Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters

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This study is an extension of the Hawaii Play Fairway Analysis (PFA), a statewide geothermal exploration project funded by the United States Department of Energy. Based on results from prior phases of the PFA, this project targeted 66 wells on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai for sampling of dissolved noble gases, trace metals, common ions, and the stable isotopes 2H and 18O. Ultimately, 23 of the 66 well targets were sampled. The noble gas helium is used as an indicator of geothermal heat when excess 3He and/or 4He is present when compared to the atmospheric ratio of those isotopes (R/Ra). R/Ra is minimally affected by dilution and transport, allowing even those wells not perfectly situated over a geothermal system to indicate a geothermal anomaly. R/Ra anomalies are present on every island in this study. There is a strong correlation between R/Ra anomalies and proximity to rift zones and calderas. Across the islands R/Ra ranged from 15-16 on Kilauea's lower east rift zone, which is a mantle plume value, to 0.37 on Lanai, which is a crustal value. The majority of anomalous well samples had R/Ra values consistent with an upper mantle source. Mixing between upper mantle and crustal helium is evident on all islands. Geographically, R/Ra decreases from the high at Kilauea to upper mantle values at Mauna Loa, and remains at upper mantle values for all wells across the other volcanoes, with the exception of two of four sampled wells on Lanai.

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TY - DATA AB - This study is an extension of the Hawaii Play Fairway Analysis (PFA), a statewide geothermal exploration project funded by the United States Department of Energy. Based on results from prior phases of the PFA, this project targeted 66 wells on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai for sampling of dissolved noble gases, trace metals, common ions, and the stable isotopes 2H and 18O. Ultimately, 23 of the 66 well targets were sampled. The noble gas helium is used as an indicator of geothermal heat when excess 3He and/or 4He is present when compared to the atmospheric ratio of those isotopes (R/Ra). R/Ra is minimally affected by dilution and transport, allowing even those wells not perfectly situated over a geothermal system to indicate a geothermal anomaly. R/Ra anomalies are present on every island in this study. There is a strong correlation between R/Ra anomalies and proximity to rift zones and calderas. Across the islands R/Ra ranged from 15-16 on Kilauea's lower east rift zone, which is a mantle plume value, to 0.37 on Lanai, which is a crustal value. The majority of anomalous well samples had R/Ra values consistent with an upper mantle source. Mixing between upper mantle and crustal helium is evident on all islands. Geographically, R/Ra decreases from the high at Kilauea to upper mantle values at Mauna Loa, and remains at upper mantle values for all wells across the other volcanoes, with the exception of two of four sampled wells on Lanai. AU - Ferguson, Colin DB - Geothermal Data Repository DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory DO - 10.15121/1881307 KW - geothermal KW - energy KW - Hawaii KW - Play Fairway KW - Kilauea KW - Maui KW - Lanai KW - Kauai KW - noble gas KW - helium KW - trace metal KW - R/Ra KW - isotope KW - indicator KW - indicator gas KW - resource detection LA - English DA - 2020/11/01 PY - 2020 PB - University of Hawaii T1 - Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters UR - https://doi.org/10.15121/1881307 ER -
Export Citation to RIS
Ferguson, Colin. Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters. University of Hawaii, 1 November, 2020, Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/1881307.
Ferguson, C. (2020). Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters. [Data set]. Geothermal Data Repository. University of Hawaii. https://doi.org/10.15121/1881307
Ferguson, Colin. Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters. University of Hawaii, November, 1, 2020. Distributed by Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/1881307
@misc{GDR_Dataset_1410, title = {Exploration for Blind Geothermal Resources in the State of Hawaii Utilizing Dissolved Noble Gasses in Well Waters}, author = {Ferguson, Colin}, abstractNote = {This study is an extension of the Hawaii Play Fairway Analysis (PFA), a statewide geothermal exploration project funded by the United States Department of Energy. Based on results from prior phases of the PFA, this project targeted 66 wells on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai for sampling of dissolved noble gases, trace metals, common ions, and the stable isotopes 2H and 18O. Ultimately, 23 of the 66 well targets were sampled. The noble gas helium is used as an indicator of geothermal heat when excess 3He and/or 4He is present when compared to the atmospheric ratio of those isotopes (R/Ra). R/Ra is minimally affected by dilution and transport, allowing even those wells not perfectly situated over a geothermal system to indicate a geothermal anomaly. R/Ra anomalies are present on every island in this study. There is a strong correlation between R/Ra anomalies and proximity to rift zones and calderas. Across the islands R/Ra ranged from 15-16 on Kilauea's lower east rift zone, which is a mantle plume value, to 0.37 on Lanai, which is a crustal value. The majority of anomalous well samples had R/Ra values consistent with an upper mantle source. Mixing between upper mantle and crustal helium is evident on all islands. Geographically, R/Ra decreases from the high at Kilauea to upper mantle values at Mauna Loa, and remains at upper mantle values for all wells across the other volcanoes, with the exception of two of four sampled wells on Lanai.}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1410}, year = {2020}, howpublished = {Geothermal Data Repository, University of Hawaii, https://doi.org/10.15121/1881307}, note = {Accessed: 2025-05-04}, doi = {10.15121/1881307} }
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1881307

Details

Data from Nov 1, 2020

Last updated May 21, 2024

Submitted Aug 15, 2022

Organization

University of Hawaii

Contact

Nicole Lautze

808.956.3499

Authors

Colin Ferguson

University of Hawaii

DOE Project Details

Project Name Comprehensive analysis of Hawaii's geothermal potential through Play Fairway integration of geophysical, geochemical, and geological data

Project Lead Holly Thomas

Project Number EE0006729

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