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Geothermal Power Potential in Utah

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Geothermal Power Potential in Utah GEOTHERMAL POWER POTENTIAL IN UTAH Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey Special Studies 14 UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY 103 Civil Engineering Building University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY since 1949 has been affiliated with the College of Mines and Mineral Industries at the University of Utah. It operates under a director with the advice and counsel of an Advisory Board appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of Utah from organizations and categories specified by law. The survey is enjoined to cooperate with all existing agencies to the end that the geological and mineralogical resources of the state may be most advantageously investigated and publicized for the good of the state. The Utah Code, Annotated, 1953 Replacement Volume 5, Chapter 36, 53-36-2, describes the Survey's functions. Official maps, bulletins, and circulars about Utah's resources are published. (Write to the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey for the latest list of publications available). THE LIBRARY OF SAMPLES FOR GEOLOGIC RESEAECH. A modern library for strati­ graphic sections, drill cores, well cuttings, and miscellaneous samples of geologic significance has been established by the Survey at the University of Utah. It was initiated by" the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey in cooperation with the Departments of Geology of the universities in the state, the Utah Geological Society, and the Intermountain Association of Petroleum Geologists. This library was made possible in 1951 by a grant from the University of Utah Research Fund and by the dona­ tion of collections from various oil companies operating in Utah. The objective is to collect, catalog, and systematically file geologically significant specimens for library reference, comparison, and research, particularly cuttings from all important wells driven in Utah, and from strategic wells in adjacent states, the formations, faunas, and structures of which have a direct bearing on the possibility of finding oil, gas, salines or other economically or geologically significant deposits in this state. For catalogs, facilities, hours, and service fees, contact the office of the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey. THE SURVEY'S BASIC PHILOSOPHY is that of the U. S. Geological Survey, i.e., our employees shall have no interest in Utah lands. For permanent employees this restriction is lifted after a 2-year absence; for consultants employed on special problems, there is a similar time period which can be modified only after publication of the data or after the data have been acted upon. For con­ sultants, there are no restrictions beyond the field of the problem, except where they are working on a broad area of the state and, here, as for all employees, we rely on their inherent integrity. DIRECTORS: William P. Hewitt, 1961- Arthur L. Crawford, 1949-1961 GEOTHERMAL POWER POTENTIAL IN UTAH by Edgar B. Heylmun The Geysers, California. General view of steam well area. (Photo courtesy Pacific Gas and Electric Company.) Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey affiliated with The College of Mines and Mineral Industries University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah SPECIAL STUDIES 14 • PRICE $1.25 • JANUARY, 1966 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH James C. Fletcher, Ph. D., President BOARD OF REGENTS Edward W. Clyde I Chairman George C. Hatch I Member Donald B. Holbrook I V. Chairman Robert H. Hinckley I Member Reed W. Brinton I Member Carvel Mattsson I Member Wilford W. Clyde I Member Calvin W. Rawlings I Member John A. Dixon 1M. D. I Member Roy W. Simmons I Member Richard L. Evans I Member Briant H. Stringham I Member James C. Fletcher I President I Univ. of Utah I Ex-officio Member Clyde L. Miller I Secretary of State I Ex-officio Member Joseph F. Worthen I President I Alumni Assoc. I Ex-officio Member George S. Eccles I Treasurer Parry D. Sorenson I Secretary UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY ADVISORY BOARD John M. Ehrhorn I Chairman U. S. Smelting I Refining & Mining Co. Graham S. Campbell Petroleum Geologist Ballard H. Clemmons U • S. Bureau of Mines LaVaun Cox Utah Petroleum Council L. W. Folsom Mountain Fuel Supply Company John K. Hayes U. S. Steel Corporation Lowell S. Hilpert U. S. Geological Survey Lehi F. Hintze Brigham Young University Walker Kennedy Liberty Fuel Company Ezra C. Knowlton Utah Sand & Gravel Products Corp. E. Jay Mayhew Apex Exploration Company Roy E. Nelson American Gilsonite Company Howard Peterson Utah Center of Water Resources Research Miles P. Romney Utah Mining Association Ra ymond T. Senior Attorney Nels W. Stalheim Federal Resources Corp. William L. Stokes University of Utah Alvin J. Thuli Kennecott Copper Corp. J. Stewart Williams Utah State University William P. Hewitt Director I U. G. M. S. I Ex-officio Member George R. Hill Acting Dean I College of Mines I Ex-officio Member STAFF William P. Hewitt Director Eugene Callaghan Senior Geologist Robert E. Cohenour Research Geologist Edgar B. Heylmun Petroleum Geologist Neva E. Nielsen Secretary Kay B. Hughes Bookkeeper Barbara S. Childers Editor CONTENTS Page Introduction .......................................... 5 Previou s work ......................................... 7 Exploration methods 7 Lea sing procedure ..................................... 9 Thermal areas in Utah 9 Wa satch area ...•... 11 Western desert area 13 Sevier-Sanpete area 13 Panguitch area 13 Hurricane area 14 Snake Valley area 14 Principal warm and hot springs 15 Wa satch area ....•. 15 Western desert area 16 Sevier-Sanpete area 19 Hurricane area ..... 19 Wells ................................................ 19 Mines 21 Chemical analyses .................................... 21 Wa satch area •...•. 21 Western desert area 23 Sevier-Sanpete area 25 HUrricane area 25 Conclu s ion s .......................................... 26 Cited references ...................................... 27 3 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Cover. The Geysers, California. Twin pipelines carry steam from hillside down to Units 1 and 2 of the Geysers power plant (buildings at left). Towers at right cool the water condensed from spent steam and discharge it into Big Sulphur Creek. (Photo courtesy Pacific Ga s and Electric Company.) Frontispiece. The Geysers, California. General view of steam well area ......................... 1 Plate 1. A. New Zealand. Free flow vents, Wairakei development area, North Island. • • . • • . • . • 6 B. The Gey sers, Ca lifornia .......••..•.••...••.• 6 Plate 2. A. River Ranch well, Salton Sea area I California ............................. 18 B. River Ranch well, Salton Sea area I California ............................. 18 Figure 1. Principal thermal areas .• •.•... ..••..•• .••...•.. 10 Figure 2. Thermal springs ..•••..••.••.....•..•••.•...••• 12 Figure 3. Testing Imperial irrigation district no. 1 geotherma 1 well ..•••.•.••.•••••.••..••..• 14 Figure 4. Isothermal map of the Ea st Tintic mining district, by Dr. T. S. Lovering ..•••••.••••..••.. 20 Figure 5. Brady Hot Springs, Nevada, geothermal wells ........................................ 26 Note: although not directly concerning Utah, the photographs in this publication illustrate scenes typical of power development elsewhere. 4 GEOTHERMAL POWER POTENTIAL IN UTAH by Edgar B. Heylmun 1 INTRODUCTION Current interest in the utilization of the internal heat of the earth, a s represented by steam and hot water, for development of electric power and other uses in Utah has prompted this brief survey and synthesis of available informa­ tion. Since earliest times in Utah hot water has been known to occur in springs and wells; many of these have served a s the sites of health resorts. No attempt ha s yet been made in Utah to drill for high temperature steam that would provide energy for power generation. Area s of high geothen:nal gradient are confined to the western part of the state where mineral fuel sources for local energy supply have not been found. Natural steam from wells ha s been harnessed for the generation of electric power since the late 1930's in Italy, and power plants in that country now have a combined capacity in excess of 300,000 kw. Power plants produce 192,000 kw from steamwells in New Zealand. Other geothermal power developments have been underta ken in Iceland, Mexico, the United Sta te s, the Soviet Union, Katanga province of the Congo Republic, and Japan, and active ex­ ploration ha s been conducted in many other countrie s. In the United States, the principal area s developed so far are in California and Nevada, with additional area s of interest located in Oregon, New Mexico, and Hawaii. The only active power station in the United States which uses natural steam is located at The Geysers 80 miles north of San Francisco, California (McNitt, 1963). The plant now has a generating capacity of 28,000 kw. A pilot plant ha s been built near the Salton Sea in southern California, where steam, high temperatures, and highly mineralized brines have been discovered in several deep wells. The activity in this area ha s extended south into Baja California. Geothermal power exploration and development have been greatest in area s where neither fuel nor hydroelectric power is readily available. Wherea s the oper­ ation at The Geysers in California ha s necessitated a relatively low capital investment (McNitt, 1963), most geothermal developments have required rather high capital investments. The steam operations at Larderello in Italy and at Wairakei in New Zealand have cost nearly twice a s much a s conven­ tional power plants
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