Icelandic startup introduces new heat and pressure measurement tool

Flow test of the IDDP-1 well at Krafla, Iceland (source: Kristján Einarsson)

Alexander Richter 7 Mar 2014

In a meeting yesterday, Icelandic startup company GIRO introduced a new heat and pressure measurement tool that can be used with research and drilling at high heat geothermal fields.

The new measurement tool, called HP1, measures heat and pressure in geothermal wells up to a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius. The tool is the result of a two year development work at the company, that was founded in 2011.

GIRO is also working on the development on G1, a heat resistant direction and tilt meter, which is now in the process of being tested. The company hopes to finalize testing later this year. The new meter will be more heat resistant than older scopes.

G1 will increase efficiency and reduce the cost of geothermal drilling. So far one has to drill and cool wells to measure exact direction and angle. G1 and HP1 will be both used in research and drilling, as well as monitoring wells after production has started.

Iceland’s National Power Company (Landsvirkjun) has cooperated with GIRO on the development of the meter and has provided both financial and technical assistance. The company also provided access to equipment and wells for testing. Landsvirkjun’s CEO Hordur Arnarson now received yesterday the first meter at a ceremony in Reykjavik.

“Landsvirkjun supports development projects that we believe promote energy development in Iceland. One of these projects has been the development of the borehole meter by R&D startup GIRO. It has been a pleasure to work with GIR, and exchange of experiences and fresh ideas”, so Arnarson in a statement.

Initial measurements of heat and pressure with HP1 at the Krafla geothermal field in the North of Iceland that were conducted in collaboration with Icelandic engineering group Mannvit, Reykjavik Energy and Landsvirkjun. The results have been promising.

Source: Visir.is