| Abstract |
Landsvirkjun (The National Power Company in Iceland) drilled the first IDDP science well of three proposed by the research project, in NE-Iceland at Krafla. The IDDP consortium is composed of Landsvirkjun, HS Orka and Orkuveita Reykjavíkur, Alcoa Inc. Cananda, StaoilHydro ASA, Norway, ICDP, US NSF, Orkustofnun. Preparation for the drilling initiated in the year 2000 and continued until the drilling activity started with a pre drilling in the mid year 2008 and a drilling to 800 m started later in the same year. Drilling to 4,5 km continued in March 2009 in the search for a supercritical fluid. However, after almost three months of drilling problems, getting stuck, having twist offs, and having to sidetrack two times, the source of these problems became clear at 2104 m depth when the drillbit had obviously drilled into a magma pocket of some size. Quenched volcanic glass was returned to the surface, estimated to have been about 1050°C before cooling. |