VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 25, 2010) - Sierra
Geothermal Power Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SRA) ("SGP") today provides
an update on the exploration drilling program at its 100% owned Alum project.
The Alum project is part of SGP's Paymaster District geothermal area.
SGP has commenced drilling a second deep observation well at its
Alum project. This well, called 26-19, follows last year's drilling of deep
observation well 25-29. The purpose of well 26-19 is to expand our knowledge of
the Alum geothermal resource by exploring for temperature and permeability to
depths of several thousand feet. Well 26-19 will utilize cutting-edge
coiled-tube drilling technology in an effort to make deep drilling faster and
more cost-effective. Coiled-tube drilling has found great success in the oil
and gas industry but has never been used at a geothermal well.
Well 26-19 is eligible for reimbursement on a 50:50 cost share
basis through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) Geothermal Technologies
Program grant which was awarded to SGP in 2009.
SGP has contracted Xtreme Coil Drilling Corp. to drill the well
with XTC
200 Rig # 4. The geological information obtained from Well 26-19 will be
integrated into SGP's 3D geologic model for Alum. The primary objective of the
well is to test temperature and permeability in the subsurface. A secondary
objective is to compare coil-tube drilling rates to conventional and core
drilling rates in a geothermal field.
"We are excited to be working with Xtreme to demonstrate coiled-tube
drilling and would like to thank the DoE for their support of the project. This
well is intended to move the Alum project towards feasibility, potentially
allowing us to start production well drilling, the next milestone in the plan
to bankable feasibility," said President and CEO Gary Thompson.
About Alum Project
The Alum geothermal power project is part of SGP's Paymaster
district and located near the Nevada-California border in Esmeralda County,
Nevada, 240 kilometres (150 miles) northwest of Las Vegas, and covers 7,198
acres. There is a 55 kV line that runs within a few hundred meters of the lease
boundary. GeothermEx's independent analysis of the Alum heat anomaly estimates
a resource capacity of 73-150 megawatts of power with a 20 year plant life.
Chemical geothermometry analysis has indicated reservoir temperatures up to 225
degrees Celsius may be present. The maximum recorded bottom-hole temperature is
129 degrees Celsius at a depth of 610 meters. The lands containing the Alum
heat anomaly have been unitized by the Bureau of Land Management with SGP the
designated unit operator.
About
The Paymaster District
SGP
recognized the area as a district geothermal opportunity many years ago. The
projects within the Paymaster District consist of three prospects: Alum, Silver
Peak and Pearl, having a combined probability at the 90% level of generating
over 100 megawatts of power. A 100 megawatt geothermal plant provides enough
power to supply 80,000 homes.
About Sierra
Geothermal Power Corp.
Sierra
Geothermal Power Corp. is a renewable energy company focused on the exploration
and development of clean, sustainable geothermal power. It is based in
Vancouver, British Columbia and listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
symbol SRA. Its portfolio of geothermal projects located in Nevada and
California exceeds 365 square kilometres (90,000 acres) and has a combined
total estimated capacity of greater than 500 megawatts. SGP intends to finance
development by utilizing a combination of corporate equity, joint venture
partnerships and project debt, with the support of US government grants and
loan guarantees. To
find out more about Sierra Geothermal Power Corp. (TSX-V: SRA) visit our
website at www.sierrageopower.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Gary Thompson, P.Geo., President, Chief
Executive Officer and Director
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press
release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
projections of events, revenues, income, future economic performance or
management's plans and objectives for future operations. In some cases you can
identify forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as
"may", "should", "anticipates", "believes",
"expects", "intends", "forecasts",
"plans", "future", "strategy", or words of
similar meaning. Forward-looking statements in this press release include
statements about well 26-19 will utilize cutting-edge coiled-tube drilling
technology in an effort to make deep drilling faster and more cost-effective,
well 26-19 being a deep well intended to move the Alum project towards
feasibility potentially allowing us to start production well drilling, the next
milestone in the plan to bankable feasibility, and the Company's intent to
finance the development of its projects through a combination of corporate
equity, joint venture partnerships and project debt with the support of U.S.
government grants and loan guarantees. These statements are only predictions
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