West Texas geothermal resource assessment. Part I. Geothermal exploration in Trans-Pecos, Texas. Final report
All of the new drilling for geothermal gradient and heat flow studies have been concentrated in an area near Hueco Tanks State Park. Interest in the area was raised by the silica geothermometry map of Hoffer (1979) and its proximity to El Paso, which is less than 25 miles away and expanding rapidly toward the area of geothermal interest. Several industries in El Paso appear to be potential users of non-electrical grade hot waters. A total of 14 holes have been drilled for geothermal gradient and heat-flow measurements. Of these, 12 were 50 meters deep and all but two had gradients in excess of 100/sup 0/C/km, one having a gradient as high as 306/sup 0/C/km. Of the remaining two, one penetrated bedrock at about 50 meters and was drilled to a total depth of 125 meters. The gradient in the limestone bedrock is 170/sup 0/C/km and the heat flow is about 11 x 10/sup -6/cal/cm/sup 2/ sec. This is the highest heat flow thus far reported for a locality in the Rio Grande Rift. The last hole is 300 meters deep and has a gradient of 142/sup 0/C/km and a heat flow of 9 x 10/sup -6/cal/cm/sup 2/ sec. The Hueco Tanks site is very promising for at least space heating applications of hot water. Based on the 300 meter hole the potential for electricity grade temperatures still exist, but the tight limestone bedrock may require hot dry rock extraction technology.
- Research Organization:
- Texas Univ., El Paso (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6889194
- Report Number(s):
- TENRAC/EDF-023-Pt.1; ON: DE83900828
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Preliminary assessment of the geologic setting, hydrology, and geochemistry of the Hueco Tanks geothermal area, Texas and New Mexico. Geological Circular 81-1
Preliminary assessment of the geologic setting, hydrology, and geochemistry of the Hueco Tanks geothermal area, Texas and New Mexico. Geological Circular 81-1
Related Subjects
TEXAS
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
HEAT FLOW
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL SPACE HEATING
GEOTHERMOMETRY
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RIO GRANDE RIFT
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
HEATING
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SPACE HEATING
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
USA
Geothermal Legacy
150301* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys