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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Characterizing Structural Controls of EGS-Candidate and Conventional Geothermal Reservoirs in the Great Basin: Developing Successful Exploration Strategies in Extended Terranes

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the structural controls of geothermal systems within the Great Basin and adjacent regions. Our main objectives were to: 1) Produce a catalogue of favorable structural environments and models for geothermal systems. 2) Improve site-specific targeting of geothermal resources through detailed studies of representative sites, which included innovative techniques of slip tendency analysis of faults and 3D modeling. 3) Compare and contrast the structural controls and models in different tectonic settings. 4) Synthesize data and develop methodologies for enhancement of exploration strategies for conventional and EGS systems, reduction in the risk of drilling non-productive wells, and selecting the best EGS sites.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Innovative computational tools for reducing exploration risk through integration of water-rock interactions and magnetotelluric surveys

Mapping permeability distributions in geothermal reservoirs is essential for reducing the cost of geothermal development. To avoid the cost and sampling bias of measuring permeability directly through drilling, we require remote methods of imaging permeability such as geophysics. Electrical resistivity (or its inverse, conductivity) is one of the most sensitive geophysical properties known to reflect long range fluid interconnection and thus the likelihood of permeability. Perhaps the most widely applied geophysical methods for imaging subsurface resistivity is magnetotellurics (MT) due to its relatively great penetration depths. A primary goal of this project is to confirm through ground truthing at existing geothermal systems that MT resistivity structure interpreted integratively is capable of revealing permeable fluid pathways into geothermal systems.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Environmental Impact Calculations for Geothermal DDU system on WVU Campus

This dataset contains all the inputs used and output produced from Matlab for the environmental analysis of an improved hybrid geothermal district heating and cooling (GDHC) system with a heat pump, without a heat pump, and for a hot water GDHC. Detailed descriptions of the contents of this repository are provided below.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Unsupervised learning from three-component accelerometer data to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of meso-scale hydraulic fractures

Enhanced geothermal systems can provide a substantial share of the global energy demand. There exist several hurdles in the engineering implementations of such geothermal systems. One such hurdle is the accurate monitoring of the fracture networks created in subsurface through hydraulic stimulation of these systems. Micro seismicity associated with the stimulation is the primary means to locate the event hypocenters for estimating the stimulated rock volume. Existing methods for location the hypocenters are restricted to only the highest amplitude impulsive signals that are simultaneously detected on several sensors. Consequently, a large portion (usually ~99%) of the measurements are left unused. In this paper, an unsupervised manifold-approximation followed by clustering of 3-component accelerometer data is used to analyze the seismicity recorded on a monitoring well. With this method, a larger portion of the measured signal is used for the monitoring of the hydraulic fracture network. We analyze the EGS Collab experiment 1 microseismic data, recorded at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, South Dakota. Using the data from a single three-component accelerometer, the polarization features viz. Azimuth, incidence, rectilinearity, and planarity are used as inputs for the unsupervised manifold approximation followed by clustering. Our study shows that density-based clusters in the projected 3D space correspond to distinct types of hydraulically fractured zones around the injection point. Finally, we show that the temporal evolution of these clusters can be used to track fracture creation and propagation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cloud Fusion of Big Data and Multi-Physics Models using Machine Learning for Discovery, Exploration, and Development of Hidden Geothermal Resources

The primary goals of this project are identifying hidden geothermal resources in the USA and designing profitable enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Many non-obvious processes and parameters could characterize geothermal resources and could control the ultimate energy potential of geothermal fields. Diverse datasets (e.g., geology, geochemistry, geophysics, satellite, airborne geophysics) are available to help characterize geothermal resources, but this data is sparse and multi-scale. This has hindered attempts to leverage the datasets for geothermal exploration and profitable EGS design. Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) give promise to overcome these issues. Modern ML methods and tools can (1) analyze large datasets, (2) assimilate model ensembles that include a multitude of inputs and outputs, (3) process sparse datasets, (4) perform transfer learning between sites with different data quality, (5) extract hidden geothermal signatures from field and simulation data, (6) label geothermal resources and processes, (7) identify high-value data acquisition targets, and (8) guide geothermal exploration and production by selecting optimal exploration, production, and drilling strategies. In this work, we implement ML-based geothermal exploration and an enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) design tool to achieve the above goals. Our exploration tool is GeoThermalCloud (GTC) EGS design tool is GeoDT-ML. GTC (github.com/SmartTensors/GeoThermalCloud.jl) utilizes a LANL unsupervised ML platform called SmartTensors (https://tensors.lanl.gov/) to automate data analyses and interpretations by extracting hidden signatures to identify geothermal prospects. It enables the identification of critical measurements needed to identify geothermal resource signatures. GeoDT-ML (github.com/SmartTensors/GeoThermalCloud.jl/tree/master/) adds coupling to GeoDT (https://github.com/GeoDesignTool/GeoDT.git) for stochastic EGS design optimization and performance prediction. GeoDT-ML leverages recent advances in deep learning and high-performance computing. Contributors to this effort include LANL, PNNL, Google, Stanford, and Julia Computing.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Techno-Economic Simulation Results Using dGeo for EGS-Based District Heating in the Northeastern United States

