Hot dry rock geothermal site evaluation, Western Snake River Plain, Idaho

Conference · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6297901

Arney, B H ^[1]; Beyer, J H; Simon, D B; Tonani, F B; Weiss, R B

---

1. Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM

Geologic, geophysical, hydrologic, and water chemistry studies have been performed to evaluate a hot dry rock geothermal prospect along the northern margin of the Western Snake River Plain, Idaho. The potential reservoir rock, Idaho Batholith granite, outcrops just north of the site, and is step faulted down to the south; it is more than 3 km deep in the southern part of the site. The central and northeastern parts appear to be the most promising for HDR development. Geophysical data suggest: (1) high permeability at depth in the NW corner, and (2) too great a depth to granite in the south. Thermal disturbances from ground water may affect heat flow reported from shallow measurements. Silica geothermometers indicate equilibrium temperature not significantly above the 60 to 80/sup 0/C measured in hot springs and wells. Future work, including a seismic reflection survey and an exploratory well, is planned to further define the thermal regime, the depth to granite, and its permeability.

• OSTI ID: 6297901
• Report Number(s): CONF-800920-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150201* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- USA-- (-1989)
150301 -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMOMETRY
GRANITES
GRAVITY SURVEYS
HEAT FLOW
HOT-DRY-ROCK SYSTEMS
HYDROLOGY
IDAHO
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PERMEABILITY
PLUTONIC ROCKS
ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STRATIGRAPHY
SURVEYS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY