News from ÍSOR

ÍSOR's Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Árni Magnússon as Director of Iceland GeoSurvey, ÍSOR. Árni´s position as CEO of the company will commence on July 1st. He will replace Dr. Ólafur G. Flóvenz, the director of ÍSOR since its founding, who will now focus entirely on professional and scientific research.

An open conference, webinar event, in Reykjavik, Iceland on Friday, April 24, 2020.

Due to COVID-19 outbreak, the reception at ÍSOR Reykjavik is open 8:00-13:00 and the switch-board from 8:00-16:00. Please contact us at isor@isor.is and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

From react to REFLECT: ÍSOR, Iceland GeoSurvey is participating in a new EU research project that will study behaviour of geothermal fluids to increase efficiency of geothermal operations.

Dr. Kristján Sæmundsson chief geologist (retired) at Iceland GeoSurvey will be honoured by the Geological Society of London for his tribute to geoscience.

ÍSOR has recently received a quality certification for the company’s quality management system according to the international standard ISO 9001.

In recent weeks, ÍSOR has participated in measurements of crustal movements on the Reykjanes Peninsula in collaboration with the Institute of Earth Sciences, the Icelandic Meteorological Office and HS Orka. ÍSOR has been involved in InSAR (interferometric analysis of synthetic aperture radar images), earthquake and gravity measurements.

Short course on geothermal exploration and development is now ongoing in Kenya, from November 13 to December 3. The course is organized by the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme and KenGen in Kenya. It is a three-week course held at Lake Naivasha.

Iceland GeoSurvey, ÍSOR, has published a new map entitled Geological Map of Central Iceland. This map is the fifth in the series of geological maps of Iceland´s volcanic zones in the scale of 1:100 000.

In mid-September, ÍSOR and the Japanese company Geoscience Enterprise Inc. (GSE) signed a framework agreement on cooperation for geothermal projects in Japan.

New article, "Detecting gas-rich hydrothermal vents in Ngozi Crater Lake using integrated exploration tools" by Dr. Egbert Jolie was released by Nature.

ÍSOR, Iceland GeoSurvey is attending the 7th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention and Exhibition, IIGCE 2019, held in Jakarta 13th to 15th of August 2019.

In summer 2017, the ICDP SUSTAIN project (Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes), drilled three cored boreholes through Surtsey.

ÍSOR will be at the 2nd GEORG Geothermal Workshop, GGW2018, in Reykjavik from 14–15 November 2018.

We proudly announce that Iceland‘s most experienced geothermal energy consultants are working together in East Africa, offering consulting to developers, financial institutions, operators and contractors.

ÍSOR, Iceland GeoSurvey and a group of 17 partners across Europe have received a EUR 16 Million grant from the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. The funding contributes to the GECO project, GECO standing for “Geothermal Emission COntrol”.

Workshop will be held at ÍSOR, August 27, 2018 at 9.00-16.00. All are welcome but registration is needed.

ÍSOR in a Joint Venture of AF-Consult Switzerland Limited, Verkís, AF-Mercados (Turkey) and Sub-consultant of BBA Legal, have been awarded the  role of consultants (RSM Unit) to the Risk Sharing Mechanism (RSM) for Geothermal Resource Validation fund. 

The Geological Society of America (GSA) has honoured Dr. Kristján Sæmundsson, Chief Geologist (retired) at Iceland GeoSurvey, for "pioneering geologic mapping and research that revolutionized understanding of Iceland and plate tectonics of the north Atlantic, and fostered geothermal developments of immense societal value."

Fibre-optic cables can be used to detect earthquakes and other ground movements. The data cables can also pick up seismic signals from hammer shots, passing cars or wave movements in the ocean. This is the result of a study published in Nature Communications. 

ÍSOR has issued a new map entitled “Geological Map of the Eastern Volcanic Zone. Tungnaá area”. It is in the scale of 1: 100 000. The map features Hekla, Þjórsárdalur, Landmannalaugar, Veiðivötn, Langasjór, Jökulheimar, Eldgjá and Lakagígar.

