The Košice Self-Governing Region has completed drilling works on the geothermal well in Čižatice, Košice-okolie district. A large drilling rig reached a depth of 2,703 meters, where the source rock with geothermal water was opened. “Even now, we can consider this well to be extremely successful, and the funds allocated for its implementation were not wasted. We managed to reach a depth of 2,703 meters in 60 days. The water temperature at this depth is 123.6 degrees Celsius, and the overflow, i.e., the flow of water naturally reaching the surface, is 50,000 liters per hour, which is an excellent result. Moreover, according to the preliminary analysis we have processed, the water we drilled is mineralized. It contains iodine, bromine, lithium, and other minerals. It is already clear that the possibilities for its use will be broader than what we originally planned, and we will be able to use the geothermal water not only for the aquapark,” said Rastislav Trnka, President of the Košice Self-Governing Region.

Drilling works with the large drilling rig started on February 1 this year, and water pumping tests began on April 12. Twelve workers were on the drilling tower every day, and 1,500 tons of drilled material were removed from Čižatice. The geothermal water collector was drilled a month earlier than the estimated completion date. The completion of drilling works will be followed by multiple sampling, pumping tests, and logging measurements, which are carried out by the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies (BERG) of the Technical University of Košice. “Our activities started even before the drilling works themselves – we defined the exact drilling location and final depth. Now comes the research phase, during which we will determine the properties of the collector and how we can extract heat from the formation without damaging its source. Hydrodynamic tests will verify the potential of the geothermal water reservoir and its exact chemical composition. The final values will be known within two months,” said Michal Cehlár, Dean of the BERG Faculty at TUKE.

The Košice Self-Governing Region wants to use the geothermal water for the aquapark; however, thanks to its high temperature and sufficient flow, broader possibilities of use are opening up. The region also wants to use the geothermal water source for building geothermal energy facilities that would serve for hydrogen production. Another option is partial heating of the city of Košice. “I am glad that this project has sparked more discussion about the use of geothermal energy in eastern Slovakia even at the national level. As a result, other similar projects may gradually follow, which will lead to greater energy independence for our country — a topic that is now of great importance, not only at the level of our region and Slovakia but across the entire European Union,” added President Trnka.