Geothermal resource above 100 °C confirmed after drilling at Osijek, Croatia
Geothermal well testing in Osijek, Croatia indicates resources above 100 °C, marking the second successful exploration site of the AZU in a four-site campaign.
Testing and measurement of a newly drilled geothermal well in the city of Osijek in Croatia has determined a reservoir temperature of over 100 °C, while the estimated thermal output capacity is 5 MW. This confirms the presence of geothermal resources in Osijek with potential applications in district heating, agriculture, and other activities to boost the economy of the area.
Drilling at Osijek started earlier this year as part of a wider exploration campaign under the “Preparation and research of geothermal potential in the context of centralized heating” program. The Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (Agencija za ugljikovodike / AZU) is heading the research with Crosco – naftni servisi doo, a member of the INA Group, as the drilling services provider.
“Osijek is a green leader among the largest Croatian cities, and this strategic project, worth more than EUR 8 million, which is financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, has also confirmed Osijek’s great geothermal potential,” said Osijek Mayor Ivan Radic. “Geothermal energy thus becomes a locally available and sustainable source of heating not only for our fellow citizens but also for the Osijek economy. Through this important project, Osijek continues its economic, but also green growth.”
“The expert team of the Hydrocarbons Agency and Crosco achieved the project goals with another positive result of the geothermal potential research. Geothermal energy is one of the most stable renewable sources, and with our research we confirm the great potential of the deposits in the Pannonian Basin and the strategic opportunity for long-term security of supply and decarbonization of the energy system,” added Marijan Krpan, President of the Management Board of the Hydrocarbons Agency.
A few months ago, the AZU also announced promising results after drilling and testing a geothermal well at the Velika Gorica site, which was also part of the same exploration program. Meanwhile, further work is ongoing at the Vinkovci and Zaprešic sites.
Although reservoir temperatures in Osijek are lower than in Velika Gorica, owing to geological characteristics and a shallower reservoir, the geothermal resources are still flexible enough to be adapted to local needs. In any case, successful results in both Osijek and Velika Gorica strengthen the proposition that Croatia host diverse and valuable geothermal resources.
The AZU states that the plan is to start drilling additional wells at locations with confirmed geothermal potential once exploration in all four sites has been completed. The goal would then be to establish production and reinjection well pairs in the sites so that exploitation of the resources can begin.
Source: City of Osijek