Estimate of Geothermal Energy Resource in Major U.S. Sedimentary Basins (Presentation)
This study estimates the magnitude of geothermal energy from fifteen major known US sedimentary basins and ranks these basins relative to their potential. Because most sedimentary basins have been explored for oil and gas, well logs, temperatures at depth, and reservoir properties are known. This reduces exploration risk and allows development of geologic exploration models for each basin as wellas a relative assessment of geologic risk elements for each play. The total available thermal resource for each basin was estimated using the volumetric heat-in-place method originally proposed by Muffler (USGS). Total sedimentary thickness maps, stratigraphic columns, cross sections, and temperature gradient Information were gathered for each basin from published articles, USGS reports, andstate geological survey reports. When published data was insufficient, thermal gradients and reservoir properties were derived from oil and gas well logs obtained on oil and gas commission websites. Basin stratigraphy, structural history, and groundwater circulation patterns were studied in order to develop a model that estimates resource size and temperature distribution, and to qualitativelyassess reservoir productivity.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1040935
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/PR-6A20-55017; TRN: US201211%%268
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the AAPG 2012 Annual Convention, 22-25 April 2012, Long Beach, California; Related Information: NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CROSS SECTIONS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
NATURAL GAS WELLS
PRODUCTIVITY
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STRATIGRAPHY
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THICKNESS
WEBSITES
geothermal
geothermal resources
United States
U.S.
geothermal resource
sedimentary basin
GIS
mapping
generation potential