Geothermal Resource Investigations Project Active
Geothermal Resource Investigations Project (GRIP)
Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. This project focuses on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, monitor geothermal developments, and conduct resource assessments. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US. The results of national-scale assessments and supporting research studies provide State and Federal government policymakers with the information they need to evaluate the potential contribution of geothermal energy to the nation’s energy mix.
Why are we studying these issues?
The understanding of what constitutes a geothermal energy resource has evolved over time. Conventional hydrothermal systems were the first systems identified and developed to produce electric power, taking advantage of natural groundwater circulation through rock at elevated temperatures, resulting in significant advective transport of heat to near land-surface. Geothermal heat is plentiful, and if deep permeability can be located or engineered (EGS) within the identified hot rock underlying the western US, then geothermal energy could provide electric power equivalent to approximately 50% of the current US electric power production capacity. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US.
USGS has major responsibilities defined in Federal legislation, notably:
The most-specific mandate for USGS is to make “regional and national appraisals of all types of geothermal resources”. In response to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, in 1971, the USGS identified “known geothermal resource areas”, and completed the first national-scale assessment of geothermal resources of the US. In response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, geothermal energy assessments were updated. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that assessment updates are to be completed “as the availability of data and developments in technology warrants”.
Our objectives
These objectives comprehensively address the five interrelated goals of the USGS Energy and Minerals Science Strategy
- Conduct regional and national scale geothermal energy assessments for the benefit of the US. Inventory and estimate each type of geothermal energy for which we have sufficient data and technical understanding about development of a potentially viable resource
- Cooperatively conduct fundamental and applied research into processes that control the occurrence and development of geothermal resources. USGS GRIP efforts are focused on characterization of each resource, which is distinct from prospecting or development activities, though there are synergies between these activities. This includes research on unintended adverse impacts to the environment. This information is used both to refine assessments and to advise partner agencies so that they may effectively achieve their missions.
Meeting Science Strategy goals
- Understand fundamental Earth processes that form energy and mineral resources
- Understand the environmental behavior of energy and mineral resources and their waste products
- Provide inventories and assessments of energy and mineral resources
- Understand the effects of energy and mineral development on the environment and society
- Understand the reliability and availability of energy and mineral supplies
Low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage are both identified as hugely under-utilized. Geothermal resources could grow to supply more than 320 GWth of heating and cooling by 2050. USGS can provide critical assessment maps for the full range of geothermal resource types, can contribute to identified technological improvements for the characterization of resources, and can develop products that can aid the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other regulatory agencies in streamlining their permitting processes. Shortened permitting timelines are identified as a critical factor for effective geothermal development, and appropriate products generated by this project will aid partners in the decision-making process.
Data associated with this project
Heat flow maps and supporting data for the Great Basin, USA
Stratigraphic and fault surfaces from the Three-Dimensional Geologic Map of the southeastern Gabbs Valley Geothermal Area
Shapefile for slip tendency and dilation tendency calculated for Quaternary faults in the Great Basin
Geophysical characterization of geothermal resources on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeast Oregon
Airborne Electromagnetic Survey Processed Data and Models Data Release, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2016
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Slip and Dilation Tendency Data
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Geophysics Data
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Geophysics, Heat Flow, Slip and Dilation Tendency
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Heat Flow Data
Clayton Valley Geophysical Data Release
Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey, Yellowstone National Park, 2016 - Minimally Processed Data
SUTRA model used to evaluate Saline or Brackish Aquifers as Reservoirs for Thermal Energy Storage in the Portland Basin, Oregon, USA
Publications associated with this project
What did they just say? Building a Rosetta stone for geoscience and machine learning
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report
Predicting geothermal favorability in the western United States by using machine learning: Addressing challenges and developing solutions
Repeat magnetotelluric measurements to monitor The Geysers steam field in northern California
Modeling subsurface performance of a geothermal reservoir using machine learning
UAS-based tools for mapping and monitoring hydrothermal systems: An example from Mammoth Lakes, California
The source, fate, and transport of arsenic in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system - An overview
Impacts of climate change on groundwater availability and spring flows: Observations from the highly productive Medicine Lake Highlands/Fall River Springs Aquifer System
National-scale reservoir thermal energy storage pre-assessment for the United States
Using saline or brackish aquifers as reservoirs for thermal energy storage, with example calculations for direct-use heating in the Portland Basin, Oregon, USA
Preliminary report on applications of machine learning techniques to the Nevada geothermal play fairway analysis
Can geologic factors be predictive for distinguishing between productive and non-productive geothermal wells?
