Geothermal projects often require equipment that is not part of a standard field equipment fleet.
High temperatures, high pressures, high flow rates, dissolved gases, solids and demanding fluid chemistry can place specific requirements on the equipment used during well testing, commissioning, maintenance and other field operations.
At the same time, many of these requirements are project-specific. Equipment that is essential for a well test may have little use once the test is complete. Purchasing and maintaining a complete equipment fleet is therefore not always the most practical solution.
Bakker Flow Services provides specialised rental equipment for geothermal well testing and field operations. We combine equipment availability with engineering knowledge and practical field experience to help project teams configure the right setup for the job.
Equipment needs to match the well
The starting point for any geothermal equipment selection is the well and the operation.
Flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, gas content and solids production all influence which equipment can be used safely and effectively.
These conditions can also change during an operation.
A geothermal well may produce a mixture of hot water and steam. Sand or other solids may be present. Dissolved gases may need to be separated before downstream processing or measurement. Temperature may need to be reduced before certain equipment can be used.
The equipment therefore needs to be selected as part of the complete process rather than as individual components.
Our rental fleet allows equipment to be configured around the requirements of the specific well and operation.
Geothermal well testing
Well testing is one of the most equipment-intensive phases of geothermal development.
The test spread needs to safely handle the expected pressure, temperature and flow while providing controlled conditions for measurement and data collection.
Depending on the well and test objectives, a geothermal well test spread can include equipment such as:
- separators;
- choke manifolds;
- high-pressure flowlines;
- degassing equipment;
- filtration and solids-management equipment;
- heat exchangers;
- surge or buffer vessels;
- flare systems where required;
- measurement and data-acquisition equipment.
The exact configuration depends on the well conditions and the information the test needs to generate.
Bakker Flow Services can support the complete equipment configuration, from individual rental components to an integrated geothermal well test spread.
Managing high-temperature geothermal fluids
Temperature is one of the characteristics that makes geothermal field operations different from many conventional well-testing applications.
High-temperature fluids influence equipment selection, measurement, materials and operating procedures. Cooling may also be required before fluids reach downstream equipment or measurement systems.
Heat exchangers can be incorporated into the test spread where temperature reduction is required. Their selection needs to take into account flow rate, inlet and outlet temperatures, pressure and fluid characteristics.
Similarly, degassing can be an important part of geothermal well testing. Dissolved gases released from hot geothermal fluids can affect flow behaviour, downstream equipment and measurement conditions.
A properly configured test spread needs to account for these effects from the beginning.
Solids and filtration
Geothermal fluids can contain suspended solids and mineral deposits that can create operational problems during testing.
Solids can cause erosion, restrict flow and damage downstream equipment. Filtration and solids-management equipment can therefore be used to protect the test spread and maintain stable operating conditions.
Depending on the expected solids load and particle characteristics, the equipment configuration may include desanders, filters or other separation equipment.
The objective is to balance solids removal with the required flow capacity and pressure conditions of the operation.
Rental equipment beyond well testing
Geothermal rental requirements do not necessarily end when the well test is complete.
Temporary equipment may be required during commissioning, maintenance, modifications, troubleshooting or other field activities.
For example, a project may need temporary flowlines while part of an installation is being modified. Additional processing equipment may be required during a specific intervention. A temporary sound-control solution may be needed during maintenance work.
Using rental equipment allows these requirements to be addressed without permanently expanding the site’s equipment inventory.
This can be particularly useful for projects where the requirement is temporary, uncertain or likely to change as the installation develops.
Engineering the rental package
The value of rental equipment is not simply having a piece of equipment available.
The equipment needs to be suitable for the operating conditions and compatible with the rest of the system.
Flow paths, pressure ratings, connections, instrumentation, layout and operating procedures all need to be considered before mobilisation.
Bakker Flow Services can support this preparation through its engineering and project-management activities.
This allows equipment selection and system design to be considered together, rather than leaving the customer to determine how individual rental components should be integrated on site.
