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Deep Drilling Project now with deepest well ever drilled in Iceland

Deep Drilling Project now with deepest well ever drilled in Iceland IDDP2 well with drilling rig Thor in the background to the left of the lighthouse (source: IDDP.is)
Alexander Richter 29 Oct 2016

The Iceland Deep Drilling Project has reached a new milestone with ongoing drilling of the IDDP-2 well at Reykjanes. With a current depth of 3,600 meters it is now the deepest well ever drilled in Iceland but is planned to be as deep as 5,000 meters.

Another important milestone has been reached at the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP). The well RN-15/ IDDP-2 has reached a depth of 3,640 meters and is thereby the now deepest borehole in Iceland.

The well is currently being drilled on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the geothermal power plants of Svartsengi and Reykjanes of Icelandic geothermal power company HS Orka.

The well is cased with a 9 5/8 inch steel casing to 2,940 m, and after cementing the casing the well was deepened with 8 ½ inch rotary drill bit. While drilling below the casing, quite severe losses of circulation fluid were experienced (meaning no fluid or drill cuttings are returned to the surface), which was partly mitigated with cementing operations. Two spot coring runs were also attempted. While drilling further with loss of circulation fluid good progress has been made and drilling has been performed safely and securely.

As the well reached a true vertical depth of 3,500 m it formally became the IDDP-2 well. Continuing the operation, the well will be thoroughly logged and measured and some core drilling will take place. The objective is to drill down to 5.000 m, searching for a supercritical steam zone with temperatures of 400 to 500 degrees Celsius.

IDDP Deep Drilling Project in Reykjanes is the result of HS Orka’s extensive international cooperation. The project is driven by several partners including HS Orka, Statoil of Norway, Landsvirkjun, ON, as well as domestic and foreign universities and research institutions.

Icelandic Deep Drilling Project was established in 2000 and were the founders of HS Orka, Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik Energy and Iceland’s National Energy Authority.

 

Source: HS Orka, IDDP