CertainTeed's Certa-Lok Drop Pipe Used in Major Geothermal Well Project

Nearly 40,000 feet of CertainTeed Corp.'s Certa-Lok Drop Pipe was used in the construction of a new geothermal heat system at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Some of the 67 wells drilled by Connecticut Wells Inc., of Bethlehem, Conn., contain the cost-effective and reliable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Drop Pipe. The Drop Pipe casing functions as a porter shroud to protect the pump and water pipe in each of the wells. The wells range in depth from 350 to 1,000 feet.

The geothermal system, which works by extracting heat from ground water instead of extracting it from the air or using combustion heat, is replacing a central steam system which was dated and beginning to show signs of failure. "It had become a growing concern for College officials," says Gary Sexton, Project Manager, Co-Energy Group LLC, Las Vegas, Nev. "The infrastructure was falling apart. It didn't have much life left."

According to Tom Mahan, owner, Connecticut Wells, Cert-Lok Drop Pipe is an important piece of the geothermal project and will provide the durability and environmental safety College officials are looking for.

Made of PVC, Certa-Lok is immune to electroytic and galvanic corrosion, so it won't rust or rot. In addition, Certa-Lok drop pipe meets or exceeds all ASTM standards. Certa-Lok Drop Pipe is specified for geothermal wells because it is fast and easy to assemble in all weather conditions and does not require solvent cements to join pipe sections. Certa-Lok Drop Pipe is produced with the most modern threading equipment available, assuring contractors of a uniform and consistently high quality end-finish.

Source: CertainTeed Corp.