The Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) is a consortium formed to investigate the economic feasibility of producing energy and useful substances by drilling down deeper into geothermal systems – down to what are known as “supercritical conditions.” Essentially, these are natural systems found where underground water becomes super-heated by coming into close proximity with nearly molten rocks. Supercritical (high-temperature) geothermal systems potentially could produce up to 10 times more electricity than the geothermal wells typically in service around the world today.
Pre-drilling of well IDDP-1 commenced on June 19 at a depth of 16.5 feet (measured from the pliers, which is 6.6 ft. above ground). Drilling was completed on June 28 at a depth of 300 feet. It took 91.5 hours to complete the pre-drilling stage with an average rate of penetration of 3 feet per hour. The casing shoe was set in a section of altered basaltic tuff with abundance of calcite and pyrite. On June 29, the well was rinsed, and the string was pulled out of hole in the evening. The following day, the well was cased with the 32-inch surface casing to a depth of 295 feet. The casing was cemented on the July with more than 100 cubic feet of cement. The following day, the Saga drill rig was prepared to move off-site, marking the completion of the pre-drilling operation of well IDDP-1.
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