As if from the maw of an angry dragon or a bleeding wound on the surface of earth, when lava comes pouring out of a crater or fissure in the earth's crust it is something to fear and the only thing humans can do is get out of its way! That is the way it has always been, but researchers want to tame this dragon and turn the earth's magma into a source of clean energy. In 2005 the geothermal company Ormat Technologies was drilling a deep injection well at its site in Puna, Hawaii, when, at a depth of 2.5 kilometers, the drill suddenly dropped straight down. They had unexpectedly drilled into a magma chamber. This was the first time it had ever happened and they decided to filled the borehole with concrete. Then in 2009 at the Krafla geothermal power plant in Iceland, the Deep Drilling Project unexpectedly penetrated into the earth's magma at a depth of only 2.1 kilometers. This time the well was left open and a consortium was formed to test new technologies. It was not without difficulty but they successfully demonstrated a borehole into the earth's magma could be controlled and used to produce large quantities of super heated steam to drive turbine generators. The borehole was closed in 2012 after the research completed but it could be reopened. In this image Livi and Ella's job is to keep the dragons under control - it is not an easy thing but they will keep them tame even if it means getting a little rough with them! ;) Zoom for larger image (2560x1440) Thank you for visiting and for your comments on previous posts - I appreciate and very much enjoy reading them. Credits BSC Olivia V4, by Sidhe Rose Graphics (FRM) Outlanders: Survivor by sixus1 (RMP) Outfit by sixus1 includes the hair. DMR Ella V4 by Danie and marforno (DAZ) Stygian Tunnels Geothermal Boiler by Nightshift3D (RMP)