
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
You are viewing the World Edition
Choose the news you want to read
View the site in World Edition, U.S. News Edition
European News Edition or Asia Pacific News Edition

View full financial data |
Petratherm was established on 24 October 2003 with the aim of obtaining tenements suitable for the production of economically viable hot rock energy, together with methodology and research data to assess the potential of such tenements. To date, three Tenements have been obtained which are characterised by:
Potential occurrence of substantial rock masses with naturally occurring radiogenic minerals;

The Process
Naturally occurring heat from the earth is a massive, environmentally friendly energy resource. As the earth is constantly generating heat, the energy is classified as a renewable resource.
In this process water is pumped down a borehole into a hot rock source where temperatures are typically between 200°C and 280°C. The water flows away from the injection well through a network of tiny fractures, either naturally occurring and/or by hydraulic stimulation of the natural system. As the water passes through the fracture reservoir it is rapidly heated to a high temperature by contact with the hot rock - this is known as the underground heat exchanger. Under pressure the heated water then returns to the surface via an production well located several hundred metres away from the original injection well. Although the water is at temperatures in excess of 200°C, the high pressures associated with the closed loop system prevent it from turning to steam.
At the surface the superheated water is passed through a heat exchanger where most of the heat is extracted. The heat extracted from the water in turn heats a low boiling-point liquid, which boils, producing high-pressure steam used to drive electricity turbines. The surface heat exchanger is another closed-loop fluid system. The cooled water is then re-injected back down the injection borehole to be reheated and used again. A "farm" of injection and production wells could be used to produce large-scale, constant and renewable power.

Petratherm's geothermal exploration projects lie within the South Australian Heat Flow Anomoly (SAHFA). Petratherm has obtained geothermal exploration licences (GELs) over areas that it believes are highly prospective for ''hot spots'' within the already thermally anomalous SAHFA. These 500 square kilometre tenements give Petratherm exclusive rights to explore for and develop any geothermal resources they contain.
Granites near Arkaroola, in northern South Australia, contain an average of eight and up to twenty five times the radiogenic material compared to most granites and, with the right insulation, have the potential to generate high temperatures.
Minotaur, the discoverer of the Prominent Hill iron oxide (copper-gold) deposit, noted the radiogenic nature of this and the larger Olympic Dam mineralisation. In modelling the heat flow in these types of deposits, the University of Adelaide indicates that such deposits, with the correct form of insulation, may become even hotter than the radiogenic granites near Arkaroola.
Minotaur identified three targets where highly radiogenic granite or iron oxide deposits might occur, all with potentially favourable heat retention characteristics. The Company has acquired the tenements covering the three targets and the technology relating to search and evaluation of hot rock sources through its acquisition of MNGI Pty Ltd. Tenement selection was based on geological features and site location, while drill target selection will be based on geophysical data relating to depth of burial, and potential heat flow models.
| Mr Derek Carter (Chairman) |
| Mr Terry Kallis (Managing Director) |
| Mr Lloyd Taylor (Non Exec. Director) |
| Mr Richard Hillis (Non Exec. Director) |
| Mr Richard Bonython (Non Exec. Director) |
| Mr Simon O'Loughlin (Non Exec. Director) |
Company Address106 Greenhill Road
|