Active and passive seismic studies of geothermal resources in New Mexico and investigations of earthquake hazards to geothermal development

Book · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6665352

Morgan, P; Daggett, P H

Seismic data were collected in southwestern New Mexico to investigate the sources of the geothermal anomalies and to investigate the potential earthquake hazards of geothermal development. No major crustal structure anomalies have been located related to known geothermal resources, and no areas of continual seismicity have been identified, which is interpreted to indicate a lack of active, or recently active crustal intrusions in southwestern New Mexico. Without a magnetic heat source, the geothermal potential of the known anomalies is probably limited to intermediate and low temperature applications (<180/sup 0/C). The lack of continual seismicity indicates low seismic hazard in the area directly related to geothermal development, although the historic and geologically recent tectonic activity should be taken into consideration during any development in the area. A model of forced groundwater convection is presented to explain the geothermal anomalies in southwestern New Mexico, which is consistent with all available geological and geophysical data from the area.

• OSTI ID: 6665352
• Report Number(s): NP-25260; EMD-77-2203
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
NEW MEXICO
SEISMIC SURVEYS
DATA ACQUISITION
FLOW MODELS
FORCED CONVECTION
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GROUND WATER
KGRA
MICROEARTHQUAKES
RIO GRANDE RIFT
SEISMIC WAVES
VELOCITY
CONVECTION
EARTHQUAKES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURVEYS
USA
WATER
Geothermal Legacy
150201* - Geology &amp; Hydrology of Geothermal Systems- USA- (-1989)
150301 - Geothermal Exploration &amp; Exploration Technology- Geophysical Techniques &amp; Surveys