Utilization of Superhot Geothermal Systems – Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The IDDP project has been ongoing for almost 20 years. The history of the project has been described in several papers. From engineering point of view one of the most challenging issue in the beginning of the project was the lack of data to determine the design conditions. Data accumulated during drilling and of IDDP-1 and IDDP-2 and information collected throughout various flow tests of IDDP-1 have changed that and added to the knowledge of which downhole conditions may be expected when drilling into superhot geothermal systems. As the design conditions have been better identified, the plans for drilling into superhot geothermal systems and utilization of the fluid have been improved. The lessons learned from the IDDP project from engineering perspective are discussed and the opportunities for utilizing the fluid from superhot geothermal system are outlined from engineering, economic and environmental point of view. The IDDP project has revealed several challenges which must be solved before this utilization can be considered commercial. These challenges are addressed and discussed.