Utilization of Superhot Geothermal Systems - Challenges and Opportunities
Flow tests of the IDDP-1 revealed it to be one of the hottest geothermal wells in the world, with measured temperature of about 450°C and enthalpy evaluated as high as 3200 kJ/kg. Mannvit did the well design of both IDDP-1 and IDDP-2 wells. The IDDP-1 and -2 projects revealed several challenges which must be solved before utilization can be considered commercial. These challenges are addressed in “Utilization of Superhot Geothermal Systems - Challenges and Opportunities” by Mr. Kristinn Ingason and Mr. Vilhjálmur Kristjánsson of Mannvit that will present the paper at the WGC 2020 in Reykjavik.
In short, the IDDP project has been ongoing for almost 20 years. The history of the project has been described in several papers. From engineering point of view one of the most challenging issue in the beginning of the project was the lack of data to determine the design conditions. Data accumulated during drilling and of IDDP-1 and IDDP-2 and information collected throughout various flow tests of IDDP-1 have changed that and added to the knowledge of which downhole conditions may be expected when drilling into superhot geothermal systems. As the design conditions have been better identified, the plans for drilling into superhot geothermal systems and utilization of the fluid have been improved. The lessons learned from the IDDP project from engineering perspective are discussed and the opportunities for utilizing the fluid from superhot geothermal system are outlined from engineering, economic and environmental point of view. The IDDP project has revealed several challenges which must be solved before this utilization can be considered commercial. These challenges are addressed and discussed.
Photo: Mr. Kristinn Ingason next to the IDDP-1 during discharge in Krafla, Iceland. In the beginning, the well discharged dark steam and clear superheated steam after 30 minutes discharge. Flow tests in 2010-2012 revealed a steam at 430-450°C making it one of the hottest geothermal well in the world. Photo credit: Landsvirkjun and Guðmundur Ó. Friðleifsson HS Orka.
