well, it can be released into the district heating network when consumption is high.”
Storing waste heat would also benefit cities aiming for energy circularity. “Urban planning should make better use of waste heat by storing it in deep geothermal wells. Energy could be retrieved from the wells when demand for heat is highest.”
Real estate investors also benefit from geothermal energy. “If you’re looking to increase the value of your property, self-sufficient, clean energy is one of the most important investments. There is a lot of research showing that utilizing self-sufficient renewable energy positively impacts property value. Current knowledge suggests it can increase the value by up to 10%.”
Development continues, with the user’s benefit at the core
QHeat’s development of geothermal technology continues. “So far, we’ve mainly focused on the properties and costs of well components. In the future, our product development will focus on the intelligent control of the technology and enabling market integration.”
The energy market of tomorrow requires even more flexibility. “The solution to the need for flexibility is the smarter use of energy through deep geothermal wells. Energy can be produced stably from bedrock, as geothermal energy is not dependent on weather conditions. By storing energy in deep wells, it can be released for use when needed.”
Procrastination benefits no one
Erika Salmenvaara reminds us that the right time to start a geothermal energy project is today. “Climate change is a growing concern, and the situation needs to be addressed in a timely manner. Energy users should understand that if the goal is to operate carbon neutrally by 2030, investments aimed at that goal need to be made now.”
If you’re interested in geothermal energy, it’s worth contacting QHeat or Geomachine. “Share your thoughts with us. Let’s determine together what would be the most sensible way for you to adopt this energy form. We will carry out the project with the help of our network and also assist in securing funding and maintaining the well. By starting the project now, you could benefit from a deep geothermal well in about a year.”
Interested? Contact Geomachine or QHeat!
GMCare
Geomachine provides its customers with digital services to enhance the efficiency of drilling rigs. The Norwegian company Norconsult Boreteknikk AS aims to improve the utilization and potential of its fleet by implementing Geomachine’s GMCare service.
GMCare is a comprehensive tool for real-time machine analysis. It offers clearly visualized information on machine usage, productivity, safety, and operational condition. This data helps prioritize daily machine-related activities, predict maintenance needs, reduce manual work, minimize unexpected downtime, and thus maximize the productive usage of the equipment.
Norconsult Boreteknikk AS is implementing the GMCare service in all their drilling rigs regardless of the brand. The goal of adopting the service is to automate recurring maintenance processes, reduce the amount of manual maintenance work, continuously monitor the real-time operational condition of the machines, and ensure that this information always reaches the right person at the right time.
The training for using the service will be held in September, and the first user experiences will be shared in October. The GMCare service is also used by Norconsult’s maintenance partner, PTO Teknikk AS, which further streamlines the maintenance of the drilling rigs.
Interested? Contact us!
Lounavoima
In Salo, Finland, heat is stored in 2,000-meter-deep geothermal wells drilled with the Geomachine GM2000 geothermal drilling rig. This is the first time that such deep geothermal wells are in operational use in the Nordic countries. Lounavoima has also begun the construction of three new geothermal wells already.
A geothermal heat well storage has been commissioned at Lounavoima’s Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at the Lounapuisto circular economy park in Salo, Finland. The test run results for the first well have been good, and a decision has been made to construct three additional wells. Upon completion of the project, the WtE plant will have six geothermal heat wells with a combined output of 6MW. Waste heat produced by the WtE plant is stored in the geothermal heat wells and used for district heating in the winter.
Read Lounavoima’s press release on the subject here.
The news about the commissioning of the geothermal wells was also noted by other Finnish media (content in Finnish):
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GMSampler
Geomachine is constantly developing its product range so that soil investigation can be done more efficiently and profitably. The most recent addition to offering is a sampler that enhances clay soil research.
“As the world’s leading provider of geotechnical, geological and geothermal drilling concepts, it is important for us to constantly develop our product range,” says Alexander Packalen, the COO of Geomachine. “Most recently, we have improved our product offering with a sampler for clay soil investigations. It makes the driller’s work more efficient and improves the quality of the sample.”
In cooperation with a Norwegian partner
Geomachine works closely with the Norwegian soil investigation company NGI. The new sampler was developed by NGI, and in the future its manufacturing will be transferred exclusively to Geomachine.
Kristoffer Kåsin, senior engineer of NGI’s field research, sheds light on the background of the sampler’s product development. “The first hydraulically activated sampler was designed decades ago, in 1952. We created this latest innovation to meet the needs of today’s soil investigation. The two-bar system has previously been used in the samplers. This new sampler can be attached directly to the drill rod, which takes away the need for changing the rod and thus increases the working speed.”
The driving force of the sampler is water pressure. “We came up with the idea of using water pressure, because every soil investigation machine has a water pump. By guiding the water through the hollow drill rod to the sampler, a driving force can be generated to push the sampler into the ground. The empty test tube, on the other hand, is sucked back into the rod with compressed air.”
The new sampler makes work a lot simpler. In addition to saving time, the product also improves the quality of the soil sample. “In the new sampler, the piston rod doesn’t move, which ensures that the sample can be taken from exactly the right depth.”
First for use in the Nordic countries
The sampler will be launched on the soil investigation market during the summer of 2024. Geomachine’s customers in Norway, Sweden and Finland will be the first to get to use it. Currently, there are 54 mm and 72 mm diameter versions of the sampler.
According to Alexander Packalen, the new sampler has been proven to improve the driller’s work and is therefore an innovation that Geomachine is proud of. “Users have praised this new solution as great, well-functioning and easy to use. So we dare to promise that this purchase is worth making for every soil investigation professional who wants their work to become easier and more efficient.”
Interested? Contact us!