Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals is making waves in the geothermal energy sector with a development at its Lightning Dock geothermal power plant.
The company has announced the completion of its first step-out production well, a move that is set to revolutionise the efficiency and productivity of the geothermal field.
Geothermal energy has long been recognised as a key solution for clean, firm power, and Zanskar has been on the forefront of demonstrating its scalability and potential. The company’s approach is grounded in two core beliefs: the existence of numerous undiscovered or poorly understood geothermal sites and the untapped potential of these resources to deliver more energy than the industry has historically predicted.
To prove this, Zanskar has invested heavily in modern data collection methods and advanced computational tools, blending natural and artificial intelligence to uncover previously overlooked geothermal sites. Over the past three years, Zanskar’s field teams have collected a wealth of data, identifying a large number of new geothermal sites, with many showing promise for high production.
The second part of Zanskar’s thesis focuses on proving that these sites can deliver more power. While drilling full-scale production wells has traditionally been capital-intensive and challenging, Zanskar has shown great confidence in its ability to tap into deeper, more productive geothermal resources with greater precision. By utilising modern tools and technologies, the company is able to target and access geothermal resources more effectively than ever before.
Zanskar’s acquisition of the Lightning Dock geothermal field in 2025 came at a time when the field was underperforming, and the previous operator had decided to sell. Armed with their unique datasets and innovative approach, Zanskar set out to test their hypothesis and improve the field’s productivity.
In less than eight months, Zanskar successfully drilled a step-out production well, targeting a fracture zone at depths of 7,500 to 8,000 feet. After conducting a brief flow test, the results were nothing short of impressive: a productivity index of approximately 50 GPM/PSI and fluid temperatures around 325°F. This single well is now capable of fueling the entire 15 MW-nameplate power plant, marking a significant shift in the site's limitations – moving from resource constraints to surface equipment limitations.
This achievement places Zanskar’s well among the most productive pumped geothermal wells in operation today, both in the USA and potentially the world. As the well is connected to the plant, it promises to set new benchmarks in geothermal energy production, driving further growth and innovation in the industry.
With this breakthrough, Zanskar is poised to continue its mission of unlocking the vast, untapped potential of geothermal energy, offering a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solution for the world’s growing power needs.