Geothermal Well Testing and Evaluation

Geothermal well testing involves an array of measurements aimed at gathering information on well characteristics, production potential and reservoir properties. This also includes well stimulations with the purpose of enhancing the output of new production wells. Well testing plays a key role during exploration drilling, production well drilling, well maintenance and geothermal field monitoring.

Iceland GeoSurvey owns and operates logging trucks  and a multitude of logging tools for wireline and electrical logging. Iceland GeoSurvey also runs a chemical laboratory.

Iceland GeoSurvey offers the following comprehensive services related to geothermal well testing and evaluation:

• Temperature and pressure logging
  At all temperatures to determine the physical state of a reservoir, locate feed-zones and determine general well conditions. The logging is carried out in the well flowing or shut-in (static) condition. 
• Well test design
  For a wide range of conditions, well test execution and associated pressure transient analysis. This involves single-well tests, such as injection tests, flow or pump tests and build-up tests as well as multi-well tests, such as interference tests. Their purpose is to estimate reservoir properties and well characteristics.
• Well stimulations
  To enhance the output of production wells. This  involves cold water injection, often at high flow-rates, aimed at high-pressure and/or thermal stimulation, as well as chemical stimulation methods. Down-hole packers are commonly used in such operations.
• Tracer tests
  Are conducted to characterize connections between different wells, in particular between reinjection and production wells, and to study the flow-patterns in geothermal systems. Most often used to determine feasibility of proposed long-term reinjection schemes in resource management.
• Appraisal of existing wells
  To evaluate changes in their characteristics for chemical, physical and mechanical reasons, as well as to assess their safety.

Projects in Iceland: In low- and high-enthalpy systems.

Projects worldwide: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guadeloupe, Kenya, Djibouti.