Reconnaissance of geothermal resources near US naval facilities in the San Diego area, California
A reconnaissance study has found little evidence of potential geothermal resources useful at naval facilities in the greater San Diego metropolitan area. However, there is a zone of modest elevated water well temperatures and slightly elevated thermal gradients that may include the eastern portion of the Imperial Beach Naval Air Station south of San Diego Bay. An increase of 0.3/sup 0/ to 0.4/sup 0/F/100 ft over the regional thermal gradient of 1.56/sup 0/F/100 ft was conservatively calculated for this zone. The thermal gradient can be used to predict 150/sup 0/F temperatures at a depth of approximately 4000 ft. This zone of greatest potential for a viable geothermal resource lies within a negative gravity anomaly thought to be caused by a tensionally developed graben, approximately centered over the San Diego Bay. Water well production in this zone is good to high, with 300 gpm often quoted as common for wells in this area. The concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the deeper wells in this zone is relatively high due to intrusion of sea water. Productive geothermal wells may have to be drilled to depths economically infeasible for development of the resource in the area of discussion.
- Research Organization:
- California State Dept. of Conservation, Sacramento (USA). Div. of Mines and Geology
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-83SF11720
- OSTI ID:
- 6281914
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/SF/11720-T2; ON: DE85002993
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Open File Report 84-33 SAC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Geothermal energy in San Diego: an overview
Geothermal resources of Balcones-Ouachita trend, central Texas