Open Loop Systems

Initial Feasibility

Aquifer Energy can review the site location and determine the potential for sufficient water such as surface water, aquifers present, mine water or deeper sedimentary systems. The initial feasibility can provide intial estimates as to the temperature and flow rate that could be available and the initial budget cost of installation of such a system.

Regulatory

As water will be moved in an open loop system, the relevant regulatory authorities (Environment Agency / Natural Resources Wales / Scottish Environment Protection Agency) will need to be engaged with. Aquifer Energy are experts in dealing with the regulations.

Drilling Supervision

Aquifer Energy can provide on site support during drilling to ensure that the borehole is drilled as designed, reviewing and logging the geology via drilled cuttings during drilling and interpreting the post drill geophysical logs.

Deeper Aquifers

Deep Sedimentary Aquifers contain warmer water than the shallower systems, and therefore the heat can be useable directly without amplification via a heat pump. Mines can also have elevated temperatures and high flow rates that make them an ideal target for open loop systems.

Surface Water

Open Loop Systems work very well in surface water, whether that be the ocean, a lake, a dock or a river. Aquifer Energy are experts in all aspects of open loop systems.

Detailed Design

Aquifer Energy can provide detailed design of the boreholes to abstract and re-inject water. The final design has to incorporate the size of the pump envisaged, the depth to aquifer, screens and gravel pack if required and the logistics of the final installed location

Tender Support

Open loop boreholes are typically expensive and if it is decided to tender for the works, Aquifer Energy can provide assistance and guidance during the tendering process, from writing the tender to scoring and awarding the tender.

Test Pumping Supervision

Part of the post drill studies will be to perform test pumping once the borehole has been cleaned and developed. Aquifer Energy can provide test pumping design and field data collection and supervision of test pumping, including water sampling, analysis and interpretation.

Modelling

​Understanding the performance of an open loop system requires modelling of abstraction and reinjection volumes along with temperature dispersion over the lifetime of the project. Aquifer Energy utilises various modelling software, from AquiferWin32 through MODFLOW and FEFLOW, depending on the complexity of the project. Modelling should be conducted and updated throughout an open loop project including incorporating actual data once the system is operational.