Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports

Publicly accessible License 

This submission includes a Stage Gate Report on "Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States," along with supporting reports, presentations, and theses related to deep sedimentary basin geothermal development..

Stratigraphic reservoirs with high permeability and temperature at economically accessible depths are attractive for power generation because of their large areal extent (> 100 km2) compared to the fault controlled hydrothermal reservoirs (< 10 km2) found throughout much of the western US. A preliminary screening of the geothermal power potential of sedimentary basins in the U.S. assuming present day drilling costs, a levelized cost of electricity over 30 years of $10/Wh, and realistic reservoir permeabilities, indicates that basins with heat flows of more than about 80 mW/m2, reservoir temperatures of more than 175 degrees C, and a reservoir depth of less than 4 km are required. This puts the focus for future geothermal power generation on high heat flow regions of California (e.g. the Imperial Valley and regions adjacent to The Geysers), the Rio Grande rift system of New Mexico and Colorado (especially the Denver Basin), the Great Basin of the western U.S., and high heat flow parts of Hawaii and the Alaska volcanic arc.

The material is provided as a single combined PDF, as well as in the form of individual PDF files contained in a ZIP file. The supporting resources are described in the Stage Gate Report and organized by appendix ID, which also corresponds to the file names in the ZIP file.

Appendix 1-1a: Fluid-Mineral and Reactional Path Calculations (Simmons, S.F. 2012)
Appendix 1-1b: Summary of Coupled Fluid Geochemistry with Depth Analyses in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012)
Appendix 1-1c: Summary of Compiled Permeability with Depth Measurements for Basin Fill, Igneous, Carbonate, and Siliciclastic Rocks in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012)
Appendix 1-1d: Review of Permeability Characteristics in Drilled, Sediment-Hosted, Geothermal Systems (Anderson, T.C. 2012)
Appendix 1-2a: Structural Geology of the Eastern Basin and Range; Structural Cross Sections Across Western Utah and Northeastern Nevada (Schelling, D.D. 2012)
Appendix 1-2b: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-The Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012)
Appendices 1-2b-1: Presentation: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-the Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012)
Appendices 1-2b-2: Presentation: Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States (Moore, J. and R. Allis, 2012)
Appendix 1-2c: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011)
Appendix 1-2c-1: Presentation: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011)
Appendix 1-2d: Geothermal Resources in Southwestern Utah: Gravity and Magnetotelluric Investigations (Hardwick, C. 2012)
Appendix 1-2d-1: Geophysical Delineation of the Crater Bench, Utah, Geothermal System (Hardwick C.L. and D.S. Chapman, 2011)
Appendix 1-2d-2: Geothermal Resources in the Black Rock Desert, Utah: MT and Gravity Surveys (Hardwick, C.L and D.S. Chapman, 2012)
Appendix 2: Simulation of Heat Exchange Processes and Thermal Evolution of Deep Sedimentary Resevoirs (2012)
Appendix 3: Performance of Air-Cooled Binary Power Plants: An Analysis using Pacificorp's Blundell plant near Milford, Utah (Allis, R. and G. Larsen, 2012)
Appendix 4: Reservoir Implications of CO2 in Produced Fluids and as Co-Injected Fluid (2012)
Appendix 5: Developing Geothermal Resources beneath Hot Basins (stratigraphic reservoirs) Economic Constraints - draft notes for report (Spencer, T. and R. Allis 2012)
Appendix 6-1: Using Hydrogeologic Data to Evaluate Geothermal Potential in the Eastern Great Basin, Western U.S. (Heilweil et al. 2012)
Appendix 6-2a: Subsidence in Sedimentary Basins due to Groundwater Withdrawal for Geothermal Energy Development (Lowe, M. 2012)
Appendix 6-3: Induced Seismicity [associated with deep sedimentary basin EGS development] (McPherson, B. 2012)

Citation Formats

TY - DATA AB - This submission includes a Stage Gate Report on "Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States," along with supporting reports, presentations, and theses related to deep sedimentary basin geothermal development.. Stratigraphic reservoirs with high permeability and temperature at economically accessible depths are attractive for power generation because of their large areal extent (> 100 km2) compared to the fault controlled hydrothermal reservoirs (< 10 km2) found throughout much of the western US. A preliminary screening of the geothermal power potential of sedimentary basins in the U.S. assuming present day drilling costs, a levelized cost of electricity over 30 years of $10/Wh, and realistic reservoir permeabilities, indicates that basins with heat flows of more than about 80 mW/m2, reservoir temperatures of more than 175 degrees C, and a reservoir depth of less than 4 km are required. This puts the focus for future geothermal power generation on high heat flow regions of California (e.g. the Imperial Valley and regions adjacent to The Geysers), the Rio Grande rift system of New Mexico and Colorado (especially the Denver Basin), the Great Basin of the western U.S., and high heat flow parts of Hawaii and the Alaska volcanic arc. The material is provided as a single combined PDF, as well as in the form of individual PDF files contained in a ZIP file. The supporting resources are described in the Stage Gate Report and organized by appendix ID, which also corresponds to the file names in the ZIP file. Appendix 1-1a: Fluid-Mineral and Reactional Path Calculations (Simmons, S.F. 2012) Appendix 1-1b: Summary of Coupled Fluid Geochemistry with Depth Analyses in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012) Appendix 1-1c: Summary of Compiled Permeability with Depth Measurements for Basin Fill, Igneous, Carbonate, and Siliciclastic Rocks in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012) Appendix 1-1d: Review of Permeability Characteristics in Drilled, Sediment-Hosted, Geothermal Systems (Anderson, T.C. 2012) Appendix 1-2a: Structural Geology of the Eastern Basin and Range; Structural Cross Sections Across Western Utah and Northeastern Nevada (Schelling, D.D. 2012) Appendix 1-2b: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-The Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012) Appendices 1-2b-1: Presentation: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-the Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012) Appendices 1-2b-2: Presentation: Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States (Moore, J. and R. Allis, 2012) Appendix 1-2c: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011) Appendix 1-2c-1: Presentation: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011) Appendix 1-2d: Geothermal Resources in Southwestern Utah: Gravity and Magnetotelluric Investigations (Hardwick, C. 2012) Appendix 1-2d-1: Geophysical Delineation of the Crater Bench, Utah, Geothermal System (Hardwick C.L. and D.S. Chapman, 2011) Appendix 1-2d-2: Geothermal Resources in the Black Rock Desert, Utah: MT and Gravity Surveys (Hardwick, C.L and D.S. Chapman, 2012) Appendix 2: Simulation of Heat Exchange Processes and Thermal Evolution of Deep Sedimentary Resevoirs (2012) Appendix 3: Performance of Air-Cooled Binary Power Plants: An Analysis using Pacificorp's Blundell plant near Milford, Utah (Allis, R. and G. Larsen, 2012) Appendix 4: Reservoir Implications of CO2 in Produced Fluids and as Co-Injected Fluid (2012) Appendix 5: Developing Geothermal Resources beneath Hot Basins (stratigraphic reservoirs) Economic Constraints - draft notes for report (Spencer, T. and R. Allis 2012) Appendix 6-1: Using Hydrogeologic Data to Evaluate Geothermal Potential in the Eastern Great Basin, Western U.S. (Heilweil et al. 2012) Appendix 6-2a: Subsidence in Sedimentary Basins due to Groundwater Withdrawal for Geothermal Energy Development (Lowe, M. 2012) Appendix 6-3: Induced Seismicity [associated with deep sedimentary basin EGS development] (McPherson, B. 2012) AU - Allis, Rick A2 - Moore, Joseph DB - Geothermal Data Repository DP - Open EI | National Laboratory of the Rockies DO - KW - geothermal KW - sedimentary aquifers KW - basin stratigraphy KW - temperature distributions KW - heat flow KW - reservoir modeling KW - stratigraphic reservoirs KW - permeability KW - hydrofracturing KW - drilling KW - power production KW - solar KW - carbonates KW - siliciclastics KW - report KW - deep sedimentary KW - stage gate KW - technical report LA - English DA - 2013/01/24 PY - 2013 PB - University of Utah T1 - Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports UR - https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236 ER -
