Geothermal development in California's Imperial Valley

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5513035

Suter, V E

The Imperial Valley is one of the most active geothermal areas in the United States. This large area contains about 500,000 acres of land under irrigated cultivation and large tracts of land have been leased for geothermal development to a dozen different geothermal companies. Over 90 deep geothermal wells have been drilled in the valley, and four geothermal fields have been found to be potentially productive including Niland, Brawley, Heber and East Mesa. One geothermal power plant which will commence operation this year has been constructed by Magma Power Company at the East Mesa Field. A second power plant will start up in early 1980 with steam supplied by Union and the power plant constructed by Southern California Edison at the Brawley Field. Intentions to develop geothermal resources to supply power plants have been announced by Republic Geothermal at the East Mesa Field, Chevron at the Heber Field and both Magma Power and Union Oil Company at the Niland Field. There are a half dozen companies that have permitted well locations that are either drilling now or will be in the near future. A brief description of the current activities in each of the geothermal areas is given.

• Research Organization: Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 5513035
• Journal Information: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN IOCBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150101* -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources & Availability-- USA-- (-1989)
150800 -- Geothermal Power Plants
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
NORTH AMERICA
PERMITS
POWER PLANTS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES
SCALING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WELLS