Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968

Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968. Left panel shows initial explosive eruption of water-steam mixture from open drill pipe in drill hole Y-5 (Rabbit Creek) on August 20, 1967. The "bursting" effect results from flashing of superheated water erupted to atmospheric pressure at and just above the top of the drill pipe. The eruption phase typically follows a brief interval of quiet overflow and passes rapidly into the near-vertical ejection of steam and water.  Right panel shows just such an eruption of water and steam above the top of the drill tower in the Y-9 drill hole, Norris Geyser Basin.  Taken from USGS Professional Paper 892.