This dataset presents the results of techno-economic simulations performed using the Distributed Geothermal Market Demand Model (dGeo) to evaluate the feasibility of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)-based district heating in the Northeastern United States. Developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), dGeo is a geospatially resolved, bottom-up modeling framework designed to explore the deployment potential of geothermal distributed energy resources. The dataset, created as part of the Cornell EGS Ground-Truthing Project, provides census tract-level data that includes inputs and outputs such as thermal demand, road length, energy prices, geothermal system sizing, annual energy contributions from geothermal and natural gas peaking boilers, system capital costs (CAPEX), operation and maintenance costs (OPEX), and the levelized cost of heat (LCOH). Key simulation parameters include geothermal gradients, measured well depths, production temperatures, and district heating piping lengths based on S1400 neighborhood road lengths. The simulations assume a target bottom hole temperature of 80C and the development of new district heating networks in each census tract.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Geothermal Potential of the Cascade and Aleutian Arcs, with Ranking of Individual Volcanic Centers for their Potential to Host Electricity-Grade Reservoirs

This project brings a global perspective to volcanic arc geothermal play fairway analysis by developing statistics for the occurrence of geothermal reservoirs and their geoscience context worldwide in order to rank U.S. prospects. The focus of the work was to develop play fairways for the Cascade and Aleutian arcs to rank the individual volcanic centers in these arcs by their potential to host electricity grade geothermal systems. The Fairway models were developed by describing key geologic factors expected to be indicative of productive geothermal systems in a global training set, which includes 74 volcanic centers world-wide with current power production. To our knowledge, this is the most robust geothermal benchmark training set for magmatic systems to date that will be made public.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

EGS Collab Project Experiment 1 Overview and Progress

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) offer the potential to extract and use large quantities of clean energy, but questions remain on reservoir creation and sustainability. The EGS Collab project, supported by the US Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office, is establishing a suite of highly monitored and well-characterized intermediate-scale (~10-20 m) field test beds along with fracture stimulation and interwell flow tests to better understand processes that control formation of effective subsurface heat exchangers. EGS Collab tests will provide a means of testing tools and concepts that could later be employed under geothermal reservoir conditions at DOE’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) or enhanced geothermal systems. Key to the project is using numerical simulations in the experiment design and interpretation of results. Our first set of experiments is underway at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. To date, stepwise stimulations have been performed at two locations, with the final stimulation connecting our injection and production wells. Numerous data have been collected and are currently being analyzed.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems, EGS Collab, Stimulati↗
DOE OSTI2021

Recent Developments at the Raft River Geothermal Field

The Raft River geothermal field, located in Cassia County in southwestern Idaho, is the site of a Department of Energy Enhanced Geothermal System project. U.S. Geothermal, Inc. currently produces about 11 MWe from Precambrian metamorphic rocks. These lie beneath ~5,000 ft of Quaternary and Tertiary volcaniclastic and volcanic deposits. Maximum temperatures range from 271°F to 300°F. Well RRG-9 ST1, the well targeted for stimulation is located approximately 1 mile south of the main bore field. The open hole section of the well, from 5,551 to 5,900 ft MD, consists of Precambrian Elba Quartzite, the stimulation target, granite and minor diabase. Prior to setting the casing acoustic, gamma ray, and density logs were run. After completing the well, a step rate/step down test was conducted. The maximum injection rate achieved was 18 bpm at a wellhead pressure of 1,150 psig. A borehole televiewer run in the open hole section showed evidence of more than eighty fractures. The majority of these fractures trend from N20⁰W to N20°E and dip from 40° to 60°W. Permeable fractures were encountered in the Elba Quartzite at 5,640-5,660 ft MD. Analysis of the injection test indicates that the minimum in-situ principal stress in this zone is 3,050-3,200 psi, corresponding to a fracture gradient of 0.59-0.62 psi/ft. A discrete fracture network model was developed using measured and inferred fracture orientations, distributions and dimensions. A three-phase stimulation program is proposed for RRG-9 ST-1. During the first two stages, water at 140°F, and later 40°F, will be injected to pre-condition and thermally fracture the reservoir. Here, the third stage will consist of a high rate, large volume conventional hydraulic stimulation.

