Study of the geothermal production potential in the Williston Basin, North Dakota

Technical Report · Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5922520· OSTI ID:5922520

Chu, Min H

Preliminary studies of geothermal production potential for the North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin have been carried out. Reservoir data such as formation depth, subsurface temperatures, and water quality were reviewed for geothermal brine production predictions. This study, in addition, provides important information about net pay thickness, porosity, volume of geothermal water available, and productivity index for future geothermal direct-use development. Preliminary results show that the Inyan Kara Formation of the Dakota Group is the most favorable geothermal resource in terms of water quality and productivity. The Madison, Duperow, and Red River Formations are deeper formations but because of their low permeability and great depth, the potential flow rates from these three formations are considerably less than those of the Inyan Kara Formation. Also, poor water quality and low porosity will make those formations less favorable for geothermal direct-use development.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States). Energy and Environmental Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-88ID12736
• OSTI ID: 5922520
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12736-2; ON: DE92006630
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
NORTH DAKOTA
WELLS
PRODUCTIVITY
COMPILED DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POROSITY
PROGRESS REPORT
RESISTIVITY LOGGING
WATER QUALITY
WELL LOGGING
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC LOGGING
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
USA
Geothermal Legacy
150200* - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems