Discovery and analysis of a blind geothermal system in southeastern Gabbs Valley, western Nevada, USA

Autor: Tait E. Earney, Mark F. Coolbaugh, William D. Schermerhorn, Stephen B. Deoreo, Nicholas H. Hinz, James E. Faulds, Jonathan M.G. Glen, Drew L. Siler, Jason W. Craig, Jared Peacock
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Geothermics. 97:102177
ISSN: 0375-6505
DOI: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2021.102177
Popis: This study assessed the potential for a high-temperature blind geothermal system in southeastern Gabbs Valley, an area with no previous geothermal exploration, by utilizing geothermal play fairway analysis. Gabbs Valley is a structurally complex, tectonically active basin occupying a transtensional displacement transfer zone. Multiple lines of evidence suggest the presence of a blind geothermal system, including collocated intersecting gravity gradients, magnetic-low, low-resistivity, 2-m temperature anomaly, and 130–140 °C geothermometers obtained from nearby agricultural wells. Six 150 m-deep temperature-gradient holes were drilled to target the geophysical and thermal anomalies. Two holes produced bottom-hole temperatures of 114.5 °C and 124.9 °C. Drilling results establish the discovery of a blind geothermal system. Power estimates based on resource conceptual models of the geothermal system suggest a median (P50) capacity of ∼16 MWe.
Databáze: OpenAIRE