Drilling For Magma · Slashdot Mirror

Posted by timothy on Monday January 6, 2003 @10:26AM from the cue-number-two dept.

Makarand writes "In an effort to better understand volcanic eruption patterns researchers in Japan are planning undertake the world's first volcano drilling experiment to get samples of magma according to this Japan Times online article. They plan to drill 1700 meters deep to penetrate a volcanic vent. The drilling operation will use muddy water as a coolant which will also help prevent volcanic gas and other substances from spewing out. They will start in late January and are expected to extract a sample about 200 meters long and 15 cm in diameter by summer. Studying such samples is expected to reveal secrets not possible with studies conducted from above ground and mere observation of rocks around the volcanic vent."

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Damn, there goes another joke. by JUSTONEMORELATTE · 2003-01-06 11:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

At a previous job, I wrote code to clean up data entry problems in oil well data. If someone put an extra digit into the Total Depth field, those were flagged as Magma wells. (it's only funny if there is no such thing, you see)
On the other hand, it's nice to look at this story and realize my code would simply call this a 170m well and move on its merry way.