Date of Award:
5-2016
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Geosciences
Department name when degree awarded
Geology
Committee Chair(s)
James P. Evans
Committee
James P. Evans
Committee
John W. Shervais
Committee
Kelly K. Bradbury
Abstract
Harnessing the earth’s natural heat generation as an energy resource has seen increased interest in recent history. While geothermal energy is a sustainable, low-carbon emitting, and viable source of energy in certain regions, large upfront risks, including costs of exploration and deep well drilling, have kept private sector investment at bay. Lowering the risks to capital investment that are inherent to subsurface exploration can help to assuage investors and bring this well-known energy-generating technology to the masses.
A blind potential geothermal system was encountered while drilling the MH2 science drill hole, on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The MH-2 hole was cored from 163 m to a total depth of 1,821 m, including through the thermal zone at 1,745 m, where flowing artesian thermal water was encountered. Characterizing this system can help to predict where similar systems may occur, to be targeted for future geothermal exploration projects. This work characterizes the geothermal system on the most fundamental level by describing, in detail, the lithologies present in the MH-2 core. These lithologies indicate the presence of a geothermal fluid reservoir and seal, the elements required for a viable geothermal resource, and at a relatively shallow depth.
A parallel geothermal exploration project in southern Idaho has implemented petroleum subsurface exploration techniques to test the predictive ability to identify resources in a geothermal regime. The results show that this process has systematically identified the area surrounding the MH-2 site as prospective, and indicates the possibility of lowering risk in subsurface evaluation in geothermal exploration and production.
Checksum
f8764c931e5f76f423fd92f63c371c3e
Recommended Citation
Varriale, Jerome A., "The MH-2 Core from Project Hotspot: Description, Geologic Interpretation, and Significance to Geothermal Exploration in the Western Snake River Plain, Idaho" (2016). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 4677.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4677
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