100 km2) compared to the fault controlled hydrothermal reservoirs (< 10 km2) found throughout much of the western US. A preliminary screening of the geothermal power potential of sedimentary basins in the U.S. assuming present day drilling costs, a levelized cost of electricity over 30 years of $10/Wh, and realistic reservoir permeabilities, indicates that basins with heat flows of more than about 80 mW/m2, reservoir temperatures of more than 175 degrees C, and a reservoir depth of less than 4 km are required. This puts the focus for future geothermal power generation on high heat flow regions of California (e.g. the Imperial Valley and regions adjacent to The Geysers), the Rio Grande rift system of New Mexico and Colorado (especially the Denver Basin), the Great Basin of the western U.S., and high heat flow parts of Hawaii and the Alaska volcanic arc. The material is provided as a single combined PDF, as well as in the form of individual PDF files contained in a ZIP file. The supporting resources are described in the Stage Gate Report and organized by appendix ID, which also corresponds to the file names in the ZIP file. Appendix 1-1a: Fluid-Mineral and Reactional Path Calculations (Simmons, S.F. 2012) Appendix 1-1b: Summary of Coupled Fluid Geochemistry with Depth Analyses in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012) Appendix 1-1c: Summary of Compiled Permeability with Depth Measurements for Basin Fill, Igneous, Carbonate, and Siliciclastic Rocks in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012) Appendix 1-1d: Review of Permeability Characteristics in Drilled, Sediment-Hosted, Geothermal Systems (Anderson, T.C. 2012) Appendix 1-2a: Structural Geology of the Eastern Basin and Range; Structural Cross Sections Across Western Utah and Northeastern Nevada (Schelling, D.D. 2012) Appendix 1-2b: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-The Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012) Appendices 1-2b-1: Presentation: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-the Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012) Appendices 1-2b-2: Presentation: Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States (Moore, J. and R. Allis, 2012) Appendix 1-2c: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011) Appendix 1-2c-1: Presentation: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011) Appendix 1-2d: Geothermal Resources in Southwestern Utah: Gravity and Magnetotelluric Investigations (Hardwick, C. 2012) Appendix 1-2d-1: Geophysical Delineation of the Crater Bench, Utah, Geothermal System (Hardwick C.L. and D.S. Chapman, 2011) Appendix 1-2d-2: Geothermal Resources in the Black Rock Desert, Utah: MT and Gravity Surveys (Hardwick, C.L and D.S. Chapman, 2012) Appendix 2: Simulation of Heat Exchange Processes and Thermal Evolution of Deep Sedimentary Resevoirs (2012) Appendix 3: Performance of Air-Cooled Binary Power Plants: An Analysis using Pacificorp's Blundell plant near Milford, Utah (Allis, R. and G. Larsen, 2012) Appendix 4: Reservoir Implications of CO2 in Produced Fluids and as Co-Injected Fluid (2012) Appendix 5: Developing Geothermal Resources beneath Hot Basins (stratigraphic reservoirs) Economic Constraints - draft notes for report (Spencer, T. and R. Allis 2012) Appendix 6-1: Using Hydrogeologic Data to Evaluate Geothermal Potential in the Eastern Great Basin, Western U.S. (Heilweil et al. 2012) Appendix 6-2a: Subsidence in Sedimentary Basins due to Groundwater Withdrawal for Geothermal Energy Development (Lowe, M. 2012) Appendix 6-3: Induced Seismicity [associated with deep sedimentary basin EGS development] (McPherson, B. 2012) AU - Allis, Rick A2 - Moore, Joseph DB - Geothermal Data Repository DP - Open EI | National Laboratory of the Rockies DO - KW - geothermal KW - sedimentary aquifers KW - basin stratigraphy KW - temperature distributions KW - heat flow KW - reservoir modeling KW - stratigraphic reservoirs KW - permeability KW - hydrofracturing KW - drilling KW - power production KW - solar KW - carbonates KW - siliciclastics KW - report KW - deep sedimentary KW - stage gate KW - technical report LA - English DA - 2013/01/24 PY - 2013 PB - University of Utah T1 - Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports UR - https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236 ER - " readonly /> Export Citation to RIS
Allis, Rick, and Joseph Moore. Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports. University of Utah, 24 January, 2013, Geothermal Data Repository. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236.
Allis, R., & Moore, J. (2013). Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports. [Data set]. Geothermal Data Repository. University of Utah. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236
Allis, Rick and Joseph Moore. Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports. University of Utah, January, 24, 2013. Distributed by Geothermal Data Repository. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236
@misc{GDR_Dataset_236, title = {Deep Sedimentary Basin EGS Development Reports}, author = {Allis, Rick and Moore, Joseph}, abstractNote = {This submission includes a Stage Gate Report on "Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States," along with supporting reports, presentations, and theses related to deep sedimentary basin geothermal development..

