Drilling scheduled in Akutan this summer

In Alaska, preparations are underway for drilling exploratory geothermal wells in Hot Springs Bay Valley on Akutan Island, just three miles from Akutan Village. Extensive prospecting, including soil and chemical testing, remote sensing using satellite imagery, and magnetotelluric measurement of electric currents, was completed in October 2009. The team, led by Dr. Amanda Kolker, has identified four high-priority sites for test well drilling this summer. Four slim hole wells will be drilled between June and October, one to a depth of 3,500 feet and three to a depth of 1,500 feet. Funding issues may reduce drilling to the two most promising locations.