Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Play-fairway analysis for geothermal resources and exploration risk in the Modoc Plateau region

Journal Article · · Geothermics
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. University of California, Davis, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The region surrounding the Modoc Plateau, encompassing parts of northeastern California, southern Oregon, and northwestern Nevada, lies at an intersection between two tectonic provinces; the Basin and Range province and the Cascade volcanic arc. Both of these provinces have substantial geothermal resource base and resource potential. Geothermal systems with evidence of magmatic heat, associated with Cascade arc magmatism, typify the western side of the region. Systems on the eastern side of the region appear to be fault controlled with heat derived from high crustal heat flow, both of which are typical of the Basin and Range. As it has the potential to host Cascade arc-type geothermal resources, Basin and Range-type geothermal resources, and/or resources with characteristics of both provinces, and because there is relatively little current development, the Modoc Plateau region represents an intriguing potential for undiscovered geothermal resources. It remains unclear however, what specific set(s) of characteristics are diagnostic of Modoc-type geothermal systems and how or if those characteristics are distinct from Basin and Range-type or Cascade arc-type geothermal systems. In order to evaluate the potential for undiscovered geothermal resources in the Modoc area, we integrate a wide variety of existing data in order to evaluate geothermal resource potential and exploration risk utilizing ‘play-fairway’ analysis. Here, we consider that the requisite parameters for hydrothermal circulation are: 1) heat that is sufficient to drive circulation, and 2) permeability that is sufficient to allow for fluid circulation in the subsurface. We synthesize data that indicate the extent and distribution of these parameters throughout the Modoc region. ‘Fuzzy logic’ is used to incorporate expert opinion into the utility of each dataset as an indicator of either heat or permeability, and thus geothermal favorability. The results identify several geothermal prospects, areas that are highly favorable for the occurrence of both heat and permeability. These are also areas where there is sufficient data coverage, quality, and consistency that the exploration risk is relatively low. These unknown, undeveloped, and under-developed prospects are well-suited for continued exploration efforts. The results also indicate to what degree the two ‘play-types,’ i.e. Cascade arc-type or Basin and Range-type, apply to each of the geothermal prospects, a useful guide in exploration efforts.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; EE0006734
OSTI ID:
1476531
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1413861
Journal Information:
Geothermics, Journal Name: Geothermics Journal Issue: C Vol. 69; ISSN 0375-6505
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (33)

Heterogeneity of structure and stress in the Rotokawa Geothermal Field, New Zealand journal February 2015
Percolation-theory and fuzzy rule-based probability estimation of fault leakage at geologic carbon sequestration sites journal March 2009
Helium isotopes in geothermal systems: Iceland, The Geysers, Raft River and Steamboat Springs journal May 1982
Geothermal solute equilibria. Derivation of Na-K-Mg-Ca geoindicators journal December 1988
Geotherm: the U.S. geological survey geothermal information system journal January 1983
Structural permeability of fluid-driven fault-fracture meshes journal August 1996
Geothermometry and water—rock interaction in selected thermal systems in the cascade range and modoc plateau, western United States journal February 1993
Implications of hydrostatic pore pressures and high crustal strength for the deformation of intraplate lithosphere journal July 2001
Time-variation of hydrothermal discharge at selected sites in the western United States: implications for monitoring journal November 2001
Structural settings of hydrothermal outflow: Fracture permeability maintained by fault propagation and interaction journal December 1997
Numerical modeling of Basin and Range geothermal systems journal December 2004
Integrated multicomponent solute geothermometry journal July 2014
Optimized multicomponent vs. classical geothermometry: Insights from modeling studies at the Dixie Valley geothermal area journal July 2014
Regional crustal-scale structures as conduits for deep geothermal upflow journal January 2016
Fracture permeability and in situ stress to 7 km depth in the KTB scientific drillhole journal April 2000
Late Cenozoic volcanism, geochronology, and structure of the Coso Range, Inyo County, California journal January 1980
Geomicrobiological Changes in Two Ephemeral Desert Playa Lakes in the Western United States journal June 2008
Flow of Mantle Fluids Through the Ductile Lower Crust: Helium Isotope Trends journal November 2007
Heat Flow and Hydrothermal Circulation in the Cascade Range, North-Central Oregon journal March 1989
Catastrophic flooding and eruption of ash-flow tuff at Medicine Lake volcano, California journal January 1986
Fluid flow along potentially active faults in crystalline rock journal January 1995
Slip-tendency analysis and fault reactivation journal January 1996
How faulting keeps the crust strong journal January 2000
Structural controls on geothermal circulation in Surprise Valley, California: A re-evaluation of the Lake City fault zone journal January 2014
Kinematics of the northern Walker Lane: An incipient transform fault along the Pacific–North American plate boundary journal January 2005
Evolution of the northwestern margin of the Basin and Range: The geology and extensional history of the Warner Range and environs, northeastern California journal June 2011
The dynamics of faulting journal January 1905
The exploration play: What do we mean by it? journal November 2010
Application of Exploration Play-Analysis Techniques to the Assessment of Conventional Petroleum Resources by the USGS journal January 1982
Finding Large Aperture Fractures in Geothermal Resource Areas Using a Three-Component Long-Offset Surface Seismic Survey, PSInSAR and Kinematic Structural Analysis report August 2015
Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States report January 2008
Reconnaissance study of the geothermal resources of Modoc County, California report January 1974
Selected administrative, land, and resource data for Known Geothermal Resources Areas in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington report January 1980

Similar Records

Regional quantitative play fairway analysis: methodology global examples and application for the East African Rift system
Conference · Wed Nov 02 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Proceedings, 6th African Rift Geothermal Conference · OSTI ID:1724104
Regional and Local Geothermal Potential Evaluation: Examples from the Great Basin, USA, Iceland and East Africa
Conference · Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Proceedings World Geothermal Congress · OSTI ID:1724107
Geothermal resource development in Alturas, Modoc County, northeastern California
Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Geo-Heat Center Quarterly Bulletin · OSTI ID:90750

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
faults
fuzzy logic
geothermal exploration
geothermometry
play-fairway