Deep Geothermal Drilling System DeepBore Breaks Through 15km Depth: Geothermal Energy Enters Ultra-Deep Era

Deep Geothermal Drilling System DeepBore Breaks Through 15km Depth

US company Quaise Energy completed milestone testing of its DeepBore deep geothermal drilling system in northern Iceland in May 2028, successfully drilling to 15km depth — a commercial drilling depth record. Underground temperatures at this depth exceed 500°C, sufficient for accessing high-temperature geothermal energy at any location.

Traditional Geothermal's Limitations

Traditional geothermal development depends on naturally occurring geothermal reservoirs. Only a few regions have quality natural resources, limiting geothermal to about 0.3% of global electricity generation.

Quaise Energy CEO Carlos Araque said: "If we can drill deep enough, anywhere is a geothermal resource area."

Millimeter-Wave Drilling Technology

DeepBore's core technology uses high-power millimeter-wave beams to directly vaporize rock. Traditional rotary drill bits wear rapidly beyond 10km due to extreme heat and pressure, while millimeter-wave drilling has no physical contact surface.

DeepBore drills at approximately 30 meters per hour — 10x faster than conventional methods. A 15km bore costs approximately $30 million, just 40% of traditional ultra-deep drilling costs.

Iceland Pilot Project

The Iceland pilot will begin generating power by end of 2028 with 50MW capacity. Landsvirkjun CEO Hordur Arnarson said: "DeepBore transforms geothermal from a regional resource to a global one."

Geothermal's Future

The IEA estimates that if deep drilling technology commercializes, global geothermal potential could reach 100 terawatts — far exceeding current total installed capacity worldwide. However, ultra-deep drilling carries seismic risks, with three micro-tremors below magnitude 2.0 recorded during the Iceland pilot.