U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging
Abstract
Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package. The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available datamore »
- Authors:
-
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Publication Date:
- Other Number(s):
- 1568
- Research Org.:
- DOE Geothermal Data Repository; Sandia National Laboratories
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Program (EE-4G)
- Collaborations:
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Subject:
- 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; 3D geological model; Geochemistry; MT; Nevada; Steptoe Valley; aqueous; controlled-source electromagnetic; csem; electromagnetics; energy; feasibility; geology; geophysics; geothermal; gravity; hydrothermal; leapfrog; leapfrog energy; magnetotellurics; modeling; processed data; raw data; reflection; seismic; seismic reflection; stratigraphy; water sample
- OSTI Identifier:
- 2282349
- DOI:
- https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349
Citation Formats
Schwering, Paul, Jaysaval, Piyoosh, Knox, Hunter, Roth, Melissa, Faulds, James, Mlawsky, Elijah, Ayling, Bridget, Hinz, Nicholas, Siler, Drew, Winn, Carmen, Matson, Gabe, Tomblin, Sydni, Norbeck, Jack, McConville, Emma, Fercho, Steven, Queen, John, and Hardwick, Christian. Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging. United States: N. p., 2023.
Web. doi:10.15121/2282349.
Schwering, Paul, Jaysaval, Piyoosh, Knox, Hunter, Roth, Melissa, Faulds, James, Mlawsky, Elijah, Ayling, Bridget, Hinz, Nicholas, Siler, Drew, Winn, Carmen, Matson, Gabe, Tomblin, Sydni, Norbeck, Jack, McConville, Emma, Fercho, Steven, Queen, John, & Hardwick, Christian. Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349
Schwering, Paul, Jaysaval, Piyoosh, Knox, Hunter, Roth, Melissa, Faulds, James, Mlawsky, Elijah, Ayling, Bridget, Hinz, Nicholas, Siler, Drew, Winn, Carmen, Matson, Gabe, Tomblin, Sydni, Norbeck, Jack, McConville, Emma, Fercho, Steven, Queen, John, and Hardwick, Christian. 2023.
"Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2282349. Pub date:Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 2023
@article{osti_2282349,
title = {Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging},
author = {Schwering, Paul and Jaysaval, Piyoosh and Knox, Hunter and Roth, Melissa and Faulds, James and Mlawsky, Elijah and Ayling, Bridget and Hinz, Nicholas and Siler, Drew and Winn, Carmen and Matson, Gabe and Tomblin, Sydni and Norbeck, Jack and McConville, Emma and Fercho, Steven and Queen, John and Hardwick, Christian},
abstractNote = {Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package. The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available data generated by this study establish an exploration methodology to inform decisions for successful development of stratigraphic reservoirs.},
doi = {10.15121/2282349},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2023},
month = {11}
}