Geothermal development in California's Imperial Valley
The Imperial Valley is one of the most active geothermal areas in the United States. This large area contains about 500,000 acres of land under irrigated cultivation and large tracts of land have been leased for geothermal development to a dozen different geothermal companies. Over 90 deep geothermal wells have been drilled in the valley, and four geothermal fields have been found to be potentially productive including Niland, Brawley, Heber and East Mesa. One geothermal power plant which will commence operation this year has been constructed by Magma Power Company at the East Mesa Field. A second power plant will start up in early 1980 with steam supplied by Union and the power plant constructed by Southern California Edison at the Brawley Field. Intentions to develop geothermal resources to supply power plants have been announced by Republic Geothermal at the East Mesa Field, Chevron at the Heber Field and both Magma Power and Union Oil Company at the Niland Field. There are a half dozen companies that have permitted well locations that are either drilling now or will be in the near future. A brief description of the current activities in each of the geothermal areas is given.
- Research Organization:
- Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles
- OSTI ID:
- 5513035
- Journal Information:
- Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 21:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Imperial County geothermal development annual meeting: summary
Imperial County geothermal development. Summary report, 1979-1982
Related Subjects
CALIFORNIA
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
CORROSION
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
PERMITS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SCALING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FEDERAL REGION IX
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
RESOURCES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WELLS
150101* - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability- USA- (-1989)
150800 - Geothermal Power Plants