Water information bulletin No. 30 geothermal investigations in Idaho

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6765174· OSTI ID:6765174

Mitchell, J C; Johnson, L L; Anderson, J E; Spencer, S G; Sullivan, J F

There are 899 thermal water occurrences known in Idaho, including 258 springs and 641 wells having temperatures ranging from 20 to 93/sup 0/C. Fifty-one cities or towns in Idaho containing 30% of the state's population are within 5 km of known geothermal springs or wells. These include several of Idaho's major cities such as Lewiston, Caldwell, Nampa, Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls. Fourteen sites appear to have subsurface temperatures of 140/sup 0/C or higher according to the several chemical geothermometers applied to thermal water discharges. These include Weiser, Big Creek, White Licks, Vulcan, Roystone, Bonneville, Crane Creek, Cove Creek, Indian Creek, and Deer Creek hot springs, and Raft River, Preston, and Magic Reservoir areas. These sites could be industrial sites, but several are in remote areas away from major transportation and, therefore, would probably be best utilized for electrical power generation using the binary cycle or Magma Max process. Present uses range from space heating to power generation. Six areas are known where commercial greenhouse operations are conducted for growing cut and potted flowers and vegetables. Space heating is substantial in only two places (Boise and Ketchum) although numerous individuals scattered throughout the state make use of thermal water for space heating and private swimming facilities. There are 22 operating resorts using thermal water and two commercial warm-water fish-rearing operations.

• Research Organization: Idaho Dept. of Water Resources, Boise (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AS07-77ET28407
• OSTI ID: 6765174
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/28407-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
IDAHO
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
THERMAL SPRINGS
GEOTHERMAL DISTRICT HEATING
GEOTHERMAL PROCESS HEAT
GEOTHERMOMETERS
USES
DISTRICT HEATING
ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
HEAT
HEATING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PROCESS HEAT
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Geothermal Legacy
151000* - Geothermal Energy- Direct Energy Utilization