400C Energy (400C) has announced the successful completion of laboratory validation of its large-bore 9.625-inch stimulation technology under conditions representative of superhot geothermal environments. This developments provides a pathway for large-bore casing deployment in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), thereby increasing mass flow rates and power outputs.
The testing program demonstrated reliable operation at 400°C and 15,000 psi differential pressure, marking significant advancement for EGS developments targeting very high-temperature resources. Fully dissolvable balls were installed across two extreme ball-seat configurations that represent the smallest and largest possible seat diameters within a 9.625-inch casing architecture. Across all conditions, no fluid loss or mechanical degradation was observed. The test results confirms the ability of 400C’s proprietary multi-stage stimulation system to maintain isolation and pressure integrity at superhot conditions.
Based on internal modeling, the ability to stimulate and produce through large-bore casing at 400°C opens a pathway toward production rates on the order of 100-150 kg/s, representing a step-change improvement in geothermal power economics.
Equally important, 400C’s system architecture is designed to support dense, multi-stage stimulation with minimal stage-to-stage spacing. This is essential for creating large, well-distributed fracture surface area while maintaining control over injection and production pathways, particularly in high-temperature, crystalline rock environments where conventional geothermal completions struggle.
400C is now advancing these capabilities toward field deployment as part of its enhanced geothermal development program at Salt Cove, Utah, where the company holds geothermal rights adjacent to the DOE’s FORGE site. 400C Energy is positioned to accelerate the transition to widespread adoption, targeting levelized electricity costs of $45-55 per MWh and contributing to global decarbonization efforts.
Source: Email correspondence
