IDDP-1 (Iceland Deep Drilling Project)

Mannvit provided drilling engineering for the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP). The project was for the drilling of an exploratory well down to 2100 meters in the Krafla area in North east Iceland.

The IDDP consortium includes: HS Orka, Landsvirkjun, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur and the National Energy Authority of Iceland. The consortium is preparing the drilling of a 4-5 km deep borehole into three of its high-temperature hydrothermal systems to reach 400-600°C supercritical hydrous fluid at a rifted plate margin on a mid-ocean ridge. The first well IDDP-1, was drilled in Krafla geothermal field in 2009. Targeted well depth was 4500 meters. At 2100 meters depth the drill bit intersected magma, which stopped drilling of the well. The geothermal well produced up to 450°C hot steam when it was discharge tested, which is the hottest geothermal well ever measured.

Mannvit acts as one of the major consultant responsible for well design, drilling activities and study of technology for fluid handling and evaluation. 

Role

  • Well design
  • Drilling technology
  • Drilling supervision
  • Study of technology for fluid handling and evaluation
  • Design of discharge testing
  • Pilot plant
  • EIA
450 °C 
Well temperature
2100 m 
Depth
30-40 MW 
Potential power output

Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland is the founder of the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project. The project, which marks a milestone in energy research, involves drilling deeper boreholes than have been attempted before. It is estimated that such deep geothermal wells could give between 5-10 times more energy than standard wells. Despite the earlier setbacks, the project has provided valuable knowledge and experience for future endeavours.

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Temperature World Record

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