| Title | Geothermal Resource Assessment: A Detailed Approach to Low-Grade Resources in the States of New York and Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Authors | Elaina N. SHOPE, Timothy J. REBER, George R. STUTZ, Gloria A. AGUIRRE, Teresa E. JORDAN, Jefferson W. TESTER |
| Year | 2012 |
| Conference | Stanford Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | direct use, New York, Pennsylvania, low-grade, resource assessment |
| Abstract | The potential to utilize widespread low-grade geothermal resources of the Northeastern U.S. for thermal direct use and combined heat and power applications can be realized using technologies embodied in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). In lower grade regions, accurate knowledge of small variations in temperature gradient will be crucial to the economic viability of EGS development. In order to facilitate EGS project placement and design, this study draws a more complete picture of geothermal resources in the Northeastern United States—with a particular focus on New York and Pennsylvania—by incorporating thousands of new temperature-depth data collected as a result of continuing drilling for unconventional natural gas in the region. Using these new data, a series of maps covering the Appalachian Basin of New York and Pennsylvania were produced that show variations in subsurface thermal gradient and surface heat flow. The increased spatial accuracy and resolution compared to earlier geothermal maps of the Northeast U.S. illuminate better spatial variations in the resource quality, and have a much smaller degree of uncertainty in both extent and magnitude. The maps indicate that the temperatures required for direct-use applications are available at economically viable drilling depths over a majority of the region. Smaller “hot spot” areas of higher than average heat flow are found in the Pennsylvania counties of Indiana, McKean, Lawrence, and Warren, as well as Cayuga County in New York. These anomalies represent the most ideal candidates for further exploration and characterization of their EGS potential. |