Iceland deep drilling project : feasibility report

Abstract

A consortium of Icelandic Energy Companies is investigating the feasibilty and economics of drilling 4-5 km deep bolerholes into active high-temperature hydrothermal systems with the aim of reaching a 400-600 C hot supercritical hydrous fluid. The consortium funded the feasibility study, while the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) has provided financial support to organize a science program, the establishment of the SAGA advisory group and three international workshops. The chief recommendations of the feasibility report are: 1) A full size vertical well should be drilled with a two-phase coring program; the earlier from 2.4-3.5 km depth; the latter from 3.5-5 km, after having reamed the hole and cemented a production casing. 2) As an alternative, the deepening of existing "wells of oportunity" down to 4 km should also be considered at this time. A CD-disc attached to this report, includes the report itself and material presented at three workshops.