Discovering Blind Geothermal Systems in the Great Basin Region: An Integrated Geologic and Geophysical Approach for Establishing Geothermal Play Fairways Award Number: DE-EE0006731 CX(s) Applied: B3.1, B3.2, B3.6 Geothermal Technologies Office D...
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
February 25, 2016
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Discovering Blind Geothermal Systems in the Great Basin Region: An Integrated Geologic and Geophysical Approach for Establishing Geothermal Play Fairways
Award Number: DE-EE0006731
CX(s) Applied: B3.1, B3.2, B3.6
Geothermal Technologies Office
Date: 02/25/2016
Location(s): NV
Office(s): Golden Field Office
As part of Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0000841 the Department of Energy (DOE) was seeking applications to address the overarching theme of uncertainty quantification and reduction for geothermal exploration, specifically through the development of Geothermal Play Fairways. A play fairway analysis defines levels of uncertainty with respect to the presence and utility of geothermal system elements, and translates them into maps to high grade the geographic area over which the most favorable combinations of heat, permeability, and fluid are thought to extend. The analysis is conducted on a regional (basin) scale, with the resulting maps covering areas up to several thousand square miles.
The proposed project activities include a down-select from approximately 24 potential study sites to 3-5 sites; geologic study of the 3-5 chosen sites; geochemical investigations; shallow temperature, LiDAR and gravity surveys; seismic reflection analysis; slip and dilation tendency analysis; 3D and thermal modeling; selection of final drilling targets; and reporting. The initial down-select, thermal modeling, seismic reflection analysis, final selection of drilling targets and reporting would be strictly intellectual, academic, or analytical activities and would be completed at UNR offices on campus in Reno, NV. Geologic and geochemical investigations and surveys would be completed by UNR staff in the field on Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and private land within the Nevada Play Fairway study area. Chemical analysis of rock, soil and water samples collected in the field would be completed at UNR labs on campus in Reno, NV. Slip and dilation tendency analysis and 3D modeling would take place at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL) in Berkeley, CA.