Salton Sea Scientific Drilling Program

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Earthquakes and Volcanoes; (USA)

OSTI ID:7202525

Sass, J H

The Salton Sea Scientific Drilling Program (SSSDP) was the first large-scale drilling project undertaken by the U.S. Continental Scientific Drilling Program. The objectives of the SSSDP were (1) to drill a deep well into the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in the Imperial Valley of California, (2) to retrieve a high percentage of core and cuttings along the entire depth of the well, (3) to obtain a comprehensive suite of geophysical logs, (4) to conduct flow tests at two depths (and to take fluid samples therefrom), and (5) to carry out several downhole experiments. These activities enabled the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating agencies to study the physical and chemical processes involved in an active hydrothermal system driven by a molten-rock heat source. The SSSDP exceeded its target depth of 10,000 feet, and a comprehensive set of cuttings, cores, and downhole logs was obtained. Two flow tests at different depths were successfully completed. Hydrologic connection between the different producing horizons, however, made the data from the deeper test difficult to interpret. Temperature logging by the Geological Survey and Sandia National Laboratories to establish the equilibrium profile continued until August of 1987. The SSSDP provides a model for scientific cooperation among government agencies, universities, and private industry.

• OSTI ID: 7202525
• Journal Information: Earthquakes and Volcanoes; (USA), Vol. 20:4; ISSN 0894-7163
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
WELL DRILLING
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SALTON SEA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
US DOE
US GS
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DEPTH
DIKES
DRILL CORES
FLUID FLOW
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
MAGMA
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METAMORPHISM
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR ROCK
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
TEMPERATURE LOGGING
TESTING
WELL LOGGING
WELL LOGGING EQUIPMENT
CHEMISTRY
COOPERATION
DIMENSIONS
DRILLING
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SURVEYS
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WELLS
150901* - Geothermal Engineering- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
299000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
290500 - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization