Search for geothermal energy in central Victoria

www.abc.net.au
15/07/2009

An Australian geothermal exploration company is using new technology to better understand the potential of geothermal sites in Victoria's central highlands. Geogen Victoria is using a thermal logging program at drilling sites in Ballarat and Castlemaine, in the hope of establishing a viable geothermal industry in the state.

Principal geoscientist with Geogen, Bob Kitch, says the logging system not only records temperatures at 300 metres below the earth's surface, but also records how the temperature recovers from drilling interference. He says the recovery of the temperature gives a good indication of heat potential for geothermal use. "We use that to design our next phase of work and make an assessment of whether there is a likelihood of being any useful geothermal energy in central Victoria," he says.