WorldWide Drilling Resource

Into the Heart of an Island ~ Drilling into a Young Volcano Adapted from Information by International Continental Scientific Drilling Program Surtsey Volcano in Iceland is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. Since its formation over 50 years ago, the volcano has been protected as a natural labo- ratory for the study of earth and biological process- es. A hole drilled to a depth of nearly 600 feet in 1979, provides a comprehensive petrological, mineralogical, and thermal framework to understand the structure of the volcano and its early eruptive and hydrothermal process- es. Temper-atures continue to change in the 1979 drill hole. Microbiological studies of water samples have recently discovered colonization deep in the volcano of seafloor bacteria and archaea (a domain of single-celled microorganisms). A new drilling program at the volcano will provide time-lapsed observations of Surtsey’s internal structure and evolving hydrothermal system, as well as the first system- atic longitudinal study of the initiation of life in the pristine oceanic crust of earth. A sub- surface observatory designed for hydrothermal experiments will be installed in the new vertical borehole. How do rock-water interactions evolve in highly explosive rift zone volcanoes? What are the precise rates at which alteration of volcanic glass and initiation of microbial life propagate through Surtsey basalt? How do these processes change the material and geophysical properties of the seafloor? Through their obser- vations and experiments at Surtsey Volcano, scientists hope to answer these questions, as well as explore how explosive magma and seawater interactions send tephra (rock frag- ments ejected from the volcano) into the jet stream, leading to health risks and airplane encounters with airborne ash. Applying the information gathered from the volcano could eventually help the construction industry with the development of innovative concretes and build- ing materials. Young Surtsey basalt grows mineral cements, which are similar to those in ancient Roman marine concrete. Time-lapse studies of these minerals could translate into sustainable concretes capable of lasting thousands of years. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, the WWDR Team prepares an electronic newsletter called E- News Flash . Based on readership, th is was the most popular E-News Flash article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Drilling professionals create the anchoring system for the drilling platform at the Surtsey Volcano site, courtesy of Pauline Bergsten. 38 OCTOBER 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® I am subscr ibed to your magazine and e-news letters and noticed the project I am currently supervising was picked up and highlighted by you guys (Into the Heart of an Island). It was very cool to stumble across this and I shared your article with my drill crews. Thank you for broadcasting this. This is a very special and complex project, everyone here feels quite privileged and honored to be a part of it. Regards, Beau Salt Lake City, Utah Atlantis Vault • Self-Contained • Simple installation • Trouble-free operation For more information call: (270) 786-3010 or visit us online: www.geothermalsupply.com Eijkelkamp / SonicSampDrill’s CompactRotoSonic (CRS) MITO 8 sonic foundation crawler rig is suitable for heavy work, with excellent maneuverability. High-tech components and innovative construction make the MITO 8 sturdy, ef- ficient, and exceedingly reliable. Its high-performance hy- draulic system, combined with a Tier 3 or 4 Cat ® engine, delivers exceptional results for its weight class. This rig also excels in special foundation drilling tasks such as anchor installation, placement of micropiles, compensa- tion grouting, jet grouting, chemical injections, sonic sampling, and well installation. Plus, many accessories are available to make the CRS MITO 8 even safer, faster, and more pro- ductive. Eijkelkamp / SonicSampDrill is a valued WWDR Advertiser