HDR (Hot Dry Rock) technology transfer activities in the Clear Lake Area, California

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6842144

Burns, K; Potter, R

A large Hot Dry Rock resource has been recognized in northern California. It underlies the region extending NE of The Geysers to N of the City of Clearlake. The long-range productive potential is thousands of megawatts. The geothermal resource is heterogeneous. There are two mechanisms of heat flow occurring together. One is fluid transport, up natural zones of permeability, to outflows as surface springs. The other is conductive heat flow through impermeable rock. The temperature isotherms are thought to be nearly level surfaces, for example, the 300{degree}C isotherm is at about 8000 ft depth, with spikes'' or ridges'' occurring around narrow zones of fluid flow. While there is accessible heat at shallow depth in the naturally permeable rocks, the really substantial resource is in the impermeable rock. This is the HDR resource. The potential reservoir rocks are Franciscan greywackes and greenstones. Recorded drilling problems appear to be mainly due to intersection with serpentinites or to the effects of stimulation, so are potentially avoidable. Greywacke is favoured as a reservoir rock, and is expected to fail by brittle fracture. The water shortages in Northern California appear to be surmountable. Leakoff rates are expected to be low. Sewerage water may be available for fill and makeup. There is a possibility of combining HDR heat power production with sewerage disposal. To establish the first HDR producer in Northern California offers challenges in technology transfer. Two significant challenges will be creation of dispersed permeability in a greywacke reservoir, and pressure management in the vicinity of naturally permeable zones. A successful demonstration of HDR production technology will improve the long-term prospects for the geothermal power industry in California. 29 refs., 20 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6842144
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-90-1896; CONF-9004131--3; ON: DE90011993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150100 -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources & Availability
150300* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology
150500 -- Geothermal Energy-- Economics
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CALIFORNIA
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUID FLOW
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEYSERS
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT TRANSFER
HOT SPRINGS
HOT-DRY-ROCK SYSTEMS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER GENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
THERMAL SPRINGS
USA
WATER SPRINGS