Low-to-moderate temperature hydrothermal reservoir engineering program plan

The objective of this program is to assure that appropriate methods of reservoir testing and analysis are available to facilitate the development and utilization of low-to-moderate temperature (< 150 C) hydrothermal resources by private industry. A major impediment to the commercialization of low-to-moderate temperature hydrothermal resources is the lack of confidence that the reservoir is adequately large and that it will satisfactorily produce during the life of the project. These resources cannot generally be developed for economic electrical generation; most will be developed for small-scale, direct heat applications. To increase reservoir confidence, there is a need for low cost methods for the prediction of long-term reservoir performance. The high permeabilities, lower pressures and low heat content of these resources make much of the technology developed for high temperature reservoirs inappropriate or unnecessarily expensive when applied to single phase systems. Frequently, modified groundwater analysis techniques are more applicable. This program develops cost-effective reservoir testing and analysis methods that can be readily applied to low-to-moderate temperature reservoirs. The program will aid and accelerate the development of the known low-to-moderate temperature hydrothermal resources in the US. Development of energy associated with these resources (72% of the total identified) has the potential to offset 6 x 10{sup 13} barrels of oil (USGS Circular 790)