Summary of geothermal drilling activities in the Western United States

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Geotherm. Energy Mag.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6064954

Tanji, S A

Geothermal drilling in the area which extends from the Geysers, north of San Francisco to the Imperial Valley in the south, then west to the Mojave Desert in California to Northern Nevada is emphasized. It is revealed that the Geysers' geothermal field, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, is the largest geothermal field in the world, containing over 200 steam wells which average about 7,500 ft in depth and generate more than 900,000 kilowatts of electricity. PGandE operates the power plants while drilling companies provide the steam. Average steam production per well is 150,000 lbs per hr., with 13 wells needed to supply steam for a 110-MWe plant. From January 1970 to June 1979, 55% of all US geothermal wells were drilled in the Geyser, the only developed area of the 1970s. It is noted that the US Geological Survey has been encouraged by results of a pair of geothermal test wells.

• OSTI ID: 6064954
• Journal Information: Geotherm. Energy Mag.; (United States), Vol. 10:7/8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
WELL DRILLING
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
WEST COAST
CALIFORNIA
EVALUATION
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
POWER PLANTS
STEAM GENERATION
DRILLING
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
NORTH AMERICA
USA
WELLS
150100* - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability