Open AccessReconnaissance heat flow and Geothermal gradient study in north central Owyhee county, Idaho
Author(s) -
David Blackwell
Publication year - 1975
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/894497
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , geology , heat flow , geothermal heating , geothermal energy , artesian aquifer , thermal conductivity , hydrology (agriculture) , high heat , groundwater , geomorphology , geochemistry , thermal , geophysics , aquifer , geography , geotechnical engineering , meteorology , physics , materials science , composite material , thermodynamics
Temperature data were obtained in 41 wells, thermal conductivity in 12 wells, and published data were synthesized in order to investigate the geothermal character of an area in northern Owyhee County, Idaho. This area includes the Bruneau and Grand View-Castle Creek KGRA's and is characterized by a large number of warm water artesian irrigation wells. In the Oreana-Grand View areas the geothermal gradient to 3000 feet is 4.0 {+-} 1 F/100 ft and the heat flow is about 2.1 {+-} .2 HFU (about normal for the western US). The southern part of the Oreana area along the upper part of Castle Creek and the Little Valley-Bruneau areas have geothermal gradients ranging from 5 to 8 F/100 ft and heat flow values from 50% to 100% above the regional average. Part of the Murphy area has a geothermal gradient of about 4.0 F/100 ft and normal heat flow while the other part has gradients of 6 to 10 F/100 ft and above-regional heat flow. The high values may be directly or indirectly (via geothermal systems) associated with shallow magmatic heat sources, or with regional ground water flow. If local magmatic heat sources are present they may occur along the southern hingeline of the Snake River Plains. Suggests for further work are included