Geochemistry and Materials Studies in Support of the Magma Energy Extraction Program

Abstract

Geochemistry and materials studies are being performed in support of the Magma Energy Extraction Program. The scope of the studies is dictated by the sties under consideration and the designs of the drilling and energy extraction systems. The work ahs been largely restricted to characterizing magmatic environments at sties of interest and testing engineering materials in laboratory simulated rhyolite magmatic environments. The behavior of 17 commercially available materials has been examined at magmatic conditions. Analysis of reaction products reveal that oxidation, and not sulfidation, is the main corrosion problem for most alloys in rhyolite, and that reaction with other magmatic components is limited. Considerations of corrosion resistance, high temperature strength, and cost indicated nickel base superalloys offer the most promise as candidates for use in rhyolitic magma.