6-mile-deep research well proposed

Scientists have proposed digging six miles into the earth ofsoutheastern Illinois, and using the hole as the nation's deepestresearch well.

The so-called Superdeep Drillhole could tell scientists where tofind oil and minerals, and reveal whether Illinois is a safe place tobury toxic wastes.

Monitoring equipment at the bottom of the well might detectunderground nuclear blasts and tell scientists whether the state isdue for another big earthquake.

About 120 geologists, chemists and drilling experts proposed thewell during a four-day workshop last week at the University ofIllinois at Chicago.

If approved by the National Science Foundation, the $35 millionhole will be dug in the area where the borders of Illinois, Indianaand Kentucky meet.

The site probably would be in Illinois, in either Gallatin orHardin counties, said Jonathan Goodwin of the State GeologicalSurvey.

The hole would be about four feet wide at the top, tapering tothree or four inches at the bottom. Drilling could start as early as1989, and take 1 1/2 to 2 years, Goodwin said. A diamond-studdeddrill, powered by a 3,000 or 4,000 horsepower diesel engine, wouldgrind through layers of sandstone, shale, coal and limestone.

The world's deepest hole is in the Soviet Union, nearScandinavia. It's nearly eight miles deep.

Rock samples from the research well might tell scientistswhether Illinois is likely to have deep oil reserves.

Underground water samples could also point to deposits offlourite, a mineral used in making steel and aluminum. Analyzingwater samples also would help scientists determine whether it's safeto bury poisonous liquid wastes, Goodwin said.

A seismograph at the bottom of the well would also recordstresses in the Earth's crust, which could indicate whether Illinoisis in for another earthquake.

In 1811, an earthquake in the southern tip of the stateswallowed more than a quarter-million acres of forest.