EarthworksDespite recent wet weather good progress was made over the summer with civil works on track to complete the pad for the production wells in readiness for drilling to get underway in May.

United Civil Construction (UCC) was able to undertake key preparatory works for the power station platform this summer and will shortly complete the reinjection well pad. They will continue major earthworks on the power station platform and geothermal fluid pipe routes over two more summer periods with completion scheduled for early 2020.

Well drillingIceland Drilling, the Icelandic company contracted to undertake well drilling, have established their site compound and their specialist team is in place to commence drilling the first production well in May.

The company transported its HH-220 Drillmec rig to New Zealand which arrived at Northport on 25 April. This was a massive effort and It took about 60 trucks over six days to transport the 200t rig to the Ngawha construction site.

Ngawha Geothermal Power StationEXPANSION PROJECTBuilding the resilience and reliability of power supply in the Far North

Production Well Platform : Construction of well cellars Power Station Platform : Wick drain installation

Drill rig set up at the construction site at Ngawha

Construction on the well pads progressed through summer

MAY 2018: Project update and planned works

Populations of the threatened northland mudfish have been found during environmental monitoring

Ngawha Generation Limited – www.ngawhageneration.co.nz

The HH Series Rigs differs from conventional drilling rigs as it has a high level of mechanisation which reduces operator input and the exposure of the operator to the risk of injury.

Compared with rigs of equal power and capability, the HH Series Rigs create a smaller footprint reducing environmental impact.

The rig will be used to drill two production and two reinjection wells of 1,750 metres deep and one metre in diameter at the surface and 22.5 centimetres at their deepest point.

Drilling each well is expected to take around 30-40 days of continuous 24/7 activity The wells will be tested to ensure that the geothermal resource meets operational requirements.

Environmental monitoringNgawha Generation Limited is extremely mindful of the responsibilities it carries in ensuring there are no adverse impacts from construction and well drilling on the surrounding environment. Extensive sediment and erosion control measures have been put into place.

These are routinely inspected by council officers. Regular environmental monitoring and sampling is undertaken to assess the health of the flora and fauna in the vicinity of the existing power station.

The HH-220 rig in transit

PROJECT TIMELINE

2019

2018

2017

July2017 : Final resource consents for the expansion granted

October 2017 : Major transaction approval granted by Top Energy Consumer Trust and Top Energy Board

October 2017 : United Civil begin enabling works onsite

December 2017 : United Civil awarded contract to construct drilling pads and foundations for power station

December 2017 : Contracts awarded to Iceland Drilling and geothermal plant construction experts ORMAT

January to April 2018 : Construction of drilling pad (production well), water storage pond and settlement ponds completed

January to April 2018 : First stage of construction of the power station platform. Ongoing over two more summer periods – completion 2020

April to May 2018 : Iceland Drilling Company set up site compound

End April 2018 : HH-220 Drillmec rig transported to site

May 2018 : Iceland Drilling begin well drilling

September 2018 : Viability of geothermal resource determined2020

2021Formation of a hardstand platform for construction of the power station completed

Power station 1, OEC4 commissioned

April 2020 : ORMAT begin assembling power station on site