| Title | Development of An Engineered Geothermal System Exploration Methodology Using the Dixie Valley Geothermal Area as a Laboratory Calibration Site |
|---|---|
| Authors | IOVENITTI, J. L., TIBULEAC, I. M., WANNAMAKER, P., KARLIN, R., IBSER, F. H., and BLACKWELL, D |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Dixie Valley |
| Abstract | The Dixie Valley Geothermal Area in central Nevada was chosen for this study because of it is a very high temperature ( more than 250C) Basin and Range geothermal system with extensive geoscientific and well data in the public . The geothermal field is generating on the order of 60 MWs of electrical power. The overall project study area was 2500km2 with a calibration area (defined by the existing wellfield) of approximately 165km2. A baseline (existing data) analysis was conducted and on this basis baseline favorability/trust maps were generated, from +1km asl to -4km asl at 0.5km intervals, for the three key Engineered Geothermal System (EGS) parameters of interest: rock type, temperature, and stress. Complimentary baseline trust ("confidence-in-the-data-used") maps were also created to, among other things, indicate where additional data was required. Exploratory geostatistical data analysis was also conducted to determine the predictability of several key attributes of the system. New gravity, magnetotelluric, and ambient seismic noise data were collected to supplement the baseline data set. The enhanced data set (baseline + new data) were modeled and interpreted along with enhanced thermal modeling and enhanced geostatistical analysis. The outcome of both the baseline and enhanced data analysis are presented. |