Iceland Geothermal Conference will be held in the Concert hall Harpa in Reykjavík 24th to 27th of April 2018. ÍSOR will participate in the conference, with a lecture, charing a session and at the exhibition.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) and the China Geological Survey (CGS) have signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of geoscience, with a specific emphasis on geothermal energy. 

In mid-January, a delegation from Iceland visited India to discuss cooperation on geothermal matters. 

On 5 February 2018, GEORG Geothermal Research Group organizes a Seminar on the Nature of the Supercritical Fluids as a follow up to Deep Roots of Geothermal Systems project which will take place in Orkugarður in Reykjavik. 

A group of 11 specialists from Geothermal Development Company (GDC) in Kenya attended recently a short course on Geothermal Drilling Management at ÍSOR headquarters.

Geothermal collaboration between Romania and Iceland was recently strengthened through two educational and promotional visits.

At ÍSOR on Thursday Nov 2, at 13.00. By Samuel Scott, post-doctoral researcher in the Operations Research and Subsurface Modeling group at Reykjavik University

During this week, 1.-6. October, two large geothermal events organized by ÍSOR are taking place in Hof, Akureyri. Over 200 geoscientists coming from 15 countries attend meetings and a conference that are part of two geothermal research projects, named IMAGE and GEMex

Well SE-2b has been successfully completed on Surtsey on August 27th. The well was drilled to a total vertical depth of 191.64 m. This reaches project on Surtsey is the largest research project on the island.

An Indonesian delegation, led by the  Vice Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament visited ÍSOR on Wednesday, August 9th. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with Iceland's experience in geothermal energy utilization.

ÍSOR has opened a new geological web map of Iceland. The maps are available in two scales 1:600.000 for the whole of Iceland and 1:100.000 for Southwest and Northeast Iceland.

The IMAGE final conference 2017, Novel approaches for Geothermal Exploration, is held in HOF, Cultural Center, in Akureyri, North Iceland, from 4-6 October 2017. The assembly is open to all geoscientists.

Dr. Maryam Khodayar, Senior Geologist at ÍSOR, will present a series of seminars in January and February 2017. The first seminar is on Multidisciplinary tectonic / geological analyses: From hydrocarbon exploration to Icelandic geology and geothermal exploration, and will be held at ÍSOR, Grensásvegur 9, at 13:00.

Icelandic Geothermal (ÍSOR, Mannvit, Verkís and Vatnaskil) will be at booth 28. The 6th African Rift Geothermal (ARGeo-C6) Conference will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 31 October - 4 November 2016.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) has released an improved geological map of Southwest Iceland in the scale of 1:100 000. This is the second edition of the map, which was first published in 2010.

Geothermal specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey instructed a short course on borehole geophysics for geothermal development in Ethiopia.

ÍSOR is one of the sponsors at the Iceland Geothermal Conference, IGC2016, which will take place at the Harpa Conference Centre in Reykjavík, from 26th to 29th of April.

Last year Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) applied for five research grants to The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation; HORIZON 2020. Four of those applications were recently accepted.

Recently ÍSOR advertised seven vacancies due to increased activity in both geothermal and earth science research in Iceland and abroad. In total more than 300 applications were received for these posts.

Due to increased activities in both geothermal and earth science research in Iceland and abroad Iceland GeoSurvey is seeking specialists.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) has signed a contract with Emerging Power Inc. as a consultants during drilling in the Montelago geothermal area in the Philippines. This contract is a continuation of previous contracts dealing with ÍSOR’s work in connection with the drilling in the area.

Iceland GeoSurvey has published a new geological map, the Geological Map of the Northern Volcanic Zone of Iceland. Southern Part - Ódáðahraun. This new geological map covers many of Iceland´s natural wonders, including the most recent lava flow, Holuhraun, erupted in 2014-2015.

Geothermal specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey have been instructors at geothermal course in Azores islands of Portugal.

In April 2015 a new board of directors for the next four years was announced by the Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources.

Iceland GeoSurvey well be at the World Geothermal Congress from 19th to 24th of April 2015, in Melbourne, Australia.

Specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey worked most of last year on a geothermal project on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines for Emerging Power Inc. The US news agency Voice of America recently published a review of the project.

Iceland GeoSurvey has published a new geological map of Iceland titled Geological Map of Iceland. Bedrock. Formations are categorised by age, type and composition.

A geothermal training programme, which was specifically aimed at young geoscientists, was held in Mexico between November 24 and 29 in the geothermal power plant in Los Azufres.

Presentation about the collaborative project NACTEC (Northeast Atlantic Geoscience Tectonostratigraphic Atlas) at the University of Akureyri, 13th of November.

A German film crew from Spiegel-TV accompanied ÍSOR´s scientists this summer.

Specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey are among instructors on an international course about the Arctic Microbial Ecology which is held in Akureyri, Northern Iceland, between June 15 and June 28.

The geoscientists Gudni Axelsson, Knútur Árnason and Gylfi Páll Hersir from Iceland GeoSurvey, ÍSOR, and Hjálmar Eysteinsson from Reykjavik Geothermal, have received the IGA Best Paper Award for 2014.

Iceland GeoSurvey, ÍSOR was part of a delegation of the Icelandic Ministry of Industry and Innovation, which met with leading authorities in Terceira, Azores last week.

ÍSOR has signed a contract with the firm Emerging Power for geothermal exploration in the Montelago geothermal area on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) participates in an extensive European research project in which Iceland is granted 1.7 million Euros. This four year research project is entitled IMAGE (Integrated Methods for Advanced Geothermal Exploration).

Production drilling for geothermal energy is recommencing on the volcanic island of Dominica in the Caribbean. During this phase of the geothermal project two wells will be drilled to a depth of 1200-1800 m.

The drilling of well RR-22 at Reykir by Reykjabraut was completed on October 15 2013. The well became 1000 m deep.

The International community has shown increased commitment in assisting East Africa in building up the solid knowledge and infrastructure necessary for the harnessing of geothermal energy.

Scientist from Iceland GeoSurvey are presently supervising a five day short course on deep geothermal exploration in Kigali, Rwanda for the employees of the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) of Rwanda.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) has recently signed a contract on logging of production wells in the island Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea.

Iceland GeoSurvey has signed a contract with the German drilling company Daldrup & Söhne AG (www.daldrup.eu) to carry out logging in two boreholes that the company is drilling into a low temperature geothermal area at Heemsmkerk in the Netherlands.

On 5-8 March a large number of local and foreign experts and administrators attended an international geothermal conference (Iceland Geothermal Conference 2013) in Reykjavik.

Iceland GeoSurvey, ÍSOR, has signed a contract as a sponsor of the Iceland Geothermal Conference, IGC2013, which will take place in Reykjavík between March 5th – 8th 2013.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) will be participating at the annual meeting of the Geothermal Resource Council (GRC) and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) trade show, Geothermal Energy Expo in Reno, Nevada, September 30th - October 3rd 2012.

Two geologists at Iceland GeoSurvey presented their M.Sc. projects at the conference of European geothermal graduate students (European Geothermal PhD day) in Pisa, Italy at the end of March.

A milestone was reached in energy research in Iceland when three applications for hydrocarbon exploration and production licences in the Dreki area (between Iceland and Jan Mayen) were announced.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) and Reykjavík University have openings for three (3) positions in applied geoscience.

The Annual Report of Iceland GeoSurvey for the year 2011 is now accessible on the company web site. A considerable growth in the number of foreign projects is among the highlights of the report. The revenue from such projects was 16% higher than in the year before, amounting to 32.7% of the total revenue of Iceland GeoSurvey in 2011. The main projects were in Chile, Kenya, Nicaragua, Dominica, Croatia, Ethiopia and Turkey.

Along with the drilling company Iceland drilling (Jardboranir), Iceland GeoSurvey has been involved in exploration drilling on the Caribbean island of Dominica since early December. This is the first exploration drilling in Dominica.

