Federal Geothermal Research Program Update, FY 2000
The Department of Energy's Geothermal Program serves two broad purposes: 1) to assist industry in overcoming near-term barriers by conducting cost-shared research and field verification that allows geothermal energy to compete in today's aggressive energy markets; and 2) to undertake fundamental research with potentially large economic payoffs. The four categories of work used to distinguish the research activities of the Geothermal Program during FY 2000 reflect the main components of real-world geothermal projects. These categories form the main sections of the project descriptions in this Research Update. Exploration Technology research focuses on developing instruments and techniques to discover hidden hydrothermal systems and to explore the deep portions of known systems. Research in geophysical and geochemical methods is expected to yield increased knowledge of hidden geothermal systems. Reservoir Technology research combines laboratory and analytical investigations with equipment development and field testing to establish practical tools for resource development and management for both hydrothermal reservoirs and enhanced geothermal systems. Research in various reservoir analysis techniques is generating a wide range of information that facilitates development of improved reservoir management tools. Drilling Technology focuses on developing improved, economic drilling and completion technology for geothermal wells. Ongoing research to avert lost circulation episodes in geothermal drilling is yielding positive results. Conversion Technology research focuses on reducing costs and improving binary conversion cycle efficiency, to permit greater use of the more abundant moderate-temperature geothermal resource, and on the development of materials that will improve the operating characteristics of many types of geothermal energy equipment. Increased output and improved performance of binary cycles will result from investigations in heat cycle research.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-99ID13727
- OSTI ID:
- 911539
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID-10907; INEEL/MIS-01-01077
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Federal Geothermal Research Program Update Fiscal Year 1998
Geothermal Energy R&D Program Annual Progress Report for Fiscal Year 1992
Related Subjects
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
LOSSES
MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
TESTING
VERIFICATION
acoustic telemetry
binary cycles
conversion
drilling
dry steam conversion
flash steam plants
fluid flow
geothermal
hydrothermal
injection
logging instruments
packer elements
reservoirs
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