Alpine 1/Federal: Temperature gradients, geothermal potential, and geology. Final report, Part 2
- New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States). Southwest Technology Development Inst.
- Hahman (W. Richard), Las Cruces, NM (United States)
- Swanberg (Chandler A.), Phoenix, AZ (United States)
The Alpine 1/Federal drilling project provided valuable new; information on the geology of the region. Except for drilling into Precambrian rocks, the objectives of the project were accomplished. sufficient temperature and heat-flow information were obtained to assess the near-term HDR geothermal potential of the eastern White Mountains region. Therefore, the primary mission of the project was successful. The HDR potential for near-term electrical power production is not economic. Potential for HDR direct-use space heating is marginal at best and should realistically be considered uneconomic. The Alpine 1/Federal hole should be deepened to Precambrian basement to provide definitive subsurface geological information for this region. Deeper drilling will determine Precambrian lithology and assess if older Paleozoic rock units are present. The hole may be deepened with a BQ drill string. Depth to Precambrian is likely to be between 800 and 2,000 feet below the current 4,505 feet total depth. The failure to reach Precambrian basement due to a previously unknown and unmapped major structural offset highlights the need for detailed surface geological mapping in this poorly understood region.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Energy Office, Phoenix, AZ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG04-91AL73394
- OSTI ID:
- 10178176
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/AL/73394-T1-Pt.2; ON: DE94017950; BR: AM1002000
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Alphine 1/Federal: Drilling report. Final report, Part 1
Geothermal test hints at oil potential in eastern Arizona volcanic field