White Paper on Reykjavik Energy‘s Deep Utilization Plans

Abstract

Orkuveitan has been a participant in the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) from its commencement in 2000. Our partners in the project are Landsvirkjun, HS Orka, Iceland Energy Authority and Equinor. The main goal of the project is to drill a superhot production well in a traditional geothermal area. Through the years this project has sparked many other ideas related to deep heat utilization and the expansion of geothermal energy usage worldwide. In this paper we will present the goals of Reykjavik Energy in our deep utilization journey, identify knowledge gaps and go through the key parts of our plans to go deeper and to make geothermal energy more accessible. Orkuveitan’s approach is threefold. Firstly, a deep injection well will be drilled to support our current production by injecting into superhot geological formations below our current production zone. With this deep injection we hope to unlock the energy below our current production zone. Secondly, a deep production well will be drilled in our current production area, in line with the goals of the IDDP. Thirdly, we are researching the potential for deep superhot EGS in Iceland. Mapping of potential locations is ongoing. The ultimate goal of Orkuveitan’s deep utilization efforts is to unlock geothermal potential in many untapped locations in Iceland and perhaps spark the geothermal revolution worldwide.