Recent interest in Chile to develop renewable energy sources has created a new market for drilling contractors with geothermal well experience. The geothermal fields in Chile are unique in that they combine the issues of remote area drilling with additional challenges such as desert conditions, cold weather, deep snow, and, most importantly, high elevations. Over 50% of the geothermal concessions in Chile are located in the northern regions at elevations from 3500 meters to 5000 meters. These altitudes are the normal environment of mountaineers, not drilling rigs, with oxygen levels reduced between 35% and 50% compared with sea level. Effects of altitude, geography and climate must be taken into account in the overall planning of a drilling operation. The effects on personnel can vary and are somewhat unpredictable. There are specific tests that must be performed before working at high elevation that can detect potential problems and there are mitigation methods that can be applied on site that can help personnel increase their performance. Equipment is also affected by the high elevation and the climate. The lack of oxygen at elevations over 4000 meters results in a loss of power for internal combustion engines of more than 40%. This is exacerbated by the limited experience operating large drilling equipment at high altitudes. The contractor must overcome these power limitations not only for the drilling rig but also for all associated services for the operation using engines. Overcoming these challenges can only be achieved through careful planning at all stages of the operation and by selecting specific technologies to mitigate the effects of the environment in the operations. In this contractor's experience, the use of mechanized pipe handling equipment and the minimization of internal combustion engines brought the biggest value to the operation.
