Potential hydrologic effects of developing coal and other geoenergy resources in Oregon: a review

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5768779· OSTI ID:5768779

Sidle, W C

Geoenergy resources in Oregon, in addition to coal, include noncommercial deposits of oil shale, natural gas, and geothermal heat. Commercial quantities of natural gas were discovered at Mist in northwestern Oregon in 1979. Gas presently is being produced from five wells and additional exploratory drilling is underway. More than 2 million acres of Oregon land is under lease for petroleum and natural gas exploration, mostly in the Astoria embayment-Willamette syncline, central (Oregon) Paleozoic-Mesozoic basin, and eastern Tertiary nonmarine basin. The Cascade Range and eastern Oregon contain sizable resources of geothermal heat, of which a small part has been developed for space heating at Klamath Falls and Lakeview. Thirteen Known Geothermal Resource Areas (KGRA's) comprising 432,000 acres have been identified, 422,000 acres are currently leased for geothermal development. KGRA's judged to have potential for generation of electrical power are Newberry Crater, Crump Geyser, and Alvord Desert. No adverse hydrologic effects have been noted to date from coal or other geoenergy exploration or development in Oregon, and no effects are expected if federal and state regulations are adhered to. The southwestern Oregon coals would have to be mined by underground methods. Potential hydrologic impacts would be local increases in sedimentation, turbidity, and mineralization of surface and ground water. Water-quality degradation, including both thermal pollution and increased concentrations of dissolved minerals, could result from geothermal development. Other potential problems include land subsidence and consumptive use of water associated with both coal and geothermal development. 53 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Portland, OR (USA). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 5768779
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI-81-1014; ON: TI85901332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
03 NATURAL GAS
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL DEPOSITS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
Geothermal Legacy
KGRA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALE DEPOSITS
OREGON
RESOURCES
REVIEWS
USA
WATER QUALITY