https://interestingengineering.com/company-power-world-dig-deepest-holes

And it uses tech from fusion research.

“We believe, if we can drill down to 20 kilometers, we can access these super-hot temperatures in greater than 90 percent of locations across the globe,”

"Quaise’s work with the DOE is addressing what it sees as the biggest remaining questions about drilling holes of unprecedented depth and pressure, such as material removal and determining the best casing to keep the hole stable and open."

https://news.mit.edu/2022/quaise-energy-geothermal-0628 

So its not Mels hole in Washington then...

Cool stuff, and all very promising.

Unfortunately, absolutely no help at all for the next 10+ years.

I support the research, though. 

Dave

I've actually wondered for several years why somebody wasn't doing this. It seems almost like a no-brainer.

The only thing I was actually worried / wondering about, was whether similar to fracking, these deep holes might tend to cause earth Tremors and quakes.

55 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

these deep holes might tend to cause earth Tremors and quakes.

I was wondering the same thing.

After all, drilling holes this deep and tapping into the mantle is essentially creating a mini volcano.

Dave

I'll be long gone before it comes to fruition but when I get to Heaven I'll send you my e-mail address so you can keep me posted.

Noel

1 hour ago, HiFlyer said:

I've actually wondered for several years why somebody wasn't doing this. It seems almost like a no-brainer.

 

There have been some pretty deep holes drilled, but its technically very difficult and expensive, hence the new methods innovative use of technology from fusion research. It could get us below 10KM where the heat is greater and in  a more cost effective way.

Accessing only 0.1% of the planets heat would power all our needs for 2 million years.

The idea is to use a gyrotron to melt the rock. High frequency EM waves melt the rock basically. Conventional drilling as far as possible and then the gyrotron does its stuff the rest of the way. 

 

 

1 hour ago, HiFlyer said:

The only thing I was actually worried / wondering about, was whether similar to fracking, these deep holes might tend to cause earth Tremors and quakes

 

Fracking is designed to fracture the rocks though by injecting huge quantities of water, so that gas can escape. A very aggressive process.

The gyrotron turns the wall of the bore hole into a glassy material that supports the bore hole and seals any wall cracks. You case it as you drill. No hefty drills to lower into the hole, just the gyrotron. 

When we drill now for geothermal its near tectonic plates, where the heat is more accessible, but the geology is unstable. This system means you can drill elsewhere and deeper in geologically stable areas. 

It's a moot point. At the rate the atmosphere is warming the energy sources we have now will last longer than we will.

Edited July 3, 20223 yr by W2DR
kant spel

14 hours ago, W2DR said:

It's a moot point. At the rate the atmosphere is warming the energy sources we have now will last longer than we will.

 

Better than doing nothing. We can't stop it but we can mitigate, lessen the impact. Can't elaborate more as we arent supposed to discuss it here.

16 hours ago, dave2013 said:

I was wondering the same thing.

After all, drilling holes this deep and tapping into the mantle is essentially creating a mini volcano.

Dave

 

Not exactly. A volcano is fed by molten lava. This bore hole just hot rock.

The mantle is mostly solid, it's the lower mantle that becomes liquid.

Edited July 4, 20223 yr by martin-w

19 hours ago, shamrockflyer said:

So its not Mels hole in Washington then...

I thought you were referring to the esteemed Mr Martin 🙂 for a moment.

This is the companies website.

https://www.quaise.energy/company

Amazing if it comes to fruition. Move into an old coal mine or any fossil fuel plant and convert it into a geothermal plant. 

 

20 hours ago, HiFlyer said:

I've actually wondered for several years why somebody wasn't doing this. It seems almost like a no-brainer.

The only thing I was actually worried / wondering about, was whether similar to fracking, these deep holes might tend to cause earth Tremors and quakes.

Indeed, and who knows what else.

We know life is in existence because Planet Earth is exactly how it was and is. If we're gonna tamper with our planet on such giant scale, who knows what could happen. I mean do we really have enough knowledge and wisdom to oversee all consequences of tapping this energy from around the planet? What will happen if we drain too much energy, to name one question i would have. Would that perhaps ultimately have a minuscule but disastrous effect on the rotation of Earth for instance? Considering the havoc we are wreaking to the planet already, i am very skeptic to the wisdom of mankind.