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Simfish
Gold Member
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So that we could understand it?
That is somewhat misleading. I believe you are quoting the figures for a Qatar well that reached total depth in 2008. This is an extended reach well, so that the true vertical depth (TVD) is considerably less than the measured depth (MD) - the depth quoted. The horizontal portion of the well is around 10km, so TVD will be not much more than 1km.davenn said:the greatest depth drilled so far is ~ 12,289m 12km ... 7.5 miles ! awesome
davenn said:just a little correction... phinds commented on the crust being 10's of miles thick, whilst this is correct for the thickest parts of continental crust, it isn't for oceanic crust which avg's ~ 10km (6 miles) thick. Which is what you originally asked about.
Ophiolite said:That is somewhat misleading. I believe you are quoting the figures for a Qatar well that reached total depth in 2008. This is an extended reach well, so that the true vertical depth (TVD) is considerably less than the measured depth (MD) - the depth quoted. The horizontal portion of the well is around 10km, so TVD will be not much more than 1km.
The only slightly shorter (12,262 m MD) Kola well remains - to my knowledge - the deepest TVD achieved to date.
The oceanic crust varies in thickness, with an average depth of approximately 5-10 kilometers. However, it can reach a maximum depth of 20 kilometers in some areas.
Specialized drilling equipment and tools are used to drill through oceanic crust. These typically include drill bits made of tungsten carbide, drilling fluids, and specialized rigs that can withstand the high pressures and temperatures of the deep ocean.
Scientists use various techniques, such as seismic surveys and satellite imaging, to identify potential drilling sites. They also study the geological structure of the ocean floor to determine the best locations to drill for research or resource extraction purposes.
While it is technically possible to drill through the oceanic crust to reach the Earth's mantle, it is currently not feasible due to the extreme pressures and temperatures at those depths. Scientists have only been able to reach the uppermost layers of the oceanic crust so far.
Drilling through oceanic crust is a complex and expensive process that requires advanced technology and equipment. Some of the challenges include the extreme conditions of the deep ocean, such as high pressures and temperatures, as well as the risk of encountering unexpected geological formations or hazards.