Comprehensive analysis of Hawaii's geothermal potential through Play Fairway integration of geophysical, geochemical, and geological data Award Number: DE-EE0006729 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.6 Geothermal Technologies Office Date: 04/25/2016 Lo...
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
May 2, 2016
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Comprehensive analysis of Hawaii's geothermal potential through Play Fairway integration of geophysical, geochemical, and geological data
Award Number: DE-EE0006729
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1, B3.6
Geothermal Technologies Office
Date: 04/25/2016
Location(s): HI
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to the University of Hawaii 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 proposed University of Hawaii project was one of 11 projects included in a previous, FOA-wide NEPA determination (GFO-FOA0000841-001; CX A9; 7/31/2014) for Funding Opportunity Announcement, DE-FOA-0000841. The previous NEPA determination reviewed Phase/Budget Period 1 activities (Tasks 1-7) only which included literature searches, compilation of data, GIS analysis, computer simulation, and presentation of results. Following a competitive down-select, six projects were selected to move forward into Budget Period 2 (BP2). This NEPA determination is only for BP2 activities listed below that would be conducted by the University of Hawaii. At the conclusion of BP2, there would be a Go/No-Go decision to determine whether or not the project would continue to Budget Period 3.