Exploring new frontiers of magma vitality with the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) challenge – Interview with Björn Þór Guðmundsson (inset picture supply: Landsvirkjun)
On this interview, Björn Þór Guðmundsson from the KMT challenge tells us concerning the formidable targets of drilling into magma within the Krafla geothermal subject, Iceland.
Regardless of the superior state of geothermal growth round volcanic areas, there has not been a lot success in drilling into magma and taking significant in-situ measurements. There have been instances of drilling into magma up to now, however these had been by no means totally exploited principally due to the technological limitations of the time. Certainly, magma has been described as an unexplored frontier of the Earth’s crust.
Within the coming years, the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) challenge within the Krafla geothermal subject in Iceland goals to drill right into a shallow magma chamber. It will function each a analysis facility and an indication facility for producing geothermal vitality near a magma physique.
To study extra concerning the KMT challenge, we interviewed Mission Supervisor Björn Þór Guðmundsson from the Geothermal Analysis Cluster (GEORG). Björn sheds some mild on KMT’s method on addressing the challenges of drilling into magma and the goals of the challenge.
There had beforehand been an incident of drilling into magma in Iceland which bumped into points regarding corrosion and excessive temperatures. What enhancements in expertise will assist make this try a hit? What would be the technique for coping with the previous technical challenges?
I assume you’re referring to the IDD-1 challenge and the drilling into magma in 2009. The concept of KMT sprung out of the unintended encounter of magma within the IDDP challenge. When IDDP-1 was drilled, the nicely was not designed to resist the acute near-magma atmosphere. They used typical drilling tools and supplies (wellhead, casings and so forth.) which resulted in corrosion and instability of the nicely, in order that they finally needed to shut it down.
Nevertheless, that nicely was circulate examined for greater than a 12 months and turned out to be about ten instances extra highly effective than the typical nicely in Krafla.
Based mostly on this expertise, the Krafla Magma Testbed NPO is doing in depth materials testing and growth to design wells that may stand up to these situations. This will probably be supported by modelling of the thermo-mechanical fluid-structure interplay dynamics, which permits us to compute the dynamics and the thermo-mechanical stress related to the intrusion of magma right into a drill gap.
What sort of info or samples do you intention to gather from the wells?
We’re drilling two wells: KMT-1, a monitoring and volcanic analysis nicely, and KMT-2, an vitality analysis nicely. We will probably be accumulating plenty of geophysical and geochemical knowledge from these wells with strategies which are principally recognized.
What’s completely different about KMT is that we intention to get well a core from the bottom of the hydrothermal system to magma and monitor temperature via that interval in parallel. This would be the first time scientists will truly get samples of this. Our intention is to position temperature and strain sensors into the magma for direct measurements on magma behaviour. We’re collaborating with the sensor neighborhood to develop new temperature sensor and temperature-resilient applied sciences to observe strain straight within the magma.
By way of this direct commentary, we intention to reinforce our means to observe and forecast volcanic occasions. By refining our interpretations and fashions of the indicators monitored throughout volcanic unrest, we’ll develop new strategies to enhance early warning programs for volcanic eruptions, in the end decreasing the dangers they pose.
Other than exploring the potential for superhot rock geothermal, what different scientific perception do you hope to realize from this challenge?
These are the overarching targets of KMT:
- Characterise the magma-rock-hydrothermal transition zone and its evolution;
- Design and assemble secure wells for sampling and steady long-term monitoring of magma our bodies saved at depth and their rapid atmosphere;
- Take a look at new supplies, sensors, and applied sciences in excessive situations;
- Develop new energy-harnessing applied sciences;
- Consider the response of magma and fluids to geothermal exploration and utilisation;
- Perform experiments with managed manipulation on the magma-rock-hydrothermal interface and in magma, coupled with high-resolution monitoring exercise;
- Develop new monitoring strategies and approaches able to figuring out, finding, and characterising magma our bodies;
- Enhance reliability of warnings of impending volcanic eruptions world-wide via improved understanding of subsurface volcanic processes and how one can monitor them.
What do you foresee would be the impression of the KMT challenge on the sphere of superhot rock geothermal and the general geothermal business?
Worldwide funding in geothermal vitality nonetheless accounts for less than a comparatively small proportion of vitality manufacturing worldwide. Causes embody that the useful resource is typically inconveniently distributed, preliminary prices are excessive due to the expense and uncertainties of drilling, and the effectivity of changing regular geothermal steam to electrical energy is low.
However, geothermal energy era operates with very low greenhouse fuel emission, manufacturing is steady, and the footprint is small. The ability plant sits on its vitality supply and “waste” recycling website. Advances in transmission of electrical energy are overcoming the economics of distance with higher “ground-truthing” on finding the magmatic warmth supply.
Decreasing uncertainties about situations in magma from KMT will lower start-up prices. KMT goals to revolutionize the geothermal business by enhancing geothermal energy economics as much as an order of magnitude, which was confirmed to be the distinction between a standard nicely in Krafla and the IDDP-1 nicely which by chance entered magma. This will probably be completed by designing new modern manufacturing wells that may stand up to near-magma situations.
The improved geothermal vitality yield is said to greater fluid enthalpy and exergy of superhot geothermal fluid that will probably be equally related in all geographical and geological settings as in Iceland.
The technical options developed to deal with fluid each in wells and on floor will probably be relevant in different geographical and geological settings. Fluid properties will largely be decided by temperature and strain, not solely the geology. This contains gases akin to HCl and silica. Equally sizzling wells could have similar challenges by way of thermal enlargement of casings, valves, and different floor tools. The identical applies to challenges by way of cementing of lengthy casing strings in sizzling rock atmosphere.
The event and options of drilling fluids and drilling strategies to evaluate and deal with formation stability when drilling with chilly drilling fluids in superhot rock formations will probably be relevant for all superhot geothermal programs in different geographical and geological settings.
Geothermal will be thought of an ally within the vitality transition for its energy and non-intermittency, and part of the inexperienced vitality combine to assist us shift from fossil fuels. For instance, growing methods to utilise near-magma geothermal vitality may open methods to new vitality sources akin to ocean flooring rift zones the place magma lies comparatively excessive within the crust. All geothermal will be thought of as a cost0efficient, secure, environmentally pleasant, and reliable baseload vitality. Magma vitality will be thought of a high-risk, high-reward supply of geothermal vitality.
Are you able to inform us extra concerning the timeline of the challenge? When can we count on the drilling to begin and what number of wells are being deliberate?
We plan to drill the primary nicely KMT-1 in 2026 and KMT-2 in 2028.
