| Title | Geldinganes Geothermal Field: Exploration of a Potential New Production Site for the ReykjavÃk District Heating System |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sandra Ó. SNAEBJORNSDOTTIR, Ragna B. BRAGADOTTIR, Ingvi GUNNARSSON, Bergur SIGFUSSON, Gretar IVARSSON, Guðmundur Ó. GUNNARSSON, Aðalsteinn MÖLLER, Edda S. ARADOTTIR, Vala HJORLEIFSDOTTIR, Hafliði J. SIGURDSSON, Einar GUNNLAUGSSON |
| Year | 2020 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | low temperature areas, production wells, geothermal reservoir, resources, geothermal utilisation |
| Abstract | Geothermal water has been used for district heating in ReykjavÃk since 1930. To date, the water for the district heating system is supplied from geothermal fields located in the vicinity of and within the city limits, and from the two high temperature geothermal power plants at Nesjavellir and at Hellisheiði, about 30 km east of ReykjavÃk. The increasing heat demand for the capital area district heating system calls for new geothermal resources to supply the system for the future operations. One of the potential sites for added supply is located at the Geldinganes peninsula, an uninhabited area just north of the city center. Plans to utilize the Geldinganes field for district heating date back to the 1990’s when geothermal exploration in the area revealed a more than 100°C geothermal system and exceptionally high temperature gradient of 460°C/km. Following the exploration, a 1832 m deep production well was drilled which produced water with temperatures exceeding 100°C - but was less productive than anticipated. The plans for further drilling and utilization were subsequently abandoned due to changes in the urban planning of the city. The increased demand of water supply for the district heating system has now put the focus back on the Geldinganes geothermal field. Here we report on the current exploration plans of this potential new resource. These include: i) a tracer test aimed to confirm that the system is isolated from a neighboring geothermal system currently utilized, ii) plans for stimulation of the existing production well in the area, and iii) construction of a geological model based on the existing data from the field that will facilitate decision making regarding future drilling of new wells. |