Development of a Geothermal Well Database for Estimating In-Field EGS Potential in the State of Nevada

ABSTRACT Recent successes at Department of Energy (DOE)-funded Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) demonstration projects have shown that EGS techniques can be used in existing hydrothermal fields to enhance the permeability of geothermal wells, converting previously "dry" wells into commercially-viable ones (Desert Peak EGS Project, DOE Award: DE-FC6-02ID14406). The application of EGS techniques to dry wells in existing hydrothermal fields, defined here as "in-field EGS," has the potential to increase or help maintain generation capacity at hydrothermal power plants. The amount of in-field EGS potential depends on the number and status of dry wells at existing hydrothermal power plants, and their location with respect to the geothermal reservoir and other geothermal wells in the field. To aid in estimating the in-field EGS potential, the authors are developing a database containing and consolidating the publically available information on full-sized geothermal wells at hydrothermal power plants. The goal of this database development was to identify the name, location, and status of all full-sized geothermal wells drilled to date. Early design and population of the database focused on wells at hydrothermal power plants in Nevada. The database was created by aggregating and cleaning data from publically available datasets. The initial database was then examined for missing or possibly erroneous data and corrected using original source documents such as well logs, permitting documents, etc. and the data source of the information updated as well. The database was designed to track data sources for each well data point, so that information can be traced back to its original source. The resulting design allows the database to be continually updated and improved as new information becomes available and for original data sources to be identified when conflicting or erroneous information about a well is uncovered or if further information from the original data source is desired. Although it is still in development, the geothermal well database will eventually be used to help estimate in-field EGS resource potential in the U.S. Results and summary information from the master geothermal well database is currently expected to be publically available at the end of 2014