Geothermal assessment of Archuleta County and the Pagosa Springs Aquifer, Colorado
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Archuleta County Geothermal Project, Pagosa Springs, CO (United States)
The Commissioners of Archuleta County, Colorado determined that an assessment of the energy potential of the geothermal resources within the county was: needed by public, private, and commercial enterprises to increase. the county`s light industry. A project was formulated whose objectives were to: (1) provide a data base of geothermal aquifer. characteristics for planning and development decisions; (2) train county personnel in geothermal exploration, evaluation, and management; and (3) collect data, on direct use applications in space heating, horticulture, and aqua-culture to be used for public education and to assist developers and engineers. Los Alamos National Laboratory provided chemical analyses of waters, miscellaneous laboratory support, field sampling equipment, and geothermal expertise, and the project was conducted during 1991. This report is a summary of findings resulting from objectives (1) and (2). A reassessments of geothermal potential reveals that there are no thermal aquifers with electrical generating potential (>150 °C). Instead, isolated thermal aquifers are scattered throughout the county which may have future potential for greenhousing and aqua-culture, as well as bathing and heating. Maximum estimated reservoir temperatures are 110--120 °C for the Pagosa Springs Aquifer and 110--140 °C for the Piedra Hot Spring system which circulate through Precambrian basement; however, estimated depths to the source Reservoirs are 1 to 3 km. Maximum estimated reservoir temperatures for other thermal aquifers, which circulate In Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, are ≤ 75 °C.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 10165312
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-94-1712; CONF-941043-2; ON: DE94014815
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1994 annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council: restructuring the geothermal industry, Salt Lake City, UT (United States), 2-5 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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