Geothermal Reservoirs: Products of Cooling Plutons Page: 1 of 30
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PROGRAM
Final Report Oct 1999-Oct 2002
Geothermal Reservoirs: Products of Cooling Plutons. DE-FG07-99ID13854
Denis L. Norton, PI, denis@ruralnetwork.net
Consultant , Box 310, Stanley, Idaho 83278.
Keywords: Reservoirs, dynamics, evolution, supercritical fluids, prospecting criteria
Executive Summary
The goals of this project were to develop an in depth understanding of how geothermal
reservoirs form and elucidate those features that could potentially be useful in exploration
and development of additional energy reserves. Collaboration with Jeff Hulen, EGI helped
closely coordinate theoretical concepts and computational experiments with geologic reality
in fulfillment of the tasks for this project. Initial reconnaissance computations with Tom
Brikowski, University of Texas were critical in realizing the final products of this project.
The products of this work contribute basic understanding of the dynamical conditions
attendant to the formation of reservoirs in general and the Geysers reservoir in particular.
The most exciting of the discoveries were a combination of mineralogical, computational, and
geothermometric data sets that revealed a chaotic-like behavior of the processes is critical
in the formation of reservoirs near cooling plutons. This discovery provides a fundamental
basis for improving resource assessment and exploration methods for geothermal energy
associated with very young magmas. Some of the main results are documented in scientific
publications, and DOE progress reports. An additional publication is in preparation on the
overall significance of fracture propagation and microseismic activity around young magmas,
most of which is presented in the following documents.
The highlights of the results are summarized below:
Resource ranking with respect to its natural renewability is proposed through a classifi-
cation scheme that affords for the stage of reservoir development with respect to the
energy state of the heat source. This tripartite scheme is based on the quality of the
thermal field with respect to its ability to reorganized original pore space into perco-
lating clusters of fractures. It emphasizes the appearance of a prospective region as
seen by heat flow, microseismic and mineralogical indicators.
Process behavior preserved as patterns within hydrothermal minerals appears have chaotic
like qualities. Recognition of this behavior style is important for making future resource
assessments and development of remote detection methods. Clearly the instance of re-
source formation during which the most renewable resources are available is while the
chaotic-like behavior prevails.
The resonance of these processes predetermines the detection, quality, and recoverabil-
ity of geothermal energy in cooling pluton environments.
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Norton, Denis L. Geothermal Reservoirs: Products of Cooling Plutons, report, September 24, 2002; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc739827/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.