Detailed tests ongoing for geothermal heating at Krizevci, Croatia
An old house in Krizevci, Croatia (source: en:User:Prof saxx, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
2 May 2024
Hydrodynamic testing of an existing geothermal well in Krizevci, Croatia has confirmed heating potential for a complex of public buildings near the well.
A series of tests have been done on an existing geothermal well in the city of Krizevci in Croatia to determine the characteristics and parameters of the reservoir required for exploitation. The final goal of the project is to use the geothermal well for heating of the complex of public buildings in the immediate vicinity of the well.
In the 1980s, the Krizevcanka-1 well was drilled to a depth of around 1500 meters. According to a 2020 update (Zivkovic et al, 2020), two schools, an agricultural college with a greenhouse, an open swimming pool, and a gym were located near the well that can benefit from geothermal heating.
A recent set of tests were done on this well, indicating a static temperature of 90.4 °C. This was followed by a hydrodynamic test using a pump installed at 300m and 500 m depth, with test done at four production conditions – 5, 7.4, 9.5, and 15 L/s. The dynamic level of geothermal water was stable under all production conditions, and the highest recorded temperature at the wellhead under hydrodynamic conditions was 79.5 °C.
According to preliminary estimates, the tests indicate the potential of generating 3 MWth from the well.
The next steps of the project aim to determine the boundaries and distribution of the geothermal resource, as well as the dynamics of extraction for using the thermal energy.
There are two projects under the current geothermal initiative in Krizevci, both of which are co-financed as part of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area in the amount of almost EUR 1 million. These projects are entitled “Development of technical documentation for the use of geothermal energy in the area of the City of Krizevci” and “Establishment of a system for the production of geothermal energy in the area of the City of Krizevci.”
The holder of the latter project is the City of Krizevci with partners Krizevci doo (a municipal company) and the Icelandic company EFLA hf.
The geothermal sector of Croatia has been very active lately with significant milestones reached in Bjelovar, Babina Greda, and Varazdin all within the last few months.
Source: Poslovni dnevnik
