Open AccessGeothermal resource potential of the Socorro Area, New Mexico
Author(s) -
C.A. Petersen,
J.B. Koenig
Publication year - 1979
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/894518
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , geology , drill hole , geothermal energy , heat flow , crust , resource (disambiguation) , groundwater , groundwater flow , geochemistry , earth science , hydrology (agriculture) , drill , geophysics , geography , aquifer , thermal , meteorology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , metallurgy , computer network , computer science
This report provides a regional synthesis of geology, geochemistry, hydrology and geophysical data for the Socorro, New Mexico, area. It is based principally on extensive drill-hole data supplied by, and proprietary to, Gulf Mineral Resources Company and Sunoco Energy Development Co. These temperature-gradient and heat-flow data are integrated with older gradient and heat-flow data, groundwater chemistry, studies of local seismicity, regional and local geologic mapping, and other data. This synthesis yields a revised estimate of the geothermal energy potential for the Socorro area. it should be recalled that attention has been focused on Socorro and vicinity because of reported high heat flow and probable magmatic bodies within the shallow crust. Some 20 man-days of effort have gone into this study, exclusive of time spent earlier in logging temperature gradients and studying drill-hole cuttings