The Theistareykir geothermal power plant, owned by national power company Landsvirkjun in Iceland, is planning to expand its operations through the commencement of exploratory drilling for two new wells by September 2023. The purpose of this expansion is to increase the installed capacity of the power plant by an additional 45 MW, augmenting the existing 90 MW capacity.
Preparations for the drilling operations began in the previous summer and by early spring, the designated location was fully prepared for the setup of the drilling rig, which has now been successfully completed.
Bjarni Pálsson, the director of geothermal development at Landsvirkjun, explained that each well will be approximately 2800 meters deep and will be drilled diagonally under Bæjarfjall. The drilling process is anticipated to take approximately four months. Pálsson emphasized that these wells have an exploratory purpose, aiming to extend the resource area towards the south and east. However, the intention is to utilize the wells as production wells in the future.
Remarkably, the drilling rig will be powered by electricity generated by the Theistareykir geothermal power plant itself, as opposed to relying on a diesel generator. Pálsson highlighted the significant energy requirements of the drilling operation, stating that it necessitates 3-4 megawatts. By utilizing the plant's own green electricity to power the drill, a substantial amount of carbon dioxide emissions can be saved.
This upcoming drilling operation at Theistareykir marks the first time such an activity has taken place since the commissioning of the power plant in 2017. While the targeted installed capacity is set at 135 MW, data gathered from surface measurements indicate the possibility of an even larger resource, potentially capable of supporting a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 180 MW.
