| Title | EGS Exploration Methodology Development using the Dixie Valley Geothermal District as a Calibration Site: A Progress Report |
|---|---|
| Authors | Iovenitti, Joe; Blackwell, David; Sainsbury, Jon; Tibuleac, Ileana; Waibel, Al; Cladouhos, Trenton; Karlin, Robert; Kennedy, B. Mack; Isaaks, Ed; Wannamaker, Philip; Clynes, Matthew; Callahan, Owen |
| Year | 2011 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | EGS; exploration; Dixie Valley; qualitative and quantitative assessment; Basin and Range |
| Abstract | AltaRock Energy Inc. is developing an exploration methodology for Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS) with ARRA funding from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Program. The project is focused on qualitatively and quantitatively integrating geophysical, geological, and geochemical data sets, using the Dixie Valley geothermal system. This area was chosen as the test site because of the availability of an extensive public domain database and the deep wells in and around the producing area will allow calibrationof the methodology developed. Calibration will be based on the cross-correlation of the qualitative and quantitative geoscience outcome with known well results.This project consists of (Task 1) reviewing and assessing the existing public domain and other available data; (Task 2) developing and populating a GIS-database; (Task 3) developing a baseline (existing public domain data) geothermal conceptual model, evaluating geo statistical relationships between the various data sets, and generating a Baseline EGS favorability map from the surface to a 5km depth focused on identifying EGS drilling targets; (Task 4) collecting new gravity, seismic, magneto-tellurics (MT), geologic, and geochemical datato fill in data gaps and improve model resolution; and (Task 5) updating the GIS-database for the newly acquired data and repeating Task 3 incorporating the baseline and new data to generate an Enhanced EGS Favorability Map. Tasks 1 and 2 have been completed except for thermal modeling. The baseline geothermal conceptual model, the geostatistical analysis, and formulation of an EGS Favorability Map arein progressand expected to be completed by the time of the annual meeting. The baseline model and calibration of the EGS Methodology has focused on the Dixie Valley Geothermal Wellfield (DVGW).U.S. Bureau of Land Management approvals have been obtained to gather newselect geoscience data. The new surveys will cover an area slightly larger than the 50km x 50km Project Area centered over the DVGW.Selected results of the data review, the baseline conceptual model,geostatistical correlations between various data sets, the Baseline EGS Favorability Map and the new planned surveys will be discussed. |