January 2009 Newsletter

Click here to download the January 2009 Newsletter.

ThermaSource and Make-A-Wish

David Godfrey, 14 years old, diagnosed with and and undergoing treatment for a rare form of leukemia had one wish. To have an impact in today’s environment. When the Greater Bay Area, Make-A-Wish Foundation Chapter learned of David’s admirable and selfless wish, they began brainstorming how they could help make David’s wish come true.

On January 19th, 2009, David, his mother and father, accompanied by the Director of the Bay Area Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation drove up to Santa Rosa, CA to visit the offices of ThermaSource. David had to write a report on geothermal energy a year ago and since then has been intrigued by the renewable, base load energy source. When David arrived, the conference room was all set for him. At his seat was a lot of ThermaSource gear, including a black jacket with his name and ThermaSource logo embroidered, a shirt with the TSI logo, a blanket, hat and green hard hat with his name and TSI logo on it. We had a small selection of pastries, juice and fruit for the morning, a PowerPoint, about six unique geothermal rock formations (provided by Paul Brophy and Mike Lane of EGS, Inc.).

After introductions, CEO, Lou Capuano, welcomed David and briefly spoke about ThermaSource and how it began. Patrick Hanson then began with the Power Point and over the next hour steered an open discussion that led for a memorable day. Bob Swanson elaborated on several key drilling and engineering aspects, explaining how a drill bit works and having to answer one of David’s most unique questions: “Why would you use a drill bit made of tungsten when it’s such a brittle metal?” To hear a 14 year old, 8th grader ask such sharp and advanced questions was inspiring. Paul Brophy described the difference between the types of rocks he brought and explained to David how they were formed. Jim Hanson explained the difference between drilling core wells and conventional wells. Mike Lane, GIS Specialist for EGS, Inc., showed David a series of maps ranging from Northern California down to the geologic make-up of The Geysers, and 3D maps of recent wells drilled in the area.

After the hour long open discussion with David and the ThermaSource team in the Santa Rosa corporate office, Patrick Hanson, Paul Brophy, Caity Johnson and Anne Marie Van Roy led the caravan up to Bottle Rock. Awaiting our arrival was Willie Leuzinger, Safety Specialist. Willie gave us a brief safety presentation and equipped everyone with the proper safety glasses, ear plugs and hard hats.

Fully equipped in safety gear, we headed up to the top of Bottle Rock where Rig 108 was drilling. David was greeted by Company Man, Rod Inman, Tool Pusher, Daryl “Hoss” McConnell, and Safety Captain, Carlos Tapia. The group was allowed to climb up to the rig floor to watch the drilling up close. It was here where David watched the ThermaSource crew making a connection with more drill pipe. After our time on Rig 108, David and company made way for Bottle Rock Power Plant.

Larry Bandt, Executive Vice President of Engineering for Oski Energy greeted us and led the group on a tour of the plant. Larry showed David a large turbine which generate the electricity from steam. The group was then led to the main computer room, which controls the entire plant’s steam usage.

After completing the tour, we enjoyed sandwiches and cookies provided by Chloe’s Café.

David then had to rush off to Far Niente Winery in St. Helena where he was to tour the facilities that were powered by floating solar panels.

All in all, it was an absolute delight to be a part of David’s wish and I’ve been told that David said this was his most exciting segment of his wish. To follow David’s whole story, click here

Technology, Innovation and Creativity Report 2008-2009

The County of Sonoma Economic Development Board has recently published a Technology, Innovation and Creativity Report for 2008-2009. The report outlines Sonoma County’s mission to be on the leading edge of new technologies. On page 27, a section titled Green/Clean Technology - highlights the county’s trend setting renewable and clean energy companies. ThermaSource is mentioned along with Zap! cars, Enphase Energy and EDC Technologies as the leaders in this sector.

To read the full report, click here.

OIT's journey to the center of the earth

Kristina Maupin/OITA crew from Roger Chancellor Well Drilling performs initial drilling last week for a high-temperature well on the Oregon Institute of Technology campus in Klamath Falls. ThermaSource of Santa Rosa, Calif., will complete the nearly mile-deep well, which is intended to tap 300-degree water to run a 1.5-megawatt power plant. The plant should allow OIT to supply all of its heat and electrical needs from its own renewable geothermal source.

For decades, the Oregon Institute of Technology has drawn from the earth to warm its classrooms, heat its swimming pool and melt snow from its sidewalks.

Now the rumble of heavy equipment and the installation of a 150-foot-tall drilling tower signal the school’s leap toward energy self-sufficiency. Within a year, OIT will become the first campus in the world powered entirely by its own renewable geothermal source.

The massive drilling rig will punch into a geological fracture almost a mile below ground, tapping 300-degree water to feed a 1.5-megawatt electrical plant. The $4.5 million high-heat plant will produce enough energy to power the entire Klamath Falls campus — and then some.

To read the complete article, click here

Picture of the Week

To start the New Year off right, this week’s photo is a close up of a “shaker.” A shaker is a key mechanism in the drilling fluids business on the rig site. Photo taken by Alan Bartley, Chief Mud Engineer of ChemTech Services.

Turnaround Year

The recession in Sonoma County will come to an end in five months.

That is the bold prediction from Robert Eyler, director of the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University.

Eyler’s report comes a year after he declared Sonoma County was in a recession — a controversial forecast he spent months defending until he was vindicated when the U.S. government agreed last month the national economy fell into recession in December 2007.

To read the complete article that featured ThermaSource ‘in pictures,’ on the front page of the Sunday paper in the Press Democrat, click here. Photo taken by Press Democrat photographer