Stratigraphic reservoirs with high permeability and temperature at economically accessible depths are attractive for power generation because of their large areal extent (> 100 km2) compared to the fault controlled hydrothermal reservoirs (< 10 km2) found throughout much of the western US. A preliminary screening of the geothermal power potential of sedimentary basins in the U.S. assuming present day drilling costs, a levelized cost of electricity over 30 years of $10/Wh, and realistic reservoir permeabilities, indicates that basins with heat flows of more than about 80 mW/m2, reservoir temperatures of more than 175 degrees C, and a reservoir depth of less than 4 km are required. This puts the focus for future geothermal power generation on high heat flow regions of California (e.g. the Imperial Valley and regions adjacent to The Geysers), the Rio Grande rift system of New Mexico and Colorado (especially the Denver Basin), the Great Basin of the western U.S., and high heat flow parts of Hawaii and the Alaska volcanic arc.

The material is provided as a single combined PDF, as well as in the form of individual PDF files contained in a ZIP file. The supporting resources are described in the Stage Gate Report and organized by appendix ID, which also corresponds to the file names in the ZIP file.

Appendix 1-1a: Fluid-Mineral and Reactional Path Calculations (Simmons, S.F. 2012)
Appendix 1-1b: Summary of Coupled Fluid Geochemistry with Depth Analyses in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012)
Appendix 1-1c: Summary of Compiled Permeability with Depth Measurements for Basin Fill, Igneous, Carbonate, and Siliciclastic Rocks in the Great Basin and Adjoining Regions (Kirby, S.M. 2012)
Appendix 1-1d: Review of Permeability Characteristics in Drilled, Sediment-Hosted, Geothermal Systems (Anderson, T.C. 2012)
Appendix 1-2a: Structural Geology of the Eastern Basin and Range; Structural Cross Sections Across Western Utah and Northeastern Nevada (Schelling, D.D. 2012)
Appendix 1-2b: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-The Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012)
Appendices 1-2b-1: Presentation: Stratigraphic Reservoirs in the Great Basin-the Bridge to Development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the U.S. (Allis et al. 2012)
Appendices 1-2b-2: Presentation: Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary Systems in the United States (Moore, J. and R. Allis, 2012)
Appendix 1-2c: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011)
Appendix 1-2c-1: Presentation: The Potential for Basin-Centered Geothermal Resources in the Great Basin (Allis et al. 2011)
Appendix 1-2d: Geothermal Resources in Southwestern Utah: Gravity and Magnetotelluric Investigations (Hardwick, C. 2012)
Appendix 1-2d-1: Geophysical Delineation of the Crater Bench, Utah, Geothermal System (Hardwick C.L. and D.S. Chapman, 2011)
Appendix 1-2d-2: Geothermal Resources in the Black Rock Desert, Utah: MT and Gravity Surveys (Hardwick, C.L and D.S. Chapman, 2012)
Appendix 2: Simulation of Heat Exchange Processes and Thermal Evolution of Deep Sedimentary Resevoirs (2012)
Appendix 3: Performance of Air-Cooled Binary Power Plants: An Analysis using Pacificorp's Blundell plant near Milford, Utah (Allis, R. and G. Larsen, 2012)
Appendix 4: Reservoir Implications of CO2 in Produced Fluids and as Co-Injected Fluid (2012)
Appendix 5: Developing Geothermal Resources beneath Hot Basins (stratigraphic reservoirs) Economic Constraints - draft notes for report (Spencer, T. and R. Allis 2012)
Appendix 6-1: Using Hydrogeologic Data to Evaluate Geothermal Potential in the Eastern Great Basin, Western U.S. (Heilweil et al. 2012)
Appendix 6-2a: Subsidence in Sedimentary Basins due to Groundwater Withdrawal for Geothermal Energy Development (Lowe, M. 2012)
Appendix 6-3: Induced Seismicity [associated with deep sedimentary basin EGS development] (McPherson, B. 2012)}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236}, year = {2013}, howpublished = {Geothermal Data Repository, University of Utah, https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/236}, note = {Accessed: 2026-07-13} }

Details

Data from Jan 24, 2013

Last updated Jun 8, 2026

Submitted Jul 31, 2013

Organization

University of Utah

Contact

Joseph Moore

801.585.6931

Authors

Rick Allis

University of Utah

Joseph Moore

University of Utah

DOE Project Details

Project Name Novel Geothermal Development of Deep Sedimentary systems in the US

Project Lead William Vandermeer

Project Number EE0005128

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