SLB used its GeothermEx™ geothermal consulting services to support the successful expansion of an existing facility in Portugal’s Azores Islands. Broad experience and analytical capabilities ensured that all activities were progressively optimized and existing facilities were used efficiently.

In addition to seeking new projects on other islands of the Azores archipelago, a geothermal operator needed to expand its generation capacity and optimize reservoir management in one of the first developed fields on the island of São Miguel. The expansion project required new exploration work in advance of drilling additional wells, a challenging process in remote island locations that are difficult to supply. The operator faced additional challenges related to wellbore scaling, injection well placement, and field performance.

A broad range of GeothermEx services were used, including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, drilling engineering, well testing, and reservoir engineering, to identify and select appropriate technical solutions. A comprehensive project database was maintained so that all activities were progressively optimized and existing facilities were used efficiently. Long-term, professional relationships using GeothermEx services ensured that the operator’s needs and local conditions were fully taken into consideration.

A field-wide numerical model—underpinned by recent exploration and resource performance data—optimized the resource supply and enabled expansion of the project. Today, 50% of São Miguel’s electricity is supplied by geothermal energy. Exploration on other islands led to the development of a recent geothermal power project on the island of Terceira.