Geothermal resources
- Phillips Petroleum Co., Sandy, UT
The United States uses geothermal energy for electrical power generation and for a variety of direct use applications. The most notable developments are The Geysers in northern California, with approximately 900 MWe, and the Imperial Valley of southern California, with 14 MWe being generated, and at Klamath Falls, Oregon and Boise, Idaho, where major district heating projects are under construction. Geothermal development is promoted and undertaken by private companies, public utilities, the federal government, and by state and local governments. Geothermal drilling activity showed an increase in exploratory and development work over the five previous years, from an average of 61 wells per year to 96 wells for 1980. These 96 wells accounted for 605,175 ft of hole. The completed wells included 18 geothermal wildcat discoveries, 15 wildcat failures, and 5 geopressured geothermal failures, a total of 38 exploratory attempts. Of the total of 58 geothermal development wells attempted, 55 were considered capable of production amounting to a success ratio of 94.8%. During 1980, two new power plants were put on line at The Geysers, increasing by 37% the total net generating capacity to over 900 MWe. Two power plants commenced production in the Imperial Valley in 1980. Southern California Edison started up a 10-MWe flash steam unit at the Brawley geothermal field in June. Steam is supplied by the Union Oil Company. After an intermittent beginning, Imperial Magma's pilot binary cycle, 11-MWe unit went on line on a continuous basis, producing 7 MWe of power. Hot water is supplied to the plant by Imperial Magma's wells.
- OSTI ID:
- 5601306
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 65:10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Developments in West Coast area in 1979. [Tabular data and maps]
Geothermal development in California's Imperial Valley
Related Subjects
USA
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
IMPERIAL VALLEY
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
CALIFORNIA
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WELLS
WESTERN REGION
150101* - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability- USA- (-1989)