The Nordic Geological Winter Meeting is being held in Iceland during 9-12 January at the Harpa Conference Centre and Concert Hall in Reykjavik. ÍSOR staff members will be giving presentations on a range of topics, including petrology, groundwater research, the continental shelf and the ocean floor around Iceland in connection with the search for hydrocarbons, man-made earthquakes and geothermal research.

Geothermal specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey have been among instructors at "Short Course on  Geothermal Exploration and Development" in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, November 7 - 12.

For the first time Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) has shipped a specially equipped truck for well logging and a portable lab abroad, with the equipment leaving port a few days ago.

Iceland GeoSurvey and ThinkGeoEnergy publish a global Geothermal Power Map.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) will be participating at the annual meeting of the Geothermal Resource Council (GRC) and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) trade show, Geothermal Energy Expo in San Diego, CA October 23-26 2011.

Students of the United Nations University Geothermal Training Program in Reykjavik, Iceland will present their projects Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at Orkugardur, Grensasvegur 9, starting at 9am.

The Icelandic consulting firms ISOR, Mannvit, Vatnaskil and Verkís recently signed an agreement with Kenya Electricity, KenGen, for capacity assessment and feasibility study of the Olkaria geothermal fields.  The agreement is the conclusion of an international tender procedure.

GEORG, (Geothermal Research Group), in cooperation with NORDVULK Summer School, is holding a workshop on the Deep Roots of Geothermal Systems.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) recently signed an agreement with the government of Dominica to provide services during this summer’s drilling by the Icelandic company Jardboranir.

The conference, which is entirely organized by graduate students, is now being held for the second time after last year’s inauguration in Potsdam, Germany.

Iceland GeoSurvey participates in the workshop “Geophysics for Deep Geothermal Energy” which is held in Cologne in Germany on Friday, the 25th of February.

Iceland GeoSurvey is collaborating with the Turkish energy company BM Holding on the long-term testing of two production wells in the planned geothermal production area of Gümüsköy in the western part of Turkey.

Geothermal specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey are among instructors at “Short Course on Geothermal Drilling,

It is hoped that the use of renewable energy in Chile will increase in the coming years.

Geophysical Methods in Geothermal Exploration for non-experts (ÍSOR1) Geochemical Methods in Geothermal Exploration (ÍSOR2)

Yesterday, June 23rd, Francois Lebert from BRGM was able to demonstrate together with ÍSOR a new temperature measuring tool built and assembled within the HiTI project.

Video-clip of all presentations from an interactive workshop in geothermal reservoir studies in Iceland is now available on the webpage by GEORG (Geothermal Research Group).

The World Geothermal Congress (WGC2010) will be held at Bali International Convention Centre 25 - 30 of April in Nusa Dua.

ÍSOR took part at the European Geothermal PhD day in Potsdam, Germany, which was held today, February 12th, 2010.

An NDF delegation visited Iceland last week. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with Iceland's experience with geothermal energy.

 Instead of sending Christmas cards Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) has decided to support the association of "Alnæmisbörn" (www.hiv-born.is), dedicated to children suffering from AIDS in Uganda.

Geothermal specialists from Iceland GeoSurvey have been among instructors at “Short Course on Surface Exploration for Geothermal Resources” for young professionals in Central America and the Caribbean in San Salvador which took place from 17-30 October.

An agreement has been signed between ICEIDA and Iceland Geosurvey (ISOR) on a geothermal project in Nicaragua. The agreement involves ISOR´s expert consultancy on geothermal matters in Nicaragua from 2009-2013. This is a part of bilateral development cooperation between Iceland and Nicaragua which has the main objective to increase the use of geothermal resources by strengthening capacities at the government level.

Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) will be participating at the Geothermal Energy Expo in Reno, October 4-7 2009. We hope to see you at our booth which is no. 306 during the conference, to learn more about our involvement and services in geothermal.

In connection with the kick off meeting of GEORG EEIG (GEOthermal Research Group) there will be an open conference on geothermal energy research and the opportunities an

The third phase of the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) was launched on March 25th in Krafla, North Iceland.