Geothermal Energy Company Accidentally Angers Volcano, Pretends Everything Is Fine

Internal documents from ThermaCore Energy Solutions, leaked to this publication by an anonymous geoscientist, reveal that the company's geothermal drilling operation near Mount Arso in Iceland triggered a series of phreatic explosions that the company publicly characterized as 'exciting thermal results indicative of exceptional resource potential.' The internal emails tell a different story. 'We appear to have intersected a magma body at 2.1 km depth,' reads one email from the site geologist to corporate headquarters. 'The borehole is producing steam at approximately 450 degrees Celsius, which is significantly hotter than our equipment's rated capacity. Also, the ground is shaking. Please advise.' Headquarters' response, sent fourteen minutes later: 'Characterize publicly as promising geothermal indicators. Internally, please evacuate the drill site.' The phreatic explosions, which created a new fumarole approximately 200 meters from the drill rig, were described in ThermaCore's press release as 'natural venting consistent with a high-enthalpy geothermal system,' a characterization that the Icelandic Meteorological Office disputed in unusually direct terms. 'It's a volcanic event triggered by drilling,' said IMO volcanologist Dr. Sigrun Tephra. 'Calling it natural venting is like calling a house fire spontaneous illumination. Technically every word is accurate. The sentence as a whole is a lie.' ThermaCore's stock rose 4 percent on the day of the press release, as investors interpreted 'exciting thermal results' as positive. It dropped 11 percent the following day when Dr. Tephra's assessment was published. The company has suspended drilling operations 'pending a comprehensive geological review,' which internal emails describe as 'waiting for the volcano to calm down, if it does, which is not guaranteed.'