Drilling for a geothermal borehole in Szaflary, located in Poland’s Malopolska Province, has concluded at a depth of 6103.2 meters. Although it fell short of the planned 7-kilometer target, the Banska PGP-4 well marks a significant effort to break the record for the deepest geothermal borehole for heating, currently held by a 6.4-kilometer well in Otaniemi, Finland.

Drilling rig operations at the site of the Banska PGP-4 geothermal well in Szaflary, Poland

Work on the well began in April 2023, reaching 5000 meters by year-end and tapping into a reservoir with a temperature of 120°C. Drilling halted at around 5900 meters due to a hard rock layer slowing progress, collapsing well walls requiring repairs, a failed top drive, and a broken main cable at 6096 meters. Operations resumed in July 2024, but the team decided to stop before hitting 7 kilometers. The 120°C resource shows strong potential for heating Szaflary and nearby areas, including Nowy Targ, while also serving as a valuable research tool by revealing new subsurface data.

Further tests will assess the well’s temperature, output, and water properties to shape a thermal water usage model for the Podhale region. Preparatory efforts are underway for a 5.5-kilometer heating main to distribute geothermal energy from a plant in Banska Nizna. Szaflary is also seeking funds for the project’s next phase, which involves connecting the geothermal network to individual users.

This endeavor bolsters Poland’s growing focus on geothermal heating. The country anticipates having 11 operational geothermal plants soon, with recent additions in Turek and Konin. The Szaflary project highlights the potential of geothermal energy to support local heating needs, leveraging natural resources despite challenging drilling conditions.