Preliminary Well Designs and Costs for Magma Energy Extraction Wells

Abstract

An evaluation of the economics to drill and complete wells into magma chambers for power production required cost estimates for the wells. These cost estimates involved investigating drilling technology, technology of tubular materials and capability of developing technology of penetrating the magma. A number of various well diameters were costed for systems where well fluid not exposed to magma (closed) and well fluid is exposed to magma (open) . These wells were costed for only a single temperature and geologic area. The basic conclusion is that wells can technically be drilled into the magma if hot, high pressure formation fluids from large systems are not encountered. The well profiles presented her have not undergone detailed engineering design. They are for preliminary costing only. Actual designs may be far more complex based on further geologic and operating information.