Use of brackish ground water resources for regional energy center development, Tularosa Basin, New Mexico: preliminary evaluation. Executive summary
The objective of this study was to develop an impact and suitability profile for the use of the Tularosa Basin in south-central New Mexico as the potential location of an energy center. Underyling the Tularosa Basin is an aquifer system containing perhaps 40 million acre-feet of fresh and slightly saline (1-3 g/l) water that is theoretically recoverable and could be used for cooling and other energy-related or industrial purposes, particularly if energy development projects in other areas of the state and region are delayed, impeded, or cancelled because of uncertain availability or accessibility of water. This preliminary investigation of the Tularosa Basin reveals no outstanding features that would discourage further detailed analysis and planning for an energy complex. A major program of exploratory drilling, well logging, and testing is needed to determine aquifer characteristics and factors affecting well design. Since industrial development in the basin will necessarily involve Federal, state, and private lands, any serious plan will require collaboration of Federal, state, and local authorities.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5546091
- Report Number(s):
- FEA/G-77/102
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Basement structures in the northern Tularosa Basin, central New Mexico
Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY PARKS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
METEOROLOGY
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC OPINION
RESOURCES
SEISMICITY
SITE SELECTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOUTHWEST REGION
TOPOGRAPHY
USA
WATER RESOURCES