| Title | The Role of Exploration in Increasing Geothermal Deployment in the Us Department of Energy Geovision Study |
|---|---|
| Authors | P Dobson, A Wall, T McLing, C Weiss and C Doughty |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | New Zealand Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Exploration, GeoVision, risk. |
| Abstract | The objective of the GeoVision study of the US Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is to characterize the current status of geothermal energy in the United States and identify future scenarios for potential geothermal growth for 2020, 2030 and 2050 across multiple market sectors, including electrical power generation, direct use, and other value streams. This study will also identify barriers to increased deployment, and explore transformative technologies, methodologies, and approaches that might accelerate the commercial deployment of geothermal resources. The project consists of the following task forces: 1) Exploration and confirmation; 2) Reservoir management and development; 3) “Potential to Penetration” economic analysis; 4) Social and environmental impacts; 5) Institutional market barriers; 6) Hybrid systems; and 7) Thermal applications. These task forces consist of scientists and engineers from the DOE national laboratories, and are being advised by a group of geothermal experts known as the Visionaries. Our exploration team has focused on evaluating the current status of geothermal exploration activities (i.e., business as usual) and identifying new and improved methods and technologies that might be applied successfully by the geothermal industry. Reviews of existing methods and lessons learned from past exploration efforts (both successes and failures) can lead to improved approaches for exploration geared to specific geothermal play types and expansion of geothermal resource utilization from hydrothermal systems to the larger enhanced geothermal systems resource base. Technology transfer from related industries, such as oil and gas and mineral exploration, can also lead to improved methods for subsurface characterization and drilling. Inclusion of direct use applications and harnessing other attributes of geothermal fluids, such as mineral recovery, could also increase the impact of geothermal resources and enhance their utilization. Such innovations could impact geothermal deployment on a global scale. |