Bradford, Jacob↗
DOE OSTI2015

Snake River Plain Play Fairway Analysis – Phase 1 Report

The Snake River volcanic province (SRP) overlies a thermal anomaly that extends deep into the mantle; it represents one of the highest heat flow provinces in North America. Our goals for this Phase 1 study are to: (1) adapt the methodology of Play Fairway Analysis for geothermal exploration to create a formal basis for its application to geothermal systems, (2) assemble relevant data for the SRP from publicly available and private sources, and (3) build a geothermal play fairway model for the SRP and identify the most promising plays, using software tools that are standard in the petroleum industry. The success of play fairway analysis in geothermal exploration depends critically on defining a systematic methodology that is grounded in theory (as developed within the petroleum industry over the last two decades) and within the geologic and hydrologic framework of real geothermal systems. Our preliminary assessment of the data suggests that important undiscovered geothermal resources may be located in several areas of the SRP, including the western SRP (associated with buried lineaments defined by gravity or magnetic anomalies, and capped by extensive deposits of lacustrine sediment), at lineament intersections in the central SRP (along the Banbury-Hagerman trend NW of Twin Falls, and along the northern margin of the Mt Bennett Hills-Camas Prairie area), and along the margins of the eastern SRP. Additional high temperature resources are likely associated with rhyolite domes and crypto-domes in the eastern SRP, but are masked by shallow groundwater flow leading to low upper crustal heat flow values. These blind resources may be exploitable with existing deep drilling technology. Groundwater modeling planned for later phases of the PFA project will address whether temperatures at viable producing depths are sufficient to support electricity production.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Snake River Plain Play Fairway Analysis - Phase 1 Report

The Snake River volcanic province (SRP) overlies a thermal anomaly that extends deep into the mantle; it represents one of the highest heat flow provinces in North America. Our goals for this Phase 1 study are to: (1) adapt the methodology of Play Fairway Analysis for geothermal exploration to create a formal basis for its application to geothermal systems, (2) assemble relevant data for the SRP from publicly available and private sources, and (3) build a geothermal play fairway model for the SRP and identify the most promising plays, using software tools that are standard in the petroleum industry. The success of play fairway analysis in geothermal exploration depends critically on defining a systematic methodology that is grounded in theory (as developed within the petroleum industry over the last two decades) and within the geologic and hydrologic framework of real geothermal systems. Our preliminary assessment of the data suggests that important undiscovered geothermal resources may be located in several areas of the SRP, including the western SRP (associated with buried lineaments defined by gravity or magnetic anomalies, and capped by extensive deposits of lacustrine sediment), at lineament intersections in the central SRP (along the Banbury-Hagerman trend NW of Twin Falls, and along the northern margin of the Mt Bennett Hills-Camas Prairie area), and along the margins of the eastern SRP. Additional high temperature resources are likely associated with rhyolite domes and crypto-domes in the eastern SRP, but are masked by shallow groundwater flow leading to low upper crustal heat flow values. These blind resources may be exploitable with existing deep drilling technology. Groundwater modeling planned for later phases of the PFA project will address whether temperatures at viable producing depths are sufficient to support electricity production.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Favorable Structural–Tectonic Settings and Characteristics of Globally Productive Arcs

There are currently 74 productive geothermal systems associated with volcanic centers (VCs) in arcs globally, including actively producing systems, past producing systems, and systems with successful flow tests. The total installed or tested capacity of these 74 geothermal systems is 7,605 MWe, ranging from 0.7 MWe each at Copahue, Chile and Barkhatnaya Sopka, Kamchatka to 795 MWe, Larderello, Italy, and averaging 90.5 MWe per system. These 74 productive VCs constitute 10% of 732 VCs distributed across more than a dozen major arcs around the world. The intra-arc (within-arc) tectonic setting is highly variable globally, ranging from extension to transtension, transpression, or compression. Furthermore, the shear strain associated with oblique plate convergence can be accommodated by either intra-arc or arc-marginal deformation. The structural-tectonic settings of these 74 productive VCs were characterized to add to a global catalog of parameters to help guide future exploration, development, and regional resource potential.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