Web tools associated with this project
Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. This project focuses on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, monitor geothermal developments, and conduct resource assessments. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US. The results of national-scale assessments and supporting research studies provide State and Federal government policymakers with the information they need to evaluate the potential contribution of geothermal energy to the nation’s energy mix.
Why are we studying these issues?
The understanding of what constitutes a geothermal energy resource has evolved over time. Conventional hydrothermal systems were the first systems identified and developed to produce electric power, taking advantage of natural groundwater circulation through rock at elevated temperatures, resulting in significant advective transport of heat to near land-surface. Geothermal heat is plentiful, and if deep permeability can be located or engineered (EGS) within the identified hot rock underlying the western US, then geothermal energy could provide electric power equivalent to approximately 50% of the current US electric power production capacity. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US.
USGS has major responsibilities defined in Federal legislation, notably:
The most-specific mandate for USGS is to make “regional and national appraisals of all types of geothermal resources”. In response to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, in 1971, the USGS identified “known geothermal resource areas”, and completed the first national-scale assessment of geothermal resources of the US. In response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, geothermal energy assessments were updated. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that assessment updates are to be completed “as the availability of data and developments in technology warrants”.
Our objectives
These objectives comprehensively address the five interrelated goals of the USGS Energy and Minerals Science Strategy
- Conduct regional and national scale geothermal energy assessments for the benefit of the US. Inventory and estimate each type of geothermal energy for which we have sufficient data and technical understanding about development of a potentially viable resource
- Cooperatively conduct fundamental and applied research into processes that control the occurrence and development of geothermal resources. USGS GRIP efforts are focused on characterization of each resource, which is distinct from prospecting or development activities, though there are synergies between these activities. This includes research on unintended adverse impacts to the environment. This information is used both to refine assessments and to advise partner agencies so that they may effectively achieve their missions.
Meeting Science Strategy goals
- Understand fundamental Earth processes that form energy and mineral resources
- Understand the environmental behavior of energy and mineral resources and their waste products
- Provide inventories and assessments of energy and mineral resources
- Understand the effects of energy and mineral development on the environment and society
- Understand the reliability and availability of energy and mineral supplies
Low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage are both identified as hugely under-utilized. Geothermal resources could grow to supply more than 320 GWth of heating and cooling by 2050. USGS can provide critical assessment maps for the full range of geothermal resource types, can contribute to identified technological improvements for the characterization of resources, and can develop products that can aid the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other regulatory agencies in streamlining their permitting processes. Shortened permitting timelines are identified as a critical factor for effective geothermal development, and appropriate products generated by this project will aid partners in the decision-making process.
Data associated with this project
Heat flow maps and supporting data for the Great Basin, USA
Stratigraphic and fault surfaces from the Three-Dimensional Geologic Map of the southeastern Gabbs Valley Geothermal Area
Shapefile for slip tendency and dilation tendency calculated for Quaternary faults in the Great Basin
Geophysical characterization of geothermal resources on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeast Oregon
Airborne Electromagnetic Survey Processed Data and Models Data Release, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2016
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Slip and Dilation Tendency Data
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Geophysics Data
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Geophysics, Heat Flow, Slip and Dilation Tendency
USGS Contributions to the Nevada Geothermal Machine Learning Project (DE-FOA-0001956): Heat Flow Data
Clayton Valley Geophysical Data Release
Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey, Yellowstone National Park, 2016 - Minimally Processed Data
SUTRA model used to evaluate Saline or Brackish Aquifers as Reservoirs for Thermal Energy Storage in the Portland Basin, Oregon, USA
Publications associated with this project
What did they just say? Building a Rosetta stone for geoscience and machine learning
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report
Predicting geothermal favorability in the western United States by using machine learning: Addressing challenges and developing solutions
Repeat magnetotelluric measurements to monitor The Geysers steam field in northern California
Modeling subsurface performance of a geothermal reservoir using machine learning
UAS-based tools for mapping and monitoring hydrothermal systems: An example from Mammoth Lakes, California
The source, fate, and transport of arsenic in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system - An overview
Impacts of climate change on groundwater availability and spring flows: Observations from the highly productive Medicine Lake Highlands/Fall River Springs Aquifer System
National-scale reservoir thermal energy storage pre-assessment for the United States
Using saline or brackish aquifers as reservoirs for thermal energy storage, with example calculations for direct-use heating in the Portland Basin, Oregon, USA
Preliminary report on applications of machine learning techniques to the Nevada geothermal play fairway analysis
Can geologic factors be predictive for distinguishing between productive and non-productive geothermal wells?
Web tools associated with this project