Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well
Abstract Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) methodology was adapted for geothermal exploration at Camas Prairie, Idaho. Geophysical data, structural and geologic mapping, volcanic rock ages and vent locations, and the distribution of thermal springs and wells all indicated a relatively high geothermal pote...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Geothermal Energy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00264-4 |
| _version_ | 1797577071673737216 |
|---|---|
| author | Thomas E. Lachmar Ghanashyam Neupane Sabodh K. Garg Patrick F. Dobson Connor J. Smith Dennis L. Newell John W. Shervais James P. Evans Leland L. Mink |
| author_facet | Thomas E. Lachmar Ghanashyam Neupane Sabodh K. Garg Patrick F. Dobson Connor J. Smith Dennis L. Newell John W. Shervais James P. Evans Leland L. Mink |
| author_sort | Thomas E. Lachmar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) methodology was adapted for geothermal exploration at Camas Prairie, Idaho. Geophysical data, structural and geologic mapping, volcanic rock ages and vent locations, and the distribution of thermal springs and wells all indicated a relatively high geothermal potential along the southern margin of the Prairie. An exploration well (USU Camas-1) was drilled to a depth of 618.3 m to validate the PFA. A permeable zone was encountered at ~ 357.5 m with a maximum measured temperature of ~ 80 °C, which was suppressed following the injection of cold water. A moderate transmissivity of ~ 0.25–1 cm2/s estimated from an injection test as well a seasonal artesian flow at ~ 0.7 L/s corroborate the presence of a permeable zone. The existence of a lacustrine clay seal was confirmed near the bottom of the basin-fill sediment occupying the upper 314 m of the well. Geothermometers suggest the USU Camas-1 well water equilibrated at a reservoir temperature of ~ 120 °C. Based on the locations of both thermal and cold wells, geothermal fluids appear to be flowing upward along one or both of two fault systems. The presence of young basalts and elevated helium isotope ratios suggest that the heat source of Camas Prairie is magmatic. However, the faults may be acting as a conduit for geothermal fluids to rise from great depth without a shallow magmatic source being present. Camas Prairie is a promising area for geothermal development, but the relatively low reservoir temperatures indicate this resource may not be suitable for electric generation. Perhaps the best use would be for heating. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:03:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da3e4de7562d4a43afa6ee276674540e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2195-9706 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:03:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geothermal Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-da3e4de7562d4a43afa6ee276674540e2023-11-19T12:53:16ZengSpringerOpenGeothermal Energy2195-97062023-08-0111111710.1186/s40517-023-00264-4Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration wellThomas E. Lachmar0Ghanashyam Neupane1Sabodh K. Garg2Patrick F. Dobson3Connor J. Smith4Dennis L. Newell5John W. Shervais6James P. Evans7Leland L. Mink8Department of Geosciences, Utah State UniversityIdaho National LaboratoryGeologica Geothermal Group Inc.Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryDepartment of Geosciences, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Geosciences, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Geosciences, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Geosciences, Utah State UniversityMink GeoHydro Inc.Abstract Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) methodology was adapted for geothermal exploration at Camas Prairie, Idaho. Geophysical data, structural and geologic mapping, volcanic rock ages and vent locations, and the distribution of thermal springs and wells all indicated a relatively high geothermal potential along the southern margin of the Prairie. An exploration well (USU Camas-1) was drilled to a depth of 618.3 m to validate the PFA. A permeable zone was encountered at ~ 357.5 m with a maximum measured temperature of ~ 80 °C, which was suppressed following the injection of cold water. A moderate transmissivity of ~ 0.25–1 cm2/s estimated from an injection test as well a seasonal artesian flow at ~ 0.7 L/s corroborate the presence of a permeable zone. The existence of a lacustrine clay seal was confirmed near the bottom of the basin-fill sediment occupying the upper 314 m of the well. Geothermometers suggest the USU Camas-1 well water equilibrated at a reservoir temperature of ~ 120 °C. Based on the locations of both thermal and cold wells, geothermal fluids appear to be flowing upward along one or both of two fault systems. The presence of young basalts and elevated helium isotope ratios suggest that the heat source of Camas Prairie is magmatic. However, the faults may be acting as a conduit for geothermal fluids to rise from great depth without a shallow magmatic source being present. Camas Prairie is a promising area for geothermal development, but the relatively low reservoir temperatures indicate this resource may not be suitable for electric generation. Perhaps the best use would be for heating.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00264-4Geophysical logsTemperature logsInjection testGeochemistryGeothermometers |
| spellingShingle | Thomas E. Lachmar Ghanashyam Neupane Sabodh K. Garg Patrick F. Dobson Connor J. Smith Dennis L. Newell John W. Shervais James P. Evans Leland L. Mink Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well Geothermal Energy Geophysical logs Temperature logs Injection test Geochemistry Geothermometers |
| title | Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well |
| title_full | Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well |
| title_fullStr | Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well |
| title_short | Validation of Play Fairway Analysis of the geothermal potential of Camas Prairie, south-central Idaho, by an exploration well |
| title_sort | validation of play fairway analysis of the geothermal potential of camas prairie south central idaho by an exploration well |
| topic | Geophysical logs Temperature logs Injection test Geochemistry Geothermometers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00264-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thomaselachmar validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT ghanashyamneupane validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT sabodhkgarg validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT patrickfdobson validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT connorjsmith validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT dennislnewell validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT johnwshervais validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT jamespevans validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell AT lelandlmink validationofplayfairwayanalysisofthegeothermalpotentialofcamasprairiesouthcentralidahobyanexplorationwell |