Engineering and project management
Rental gives projects flexibility
The equipment requirements of a geothermal project can change significantly between development phases.
During well testing, the project may require a complete high-pressure processing and measurement setup. During production, the requirement may be limited to specific equipment for maintenance or temporary operations.
Rental provides the flexibility to scale the equipment package according to the actual requirement.
It can also avoid the need for customers to purchase equipment that may only be used for a limited period.
For project teams, the advantages can include:
- access to specialised equipment when required;
- flexibility in equipment capacity and configuration;
- less capital tied up in equipment;
- reduced need for permanent equipment storage and maintenance;
- the ability to support temporary or changing field requirements.
The right rental strategy is therefore not simply about reducing equipment cost. It is about having the right equipment available when and where it is needed.
Equipment availability is part of project planning
Equipment requirements should be considered early, particularly for well testing and other operations with fixed mobilisation schedules.
Lead times, transport, inspection requirements, connections and site layout can all influence when equipment can be deployed.
Early planning gives the project team more time to verify the equipment configuration, identify missing components and prepare the site.
Bakker Flow Services can support this preparation by combining equipment supply with engineering and project coordination.
The result is a rental package that is considered as part of the field operation rather than simply delivered as a collection of separate items.
Practical equipment for demanding field conditions
Geothermal operations require equipment that can perform under the conditions of the specific application.
But equipment alone is only part of the solution.
The practical experience to select, configure and deploy that equipment is equally important.
Bakker Flow Services combines specialised rental equipment, well testing and engineering support to help geothermal project teams prepare and execute field operations.
Whether you require a complete geothermal well test spread or a specific piece of temporary equipment, we can help determine what is required for the operation and how it needs to fit into the overall system.
From rental equipment to a working field solution
A successful rental operation starts before the equipment arrives on site.
The well conditions need to be understood. The equipment needs to be correctly specified. The system needs to be configured. Connections and operating requirements need to be checked. And the equipment needs to be ready for the conditions it will encounter in the field.
That is the difference between simply renting equipment and providing a practical field solution.
Bakker Flow Services supports geothermal projects with:
Specialised rental equipment
Equipment for well testing, processing, solids management, flow handling and temporary field operations.
Geothermal well testing
Integrated equipment solutions for testing geothermal wells under demanding temperature, pressure and flow conditions.
Engineering and project support
Technical preparation and system configuration to ensure rental equipment fits the requirements of the operation.
Maintenance and inspection
Support for keeping critical equipment in suitable condition and ready for deployment.
The right equipment. Properly configured. Ready for the field.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment can be rented for geothermal well testing?
Depending on the project requirements, the rental package can include separators, choke manifolds, flowlines, degassing equipment, filtration and solids-management equipment, heat exchangers, surge vessels and measurement equipment.
The exact configuration depends on the well conditions and test objectives.
Can rental equipment handle high-temperature geothermal fluids?
Equipment selection needs to be based on the actual temperature, pressure, flow and fluid characteristics of the well. For geothermal applications, these conditions are considered when configuring the test spread and selecting the appropriate equipment.
Why rent geothermal equipment instead of buying it?
Rental can make sense when equipment is required for a limited period, when the required configuration varies between projects or when purchasing a complete fleet would result in equipment sitting unused between operations.
Can you supply a complete geothermal well test spread?
Yes. Bakker Flow Services can configure integrated equipment packages for geothermal well testing, including separation, degassing, filtration, flow handling and supporting equipment, depending on the requirements of the project.
Do you provide engineering support with rental equipment?
Yes. Engineering and project support can be used to determine how equipment should be configured and integrated into the overall test or field system.
Can rental equipment also be used after commissioning?
Yes. Temporary equipment can be useful during maintenance, modifications, commissioning, troubleshooting and other operational activities where permanent equipment is not required.
How early should we involve you in a geothermal well test?
As early as possible. Early involvement allows the well conditions, test objectives, equipment requirements, site layout, connections and mobilisation requirements to be considered together. This reduces the risk of discovering equipment or configuration issues shortly before the operation be