Do the wells built for geothermal heat pump systems have any impact on the surrounding ground?
Any geothermal heat pump system design begins with an analysis of the subsurface conditions in the area where the wells are to be drilled, to determine the best location for the wells. Part of this analysis includes determining the thermal conductance of the surrounding soil, which is a function of the geologic conditions and of the subsurface ground water. This data is then used to determine the optimal well depth and well spacing to ensure that the well fields are able to dissipate the rejected heat to the moving ground water at a sufficient rate to prevent a gradual warming of the well field.
