Geothermal wells: a forecast of drilling activity

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5987952· OSTI ID:5987952

Brown, G L; Mansure, A J; Miewald, J N

Numbers and problems for geothermal wells expected to be drilled in the United States between 1981 and 2000 AD are forecasted. The 3800 wells forecasted for major electric power projects (totaling 6 GWe of capacity) are categorized by type (production, etc.), and by location (The Geysers, etc.). 6000 wells are forecasted for direct heat projects (totaling 0.02 Quads per year). Equations are developed for forecasting the number of wells, and data is presented. Drilling and completion problems in The Geysers, The Imperial Valley, Roosevelt Hot Springs, the Valles Caldera, northern Nevada, Klamath Falls, Reno, Alaska, and Pagosa Springs are discussed. Likely areas for near term direct heat projects are identified.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5987952
• Report Number(s): SAND-81-7127; ON: DE82003109
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150901* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Geothermal-- (-1989)
ALASKA
BACA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
CALIFORNIA
DRILLING
FORECASTING
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
Geothermal Legacy
IMPERIAL VALLEY
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
USA
USES
WELL COMPLETION
WELL DRILLING
WELLS
WESTERN REGION