Why study earthquakes?
Earthquakes are difficult to predict, especially minor ones in unexpected locations.
Understanding earthquakes helps mitigate their risks.
What is scientific deep-drilling?
Drilling deep holes to directly study the Earth's crust.
Provides unique data on rocks, fluids, and pressure.
Helps validate models based on surface studies.
Benefits of deep-drilling in Koyna, India
Understand why Koyna experiences frequent earthquakes (triggered by dam?).
Improve earthquake prediction and mitigation strategies.
Gain valuable data about Earth's crust in general.
Drive innovation in drilling technology and earth science research.
Challenges of deep-drilling
Expensive and labor-intensive.
Hot, dark, and high-pressure environment at depth.
Difficulty in drilling through fractured rocks and retrieving samples.
Koyna drilling project
Drilled a 3 km pilot borehole.
Using a combination of mud rotary and air hammering techniques.
Collected core samples and rock chips for analysis.
Measured physical and chemical properties of the borehole environment.
Findings from the pilot project
Revealed geological layers and their ages.
Provided data on rock properties, fluids, temperature, and stress.
Identified presence of water at 3 km depth.
Confirmed the critically stressed state of the Koyna region.
Future plans
Deepen the borehole to 6 km (requires upgraded equipment).
Analyze data to understand earthquake triggers and fault zones.
Share samples with researchers for various studies (e.g., microbes, carbon capture).
Overall significance
This project establishes India's capability in scientific deep-drilling.
The learnings will benefit future drilling projects and advance earthquake research.
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