New location for second drilling campaign
Within the second drilling campaign for the Einstein Telescope, a decision has been made to adjust the drilling schedule. Of the five planned drillings, two locations had already been designated. The remaining locations will be determined based on the results of the first two drillings and the previous drillings carried out last year.
These drillings are intended to provide a better picture of the deeper subsurface layers to an average depth of 300-350 metres, to monitor environmental noise and to map underground water flows.
New location
Within this second drilling campaign, the first drilling is planned in Beusdael (municipality of Plombières) in the immediate vicinity of Beusdael Castle. This drilling will start in a few weeks. Initially, the intention was to start the second drilling a few weeks later in Montzen/Moresnet, also in the municipality of Plombières. Instead of this drilling, the project office has opted for a location on the outskirts of Julémont (Asse street) in the municipality of Herve.
The Einstein Telescope EMR project office has made agreements with the owner of the site and with the drilling company Smet Group. Consultations have also taken place with the municipality of Herve. The intention is to start preparations and the drilling itself in June.
Site
Even though the drilling in Montzen/Moresnet has been postponed for the time being, Montzen remains an important location for the search for a site for the Einstein Telescope because of its railway yard. As is well known, discussions are underway to use the yard for logistics by rail and for temporary storage. This could significantly reduce the number of truck movements and thus contribute to more sustainable transport.
In addition to the five drillings in this second series, an additional drilling is now underway in Henri-Chapelle near Hockelbach in Wallonia as an extension of last year’s first drilling campaign. A drilling takes an average of eight to ten weeks, including setting up and dismantling the sites.
