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Fervo geothermal upgrades cut well drilling time and costs
At its Cape Station in Utah, the company says a new well design boosted drilling rates by 143% and cut drilling time by 70% versus an earlier generation.
OilPrice reports that next-generation geothermal progress is beginning to challenge cost expectations for nuclear, as developers shift from announcements to measurable drilling and capital formation updates.
Fervo said its third-generation well design at Cape Station, Utah, lifted drilling rates by 143% versus the first Cape well. The latest well, Sawtooth 7, reached 19,448 feet of measured depth, including a 7,500-foot lateral, in 21 days. The company attributed part of the improvement to targeting hotter rock at 460 degrees Fahrenheit and using larger casing diameters to raise output per well.
OilPrice also notes that Fervo estimates the new design reduced drilling time by 70% compared with the prior design generation. Phase I at Cape Station remains on track for first power later this year, while Phase II targets 400 MW online in 2028.
The outlet further says faster wells can compress costs and project timelines. Fervo’s Cape Phase II is tracking toward about $5,500 per kW installed, with a longer-term target of $3,000 per kW, compared with historical cost ranges for nuclear units at Georgia Vogtle of roughly $10,000 to $15,000 per kW after delays and overruns.