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Core Drilling Leads to A New Age of Energy Generation Adapted from Information by Krafla Magma Testbed During deep geothermal drilling beneath the Icelandic volcano Krafla, scientists identified the precise location of a magma chamber at a depth of over a mile with temperatures of 1650ºF (900ºC). To take advantage of the discovery, the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) concept was developed by an ambitious international collaboration of around 50 research institutes, government agencies, and universities from 12 countries, including the United States. The KMT will become the first international magma observatory and laboratory for advanced studies and experiments in magmatic, volcanic, and geothermal sys- tem dynamics. The open, multiuser facility will be a base for investigating the high- est temperature processes in the crust of rocky planets, which will give insight needed for exploration of extreme environments. KMT research will improve how the world reads signs of volcanic unrest, im- proving civil protection for the 800 million people who live within 60 miles of an active volcano. By establishing where and under what conditions magma is stored, multiple sensors can be used to provide direct measurements of changes in temperature, gas content, crystallization, and pressure which could signify an eruption. To harness near magma heat in regions across the world, new drilling technology and sensor systems capable of working in extreme environments will be used, establishing state-of-the-art technology and solutions. In the first phase, a crew will drill a new research borehole with the aim of recovering a core from the boundaries of solid and molten rock, while monitoring temperatures. The borehole will be cased using new innovative, patented, flexible couplings, allowing the steel to thermally expand without accumulating too much stress and strain on the casing. After successful recovery of a core, the borehole will be allowed to heat up, under constant monitoring and supervision, which will make it possible to monitor magma in situ. Following a successful proof of concept, the team plans to revisit the first hole to recover another core, and monitor tem- perature as well as pressure, while the borehole heats up again. When conditions at the bottom of the well have reached those of the surrounding environment, the team may initiate flow testing of the well, which involves cooling the magma. If it is deemed the well and the conditions are suitable without jeopardizing its future, a flow test will assess the flexible couplings’ and casing’s ability to survive the harsh condition of high-temperature and corrosive geothermal fluids. It will also provide a valuable oppor- tunity to sample the chemistry of the geothermal fluid close to magma, as well as allow for geothermal engineering testing and experiments. In the third phase, the team will take another magma core from the first well and deploy a customized sonde to measure viscosity and density of the magma in situ.The sonde will be designed to sense the solid base of the magmatic body, defining the thickness of magma underlying the geothermal system. In the fourth phase, the intention is to drill a second research hole and recover a core in a different part of the magma reservoir, while monitoring pressure and temperature in the first hole to test the response of the magmatic system to geothermal drilling activity. This data and associated stimulation of magma in two places will enhance our ability to image the spatial dis- tribution of the magma reservoir. After completing the initial delivery phases, the KMT research facility will be opened to the research community. The facility will be open to the wider community through yearly calls for pro- posals, which will be considered by the KMT Executive Board. 47 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® NOVEMBER 2019 Open the Doorway to all the Event Photos during National Drilling Association 2019 To see all the photos from this event, go to www.worldwidedrillingresource.com Feel free to download at will and print the photo(s) of your choice. Compliments of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Photos are copyrighted and released for personal use only - no commercial use permitted. GEO January Issue Deadlines! Space Reservation: November 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: December 1 st