In 2008, scientists attempted to drill a well into the magma pocket beneath the Krafla volcano in Iceland. The magma chamber turned out to be closer than expected, opening the well and destroying it. However, the most important thing is that the disaster in the form of a drilling-induced explosion does not occur; This proved the possibility of controlled access to magma and gave hope for taming the energy of the volcano in the future.

Taking into account the experience gained, scientists will make a number of attempts to get as close as possible to the magma chambers under Krafla. The next drilling is planned for 2026. The Krafla Magma Testband (KMT) organization, which was created specifically for this purpose, takes part in the project.

“Being able to penetrate the crust and take magma samples will give us great information. – researchers say. “We hope to be able to at least make a direct measurement of temperature, which has never been done before.”

The project is quite ambitious. Heat-resistant instruments and measuring equipment must be developed to reach the required depth and monitor conditions near and inside magma pockets. At the same time, it should be understood that identifying magmatic pockets and determining the depth of their formation is not a trivial task. As a rule, scientists drill almost blindly, hoping that the proximity of a volcano will most likely allow reaching a magma chamber sooner or later.

If the project is successful, it will add much to our knowledge about volcanoes and the causes of eruptions. But scientists also expect practical value from the studies. In 2028, another drilling will be carried out on the slopes of Krafla, taking into account geothermal technologies. It is planned to operate a turbine that produces electricity with the help of superheated water under high pressure heated by magma in the pocket or near the chamber. According to researchers, powerful energy sources such as volcanoes need to be gradually tamed in order to access unlimited clean energy.