Part 4/10:
Drilling for geothermal energy involves substantial capital investment. For example, creating a borehole 3 kilometers deep can cost around $6 million, while drilling to 6 kilometers escalates the expenses to approximately $27 million. The challenges multiply with depth, as equipment must withstand extreme conditions, and operational costs rocket due to wear and tear on drill bits and the necessity to replace them frequently.
A rigorous maintenance of the borehole with steel and concrete is crucial to prevent collapses, which could trap expensive drilling equipment underground. Each drill bit replacement demands pulling the entire drill stack, which can consume valuable time and resources.