Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging
Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package.
The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available data generated by this study establish an exploration methodology to inform decisions for successful development of stratigraphic reservoirs.
Citation Formats
TY - DATA
AB - Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package.
The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available data generated by this study establish an exploration methodology to inform decisions for successful development of stratigraphic reservoirs.
AU - Schwering, Paul
A2 - Jaysaval, Piyoosh
A3 - Knox, Hunter
A4 - Roth, Melissa
A5 - Faulds, James
A6 - Mlawsky, Elijah
A7 - Ayling, Bridget
A8 - Hinz, Nicholas
A9 - Siler, Drew
A10 - Winn, Carmen
A11 - Matson, Gabe
A12 - Tomblin, Sydni
A13 - Norbeck, Jack
A14 - McConville, Emma
A15 - Fercho, Steven
A16 - Queen, John
A17 - Hardwick, Christian
DB - Geothermal Data Repository
DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory
DO - 10.15121/2282349
KW - geothermal
KW - energy
KW - Nevada
KW - Steptoe Valley
KW - 3D geological model
KW - MT
KW - Geochemistry
KW - hydrothermal
KW - stratigraphy
KW - geophysics
KW - magnetotellurics
KW - csem
KW - electromagnetics
KW - gravity
KW - geology
KW - modeling
KW - reflection
KW - seismic
KW - leapfrog
KW - seismic reflection
KW - water sample
KW - processed data
KW - raw data
KW - controlled-source electromagnetic
KW - leapfrog energy
KW - feasibility
KW - aqueous
LA - English
DA - 2023/11/01
PY - 2023
PB - Sandia National Laboratories
T1 - Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging
UR - https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349
ER -
Schwering, Paul, et al. Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging. Sandia National Laboratories, 1 November, 2023, Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349.
Schwering, P., Jaysaval, P., Knox, H., Roth, M., Faulds, J., Mlawsky, E., Ayling, B., Hinz, N., Siler, D., Winn, C., Matson, G., Tomblin, S., Norbeck, J., McConville, E., Fercho, S., Queen, J., & Hardwick, C. (2023). Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging. [Data set]. Geothermal Data Repository. Sandia National Laboratories. https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349
Schwering, Paul, Piyoosh Jaysaval, Hunter Knox, Melissa Roth, James Faulds, Elijah Mlawsky, Bridget Ayling, Nicholas Hinz, Drew Siler, Carmen Winn, Gabe Matson, Sydni Tomblin, Jack Norbeck, Emma McConville, Steven Fercho, John Queen, and Christian Hardwick. Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging. Sandia National Laboratories, November, 1, 2023. Distributed by Geothermal Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349
@misc{GDR_Dataset_1568,
title = {Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging},
author = {Schwering, Paul and Jaysaval, Piyoosh and Knox, Hunter and Roth, Melissa and Faulds, James and Mlawsky, Elijah and Ayling, Bridget and Hinz, Nicholas and Siler, Drew and Winn, Carmen and Matson, Gabe and Tomblin, Sydni and Norbeck, Jack and McConville, Emma and Fercho, Steven and Queen, John and Hardwick, Christian},
abstractNote = {Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package.
The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available data generated by this study establish an exploration methodology to inform decisions for successful development of stratigraphic reservoirs.},
url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1568},
year = {2023},
howpublished = {Geothermal Data Repository, Sandia National Laboratories, https://doi.org/10.15121/2282349},
note = {Accessed: 2025-04-24},
doi = {10.15121/2282349}
}
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/2282349
Details
Data from Nov 1, 2023
Last updated Jan 23, 2024
Submitted Jan 23, 2024
Organization
Sandia National Laboratories
Contact
Paul Schwering
505.681.0457
Authors
Keywords
geothermal, energy, Nevada, Steptoe Valley, 3D geological model, MT, Geochemistry, hydrothermal, stratigraphy, geophysics, magnetotellurics, csem, electromagnetics, gravity, geology, modeling, reflection, seismic, leapfrog, seismic reflection, water sample, processed data, raw data, controlled-source electromagnetic, leapfrog energy, feasibility, aqueousDOE Project Details
Project Name Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource; Geophysical Imaging at Steptoe Valley, Nevada
Project Lead Alexandra Prisjatschew
Project Number FY23 AOP 3.1.1.11