Provisional Conceptual Model of the Camas Prairie (ID) Geothermal System from Play Fairway Analysis
- Idaho National Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Utah State University
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Mink GeoHydro, Inc.
- US Geological Survey
- Boise State University
- DOSECC Exploration Services
- Leidos
Camas Prairie, Idaho, is an EW-trending structural graben that lies north of the Snake River Plain hotspot track. It is bounded on the north by the Idaho Batholith, and on the south by the Mount Bennett Hills. This region was investigated by the SRP Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis team, which included focused geologic, geochemical, and geophysical studies. The Camas Prairie geothermal system resource is indicated by warm springs and wells, geophysical analysis of buried faults and basins, mapped faults, structural analysis of all faults and lineaments, high 3He/4He, cation and multicomponent geothermometry, and the occurrence of young basalt vents and lava flows along the range front. Our provisional conceptual model includes the following components: (1) High permeability is indicated by the confluence of intersecting faults, including the major range front system and The Pothole fault system, with releasing bends as deduced from detailed field studies, and the presence of springs along mapped structural features; (2) High heat is inferred to result from mid- to shallow crustal sills, as evidenced by the location of vents along the range front; the youngest dated vent is 692 ka, but 2 ka vents lie to NW; (3) an effective seal is indicated by magnetotelluric studies, which suggest a clay seal over the prospective target area that is likely a result of hydrothermal alteration. This model is similar to that proposed for the western SRP but is less energetic due to the smaller volume of magma inferred. It is also similar to Basin-and-Range geothermal systems, but differs by including a distinct magmatic heat component.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1478321
- Report Number(s):
- INL/CON-17-43603-Rev000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Geothermal play fairway analysis, part 1: Example from the Snake River Plain, Idaho
Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis of the Snake River Plain: Phase 2