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Title: Low-temperature geothermal resources of Washington

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/207591· OSTI ID:207591
 [1];  [2]
  1. Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA (United States). Div. of Geology and Earth Resources
  2. Washington State Energy Office, Olympia, WA (United States)

This report presents information on the location, physical characteristics, and water chemistry of low-temperature geothermal resources in Washington. The database includes 941 thermal (>20C or 68F) wells, 34 thermal springs, lakes, and fumaroles, and 238 chemical analyses. Most thermal springs occur in the Cascade Range, and many are associated with stratovolcanoes. In contrast, 97 percent of thermal wells are located in the Columbia Basin of southeastern Washington. Some 83.5 percent are located in Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant, Walla Walla, and Yakima Counties. Yakima County, with 259 thermal wells, has the most. Thermal wells do not seem to owe their origin to local sources of heat, such as cooling magma in the Earth`s upper crust, but to moderate to deep circulation of ground water in extensive aquifers of the Columbia River Basalt Group and interflow sedimentary deposits, under the influence of a moderately elevated (41C/km) average geothermal gradient.

Research Organization:
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA (United States). Div. of Geology and Earth Resources
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-94ID13223
OSTI ID:
207591
Report Number(s):
DOE/ID/13223-T3; ON: DE96006590; IN: Open File Report 94-11
Resource Relation:
Other Information: DN: Open File Report 94-11; PBD: Jun 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English