Forecast of geothermal drilling activity

Conference · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7098481

Brown, G L; Mansure, A J

The numbers of each type of geothermal well expected to be drilled in the United States for each 5-year period to 2000 AD are specified. Forecasts of the growth of geothermally supplied electric power and direct heat uses are presented. The different types of geothermal wells needed to support the forecasted capacity are quantified, including differentiation of the number of wells to be drilled at each major geothermal resource for electric power production. The rate of growth of electric capacity at geothermal resource areas is expected to be 15 to 25% per year (after an initial critical size is reached) until natural or economic limits are approached. Five resource areas in the United States should grow to significant capacity by the end of the century (The Geysers; Imperial Valley; Valles Caldera, NM; Roosevelt Hot Springs, UT; and northern Nevada). About 3800 geothermal wells are expected to be drilled in support of all electric power projects in the United States between 1981 and 2000 AD. Half of the wells are expected to be drilled in the Imperial Valley. The Geysers area is expected to retain most of the drilling activity for the next 5 years. By the 1990's, the Imperial Valley is expected to contain most of the drilling activity.

• Research Organization: BDM Corp., Albuquerque, NM
• OSTI ID: 7098481
• Report Number(s): CONF-811015-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150101* -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources & Availability-- USA-- (-1989)
150901 -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
BACA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
CALIFORNIA
CAPACITY
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FORECASTING
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
GROWTH
IMPERIAL VALLEY
KGRA
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ROOSEVELT HOT SPRINGS
USA
UTAH
WELL DRILLING
WELLS