Los Alamos hot dry rock geothermal energy experiment

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7318303

Pettitt, R A

Recent heat flow data indicates that about 95,000 sq. mi. in 13 western U.S. states is underlain, at a depth of 5 km (16,400 ft) by hot dry rock at temperatures above 290/sup 0/C (440/sup 0/F.). Therefore a geothermal energy development program was undertaken to develop methods from extracting thermal energy from hot rock in the earth crust by man-made underground circulation systems; demonstrate the commercial feasibility of such systems; and encourage use of this technology. Experiments performed on the Jemez Plateau in New Mexico are described with information on the drilling of boreholes, hydraulic fracturing of hot rocks, well logging, and environmental monitoring to establish base line data and define the potential effects of the project. The technical achievements of the project include boreholes were drilled to 3k (10,000 ft) with bottomhole temperatures of approximately 200/sup 0/C (390/sup 0/F); hydraulic fracturing produced fractured regions with 150 m (500 ft) radii; at least 90 percent of the water injected was recovered; and data was obtained on geologic conditions, seismic effects, and thermal, fracturing, and chemical properties of the downhole rocks. A geothermal power-production system model was formulated for evaluating the total cost of developing power production using a hot-dry-rock geothermal energy source. (LCL)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7318303
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-76-2403; CONF-761205-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150900* -- Geothermal Engineering
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
COMMINUTION
DRILLING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Geothermal Legacy
HOT-DRY-ROCK SYSTEMS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
INJECTION WELLS
JEMEZ MOUNTAINS
MOUNTAINS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCK DRILLING
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SITE SELECTION
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
WELL DRILLING
WELL LOGGING
WELLS