Quaise Superhot Geothermal Drilling

Quaise Energy, Inc. develops a gyrotron-powered drilling platform for ultra-deep geothermal wells; its privacy policy states the website is operated from the United States. The company aims to unlock clean geothermal energy beyond the depths reached by conventional drilling.

Conventional rotary drilling reaches basement rock, then high-power millimeter waves drill deeper using standard tubing as a waveguide while purge gas carries vaporised rock to the surface. The stated goal is depths up to 20 km and temperatures around 500 C. Project Obsidian in Central Oregon targets commercial operation by 2030, with an initial 50 MW phase.

• Hybrid drilling: rotary drilling to basement rock, then millimeter-wave drilling.
• Gyrotron power: high-power millimeter waves vaporise rock.
• Waveguide tubing: standard tubing guides the waves downhole.
• Ultra-deep target: depths up to 20 km at about 500 C.
• Project Obsidian: 50 MW initial phase with expansion to 250 MW planned.

Technology partnerships with geothermal operators in Indonesia and the Philippines. Joint studies on deep resources for ASEAN utilities. Drilling-service collaboration with oil and gas contractors in Vietnam.

Targets superhot rock at about 500 C, which carries far more energy per well.

Could make geothermal available in regions without shallow hot reservoirs.

Uses standard tubing as a waveguide, aiming to fit existing drilling practice.

Backed by Nabors Industries with a US$35 million investment.

Superhot geothermal is an emerging category backed by oil and gas service firms such as Nabors. Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan sit on volcanic belts where deep drilling advances could extend resource life. Vietnam may follow outcomes before assessing local deep resources.

Quaise Energy, Inc.; website operated from the United States. Series B of US$180 million announced 27 Aug 2026 including US$35 million from Nabors. Project Obsidian in Central Oregon. Founding year and HQ address not stated on the site.