RePED 250: A Revolutionary, High-Drilling Rate, High-T Geothermal Drilling System and Companion Power Electronics

Project partner, Tetra has demonstrated developed an electro-crushing technology, a repetitive, pulsed electric drill (RePED), capable of crushing hard rock in tension and at high speeds. In this project, NREL, TPL, and Tetra are upgrading the RePED drilling system for operation in 250 degree C environments, and demonstrating its effectiveness drilling hard rock. The RePED drilling system is being designed to function with most of the elements of a conventional drilling system (e.g., drill pipe, steering tools, measurement-while-drilling (MWD) systems, mud systems), so no specialized rigs or drill pipe are required.

geothermal↗
DOE OSTI2019

EGS Collab Project: Status, Tests, and Data

The EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems) Collab project is performing stimulation and flow experiments in highly-monitored and well-characterized intermediate-scale (approximately10 to 20 meter) field test beds at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Our fracture stimulation and interwell flow tests are performed to better understand processes that control formation of effective subsurface heat exchangers that are critical to the development and success of EGS. Different EGS Collab stimulations will be performed under dissimilar stress conditions produce data for model comparisons that better differentiate stimulation mechanisms and the evolution of permeability enhancement in crystalline rock. EGS Collab experiments provide a means of testing tools, concepts and strategies that could later be employed under geothermal reservoir conditions at DOE’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) and other enhanced geothermal systems. Key to the project is using numerical simulations in the experiment design and interpretation of results, and the collection of high-quality stimulation/flow, thermal, and geologic/geophysical data. A wide range of geologic and geophysical data have been acquired and interpreted for pre-stimulation testbed characterization. Multiple stimulation and flow tests have been performed at SURF, and multiple data sets have been collected and analyzed during these tests including electrical resistance tomography, microseismic, continuous active source seismic monitoring, distributed temperature, and the SIMFIP tool has been used to identify fracture formation and characteristics. An overview of some of the numerical simulations and experiments performed at SURF are presented.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Helium isotope study of geothermal features in Chile with field and laboratory data

Helium isotope and stable isotope data from the El Tatio, Tinginguirica, Chillan, and Tolhuaca geothermal systems, Chile. Data from this submission are discussed in: Dobson, P.F., Kennedy, B.M., Reich, M., Sanchez, P., and Morata, D. (2013) Effects of volcanism, crustal thickness, and large scale faulting on the He isotope signatures of geothermal systems in Chile. Proceedings, 38th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University, Feb. 11-13, 2013

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Systems and methods for geothermal energy storage

A method and system may be used for storing energy in a geothermal system and recovering both the stored energy as well as thermal energy on demand. The geothermal system may include injection and production wells that are hydraulically coupled in a geothermal energy reservoir that behaves as a confined reservoir system with thermal energy transferring to fluid injected into the injection well and removed via the production well. Injection flow rate, injection pressure, production flow rate, production backpressure, or fluid residence time may be managed to control energy consumption or energy generation profiles of the geothermal system. During an energy storage mode, the injection flow rate exceeds the production flow rate thereby storing energy in the geothermal reservoir. During an energy recovery mode, production backpressure is reduced thereby releasing the stored energy and electricity is generated by removing the thermal energy from the fluid in a heat engine.

Norbeck, Jack↗
DOE OSTI2024

Derisking Superhot Geothermal Plays with Value of Information: Utilizing Play Fairway Analysis, Geophysics and Technoeconomics

This paper describes a methodology for evaluating how the play fairways analysis (e.g., favorability) can improve our chances of making geothermal development decisions. We make statistical resource assessments and couple them with technoeconomic analysis utilizing previous favorability work performed for the Newberry Volcano. We demonstrate how the favorability can be used in a decision analysis framework because the Newberry favorability also estimated an associated uncertainty. The specific decision considered is how large of a power plant to build, which is difficult given the uncertainty about the resource size. Our results focus on two resource types, hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal systems, and they demonstrate how estimates of the minimum, most likely, and maximum estimates of the geothermal resource (denoted as the P10, P50, and P90, respectively) can be used in a decision analysis framework. Lastly, the value of information results explore using favorability with and without the magnetotelluric and gravity data from the Newberry Volcano. As expected, the favorability is more reliable, according to our methodology, at indicating the resource size when it includes the two geophysical models.

enhanced geothermal system↗