Magma enhances geothermal energy

Molten rock leaked unexpectedly in a geothermal well. To ruin, instead of that, the magma produced overheated steam, which had three times the energy of conventional wells. The magma could serve as a model for future drilling projects.

Many energy companies would love to double their production. Researchers a way to have not discovered now double but triple production in some geothermal wells. These wells, which are built in regions with a high tectonic activity, which can produce volcanoes, hot springs and earthquakes to develop naturally heated water and steam deep into the Earth and it use to generate electricity.

The hot steam, the more energy generated also a geothermal. So when molten rock or magma, unexpectedly in a research in Iceland leaked, researchers realized the well a model for the future could drilling projects around the world.

"It is produce overheated steam at about 400 degrees Celsius (750 degrees Fahrenheit), and it has about three times the energy of traditional wells," said Peter Schiffman, UC Davis geology professor and researcher in the project.

Geothermal wells currently supply energy for 60 million people in 24 countries and are becoming increasingly popular, according to the geothermal energy Association. Geothermal well installations 15 percent per year have increased in the United States alone, the group says.

But geothermal energy can only be used in regions with a high tectonic activity such as California, the Philippines and Iceland, for example. In 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland-based Landsvirkjun power company partnered with a research team the nature of the liquids to study deep under the Earth's surface. The company began drilling a geothermal well in the Krafla Caldera, a large land basin, which is part of an active volcanic system in the northeast of the country. Landsvirkjun about 2.5 kilometers deep drill planned, but was forced to stop after only 1.24 miles, because magma Molten rock from the Earth's started core, seeping into the well.

The researchers tested the well, known as the IDDP-1, and discovered that it enough energy to produced between 25,000 and 30,000 houses. You were surprised.

"We were problems months behind the schedule back and really frustrated by all the holes." Then suddenly we have this great discovery, "said UC Davis geology professor and researcher Robert Zierenberg."

Drilling closer to magma in areas with higher volcanic activity could create energy companies a well produced more valuable energy save how much steam as three or four wells, drilling millions of dollars in costs and geothermal energy. Zirenberg warns, with all the advantages, there are some risks involved.

"Where magma to the surface is at hand, there is potential for the production of high temperature geothermal fluids," said Zierenberg. "But build power plants in active volcanic areas comes with some risk because of the potential for future eruptions."

The wells themselves can create problems. Conventional turbines used, to steam energy can turn into not the high temperature and press, which stand up to the IDDP-1 well.

Landsvirkjun's head makes projects Bjarni Pálsson said in an e-Mail that he is confident can engineers develop new turbines, which can do just that.

"Known higher pressure and temperature by nuclear and fossil power generation", he said. "We believe joining know turbine that manufacturers in the location and experience from these two industries would be."

Pálsson said the construction of new power plant in the IDDP-1 also tap energy intended the company.

He said "Landsvirkjun and the Iceland of deep drilling project experiments this year with the aim of optimally use finding of potentially erosive and corrosive steam,".

After this research, Pálsson said, is the company to his plans for the power plant and more triple-power wells drilling progress decide.

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