Drilling operations for a geothermal exploration well in Virovitica, Croatia has officially started. The Virovitica GT-1 (VirGT-1) exploratory well will be drilled to a target depth of 1300 meters with the aim of identifying geological structures with potential to host geothermal resources.
The research drilling is being carried out at the geothermal water exploration area “Virovitica 2”, located in the area of the City of Virovitica and the Municipality of Lukac. It is located in the central part of the Drava Basin, which is considered geologically promising for this type of energy research.
The announcement was made by the Croatian Hydrocarbons Agency (AZU), which had previously identified the Virovitica-Podravina County as a potential flagship site for geothermal development in Croatia. In 2022, contracts were signed with consultancy firms to conduct geothermal exploration at several sites in the county, specifically in Slatina, Orahovica, and Nova Bukovica.
The Virovitica project is part of a broader cycle of exploration of geothermal resources for potential use in district heating. The AZU has also been undertaking a separate project that has yielded positive exploration results for geothermal in Osijek, Velika Gorica, and Vinkovci, while the completion of exploration activities in Zapresic and the results of testing are expected in the coming weeks.
“Geothermal energy is one of the few renewable sources that is stable, locally available, and independent of weather and market conditions. The aim of the exploration works in Virovitica is to determine whether there is potential that could be used in the future energy system — primarily for heating, but also for other locally applicable purposes,” said Marijan Krpan, President of the Management Board of the AZU during the inauguration event.
“We are approaching the research in Virovitica with the same professional and technical standards that have resulted in positive findings in previous research conducted in four Croatian cities.”
Source: Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency
