Chevron seeks buyer for Lampung geothermal stake Chevron is reportedly looking for a buyer for its stake in the Lampung geothermal project, a move that could reshape one of Indonesia’s more closely watched geothermal developments. The asset is tied to PT Cahaya Anagata Energy, the joint venture formed by Chevron and Pertamina Geothermal Energy to develop the Way Ratai geothermal working area in Lampung. That headline matters because Lampung is not just another exploration block. It sits inside Indonesia’s wider push to expand geothermal power, one of the country’s most important clean-energy resources, while also reflecting Chevron’s long-running pattern of portfolio rotation in the geothermal sector. Why the Lampung asset matters The project in question is the Way Ratai geothermal working area in Lampung, where Chevron and Pertamina Geothermal Energy agreed to cooperate through a new local entity. Pertamina Geothermal Energy’s project page identifies the site as Wai Ratai, reinforci...
Wippolderlaan Geothermal Project Confirms 85 Degrees in Deep Reservoir
Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan has completed drilling and testing its two geothermal wells, and the results are encouraging: the reservoir temperature reached 85 degrees at about 2,200 meters deep, confirming the project’s subsurface expectations and moving the scheme into its next development phase. The well test also showed that the reservoir’s geological quality is good, while the project now shifts toward surface-plant construction and eventual heat delivery by mid-2028.
Test phase delivers positive results
The latest milestone for Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan was a full well test designed to assess how the geothermal source performs under real conditions. The wells were extensively tested after drilling, and the measured temperature of 85 degrees at reservoir depth aligned with the project team’s expectations.
This matters because geothermal projects depend not only on reaching hot water, but also on confirming that the reservoir can deliver it reliably at useful flow rates. The successful test phase suggests the Wippolderlaan field is technically viable and ready for the next stage of development.
How the wells were prepared
Before testing could begin, the wells were flushed with salt water to clear out drilling mud, sand, and other debris left behind during drilling. The team then used a perforation gun to make thousands of small openings in the production well casing so hot water from the reservoir could enter the well more freely.
That reservoir sits roughly 2,200 meters below ground, in the Delft Sandstone target interval, which is a familiar geothermal formation in the Netherlands. After perforation, a temporary pump was installed to bring water to the surface so engineers could measure temperature and productivity.
Why 85 degrees matters
A temperature of 85 degrees is a strong result for direct-use geothermal heating, especially for a district-heating or horticultural heat network. It provides enough thermal energy for useful heat transfer without needing electricity generation, which is why many Dutch geothermal projects are focused on space heating and greenhouse supply.
At Wippolderlaan, the result is especially important because the project was built around the expectation that the reservoir would reach around 80 to 85 degrees. The measured outcome therefore confirms the geological model rather than forcing the developers to revise the project around a weaker resource.
Project location and partners
Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan is being developed in Wateringen, in the Westland area, at the junction of Middenzwet and Van Luyklaan. The project is a collaboration involving the Wippolderlaan heat cooperative and HVC, with a focus on supplying sustainable heat to greenhouse businesses and, in time, nearby homes as well.
The broader objective is to connect deep geothermal output to a local heat network, giving the region a lower-carbon source of baseload thermal energy. That makes the project relevant not just as a drilling success, but as a practical piece of local energy infrastructure.
Drilling and subsurface target
The wells were drilled directionally and ultimately ended up about one kilometer apart, which is typical for a production and reinjection pair in geothermal development. The target formation was the Delft Sandstone, reached at roughly 2,350 meters in the drilling report, while the project’s own update describes reservoir depth at around 2,200 meters.
The difference likely reflects the distinction between total drilling depth, the productive interval, and the specific reservoir horizon being tested. What matters operationally is that the project reached the intended geological target and confirmed suitable conditions for geothermal extraction.
Next stage: surface installation
With testing completed, the drilling rig is being dismantled and the project is moving into the above-ground construction phase. The next works include building the geothermal plant and installing pipes, pumps, filters, and heat exchangers that will transfer heat from the reservoir into the district-heating system.
This is the point where a geothermal project shifts from a subsurface drilling program to a functioning energy facility. The test data will guide the final engineering design, helping the developers size equipment and optimize long-term performance.
Delivery timeline and outlook
If construction proceeds as planned, Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan expects to begin supplying the first sustainable heat to homes and businesses in the region by mid-2028. Earlier project reporting also pointed to late-2028 delivery expectations, showing that the timeline has remained focused on the same general window.
That timeline reflects the typical pace of geothermal development: drilling first, testing second, surface construction third, and commercial heat delivery last. For the Westland region, the project could become a meaningful local heat asset supporting both horticulture and broader decarbonization goals.
Investment and project scale
Public project documents indicate that Wippolderlaan is a substantial investment, with estimates around EUR 70 million for the full geothermal project and a HVC share of about EUR 60 million. The same documentation describes a planned annual energy output of about 150,000 MWh in the base case, with project economics supported by contracted heat offtake.
That scale helps explain why the successful well test is such a critical milestone. A project of this size depends on proving the reservoir early, because the surface plant and commercial heat network only make sense if the underground resource performs as expected.
What this means for Dutch geothermal
The Wippolderlaan result adds another positive data point for Dutch geothermal development, especially in regions where heat demand is steady and suitable sedimentary reservoirs are available. It also shows how geothermal projects in the Netherlands are increasingly moving from planning and permitting into execution, testing, and infrastructure buildout.
For the sector, the project demonstrates a familiar but important formula: confirm the reservoir, test the well, then design the plant around real data. If Wippolderlaan proceeds smoothly, it could serve as a useful reference case for other geothermal heat projects across the Netherlands.
Publication-ready version
Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan has completed drilling and well testing at its geothermal project in Wateringen, confirming a reservoir temperature of 85 degrees at roughly 2,200 meters depth. The result supports earlier geological expectations and confirms that the reservoir has the quality needed for heat production.
The two wells were flushed, perforated, and tested with a temporary pump to assess flow and thermal performance. The data gathered during this phase will now feed into the design of the above-ground geothermal installation, including pumps, filters, heat exchangers, and the plant building.
The project is located in the Westland area and is being developed by Aardwarmte Wippolderlaan in cooperation with HVC and the local heat cooperative. It is intended to supply sustainable heat to greenhouse businesses and, eventually, nearby homes as well.
With the drilling rig now being dismantled, the project is entering its construction phase. If the schedule holds, the first heat deliveries are expected by mid-2028.
Source: Aardwarmte
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