Iceland Drilling to start drilling for Malaysia project end of April 2014
Drilling Rig Odinn on location in Iceland, Iceland Drilling (source: Iceland Drilling)
Alexander Richter
3 Mar 2014
Iceland Drilling is expected to mobilize its Odinn geothermal drilling rig from New Zealand to Apas Kiri in Tawau, Malaysia with an expected drilling start at the end of April 2014.
At a recent visit to New Zealand Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili of Malaysia, visited the Wairakei combined flash and binary geothermal power plant, and the Ngatamariki binary geothermal power plant, both located near Taupo, with their respective geothermal fields being part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ).
The minister and his delegation were briefed by Contact Energy and Mighty River Power, the operators of the respective power plants, on the design, operation and maintenance, and environmental compliance of the power plants. Geothermal power plants currently contribute about 15% of New Zealand’s total energy needs.
The delegation also visited ODINN, the drilling rig contracted to undertake the drilling operations for the project. It is owned and operated by the Iceland Drilling Company (IDC) and is a 1,300hp hydraulic rig which has had a successful track record both in Iceland and New Zealand.
The rig will soon be disassembled, packed and shipped to Tawau. IDC will provide a turnkey package for the drilling operations, including rig and accessories, drilling crew, materials and consumables.
Drilling is expected to commence in the end of April 2014 on site at Apas Kiri in Tawau. The project will be Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant and is expected to deliver 30MW of electricity to the Sabah State Grid in May 2016. ”
Source: Borneo Post
