Preliminary definition of the geothermal resources potential of Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5275354· OSTI ID:5275354

Renner, J L; Vaught, T L

Pennsylvania has a diverse geology. A small portion of the northeastern corner of the state is covered by Atlantic Coastal Plains sediments. To the northwest metamorphic rocks in the Piedment, Blue Ridge and Reading Prong areas are exposed. Triassic basine cut across portions of the Piedmont. The western portion of the state is underlain by Paleozoic sediments of the folded Appalachians and the Appalachian or Allegheny Basin. Crystalline rocks are limited to the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Reading Prong and to Triassic diabase intrusives. Potential for geothermal resources in Pennsylvania appear to be limited to small hydrothermal systems associated with deep convection in the folded Appalachians or deep sources in the Appalachian Basin. Heat flow measurements and temperature gradients from oil and gas wells suggest normal continental heat flow in Pennsylvania. Under such conditions temperatures of about 200{sup 0}C (392{sup 0}F) are possible near the base of the sedimentary section (about 9 km, 30,000 feet). Warm springs are not as common in Pennsylvania as they are to the south in West Virginia and Virginia. Apparently the structure does not facilitate convective circulation. Geothermal resources in Pennsylvania appear to be restricted to those available in an area of normal temperature gradients.

• Research Organization: Gruy Federal, Inc., Arlington, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5275354
• Report Number(s): NVO-1558-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150101* -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources & Availability-- USA-- (-1989)
CENTRAL REGION
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT FLOW
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MAPS
NORTH AMERICA
PENNSYLVANIA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL SPRINGS
USA
WARM SPRINGS
WATER SPRINGS
WELLS