skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Development of a Plan to Implement Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in the Animas Valley, New Mexico - Final Report - 07/26/2000 - 02/01/2001

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/790039· OSTI ID:790039

The concept of producing energy from hot dry rock (HDR), originally proposed in 1971 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, contemplated the generation of electric power by injecting water into artificially created fractures in subsurface rock formations with high heat flow. Recognizing the inherent difficulties associated with HDR, the concept of Enhanced Geothermal Systems was proposed. This embraces the idea that the amount of permeability and fluid in geothermal resources varies across a spectrum, with HDR at one end, and conventional hydrothermal systems at the other. This report provides a concept for development of a ''Combined Technologies Project'' with construction and operation of a 6 MW (net) binary-cycle geothermal power plant that uses both the intermediate-depth hydrothermal system at 1,200 to 3,300 feet and a deeper EGS capable system at 3,000 to 4,000 feet. Two production/injection well pairs will be drilled, one couplet for the hydrothermal system, and one for the E GS system. High-pressure injection may be required to drive fluid through the EGS reservoir from the injection to the production well.

Research Organization:
ORMAT International, Inc., Sparks, NV (US); Lightning Dock Geothermal, Inc., Las Cruces, NM (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Geothermal Technologies (EE-12) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
FG07-00ID13989
OSTI ID:
790039
Report Number(s):
DOE/ID/13989; TRN: US200202%%137
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Feb 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English