Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP), a consortium of National Energy Authority of Iceland and nation’s energy companies, has been involved in the drilling operations, reports computerworld.com.
Hydrofracking process has been used to bore the deep hole, which involved pumping of cold water to break up the rock next to the magma.
IDDP lined the bottom of the bore hole with a steel casing, creating a shaft of high-pressure steam that exceeded 842 °F (450 Celsius), after reaching molten magma.
The steam from the bore hole is expected to be used in a nearby electrical plant at Krafla.
Before the hole had to be closed due to a valve failure, National Power Company of Iceland has been preparing to connect to the magma-powered steam pipe.
Iceland’s National Power Company was preparing to connect to the magma-powered steam pipe just before the hole had to be closed due to a valve failure.
IDDP was quoted by publication as saying that, "According to the measured output, the available power was sufficient to generate up to 36 megawatts electricity, compared to the installed electrical capacity of 60 megawatts in the Krafla power plant."
