Riksriggen, IODP and ICDP – scientific drilling

Riksriggen is a drilling rig for scientific surveys of the Earth's crust, down to a depth of 2.5 km. Important research questions that can be investigated using deep drilling include the geological development of the bedrock, life deep inside the bedrock, large-scale groundwater systems and calibration of climate models through temperature measurements.

In addition to basic research, the rig can also be used for project applications, for example in studies of the potential of geothermal energy extraction and geological storage of carbon dioxide. Considerable preparatory studies are needed before deep drilling can start. These relate primarily to the geophysical prerequisites for optimal location of the borehole, but also planning of the drilling itself and the research on the rig.

Sweden participates in two major international drilling consortiums: the deep sea drilling programme Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP) through its European branch ECORD, and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), which is the land-based equivalent.