Exploring for Superhot Geothermal Targets in Magmatic Settings: Developing a Methodology

Kolker, Amanda; Taverna, Nicole (ORCID:0000000177762028); Dobson, Patrick; Benediksdottir, Asdis; Warren, Ian (ORCID:0000000258708891); Pauling, Hannah; Sonnenthal, Eric; Hjorleifsdottir, Vala; Hokstad, Ketil; Caliandro, Nils

DOE OSTI · 1923659

Exploring for Superhot Geothermal Targets in Magmatic Settings: Developing a Methodology

Kolker, Amanda·Taverna, Nicole (ORCID:0000000177762028)·Dobson, Patrick·Benediksdottir, Asdis·Warren, Ian (ORCID:0000000258708891)·Pauling, Hannah·Sonnenthal, Eric·Hjorleifsdottir, Vala·Hokstad, Ketil·Caliandro, Nils

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Abstract

This paper presents preliminary results from a subset of work carried out as part of a multinational research project entitled DErisking Exploration for multiple geothermal Plays in magmatic ENvironments (DEEPEN). One objective of DEEPEN is to develop a customized approach to exploration for superhot geothermal plays in magmatic systems. This paper summarizes key geologic components, risk factors, and exploration methods for geothermal plays in magmatic settings based on a review and comparative analysis of international training sites. As part of a Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) approach to exploring for multiple play types in a single magmatic system, training data were compiled and weights assigned to various evidence layers. Two different approaches for weighting exploration datasets are described in this paper - one based on expert opinions and the other using statistical learning. Weights produced by both approaches will be input into a 3D PFA workflow that combines multiple exploration datasets to generate 3D geothermal favorability models, which will be applied to two international demonstration sites.

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY geothermal exploration geothermal resources Play Fairway Analysis superhot geothermal

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Kolker, Amanda, Taverna, Nicole (ORCID:0000000177762028), Dobson, Patrick, Benediksdottir, Asdis, Warren, Ian (ORCID:0000000258708891), Pauling, Hannah, Sonnenthal, Eric, Hjorleifsdottir, Vala, Hokstad, Ketil, Caliandro, Nils. 2022-08-31. Exploring for Superhot Geothermal Targets in Magmatic Settings: Developing a Methodology. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1923659

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