Stanford Geothermal WorkshopFebruary 9-11, 2026

Much work has been done to further understanding of stimulating hot rock to be able to capture the heat. Davinci has focused on developing a better understanding of a hydrothermal system in high quality reservoir rock that is intensely naturally fractured due to local significant tectonism. We are suggesting a new term for this type of reservoir: Naturally Enhanced Geothermal System (NEGS™). The Imperial Valley of Southern California has been an historical geothermal province exploited by vertical wells drilled to recover heat by either flashing to steam or binary heat transfer methods of electrical generation. Davinci has used gravity, aeromagnetic, and 3D seismic data to supplement previous studies to characterize the direction and intensity of fractures in the pull-apart basin transfer zone between two segments of the San Andreas Fault called the Brawley Seismic Zone. Horizontal drilling to intersect the dominant fracture directions in high permeability reservoir is planned. No additional artificial stimulation is required to achieve high flow rates of high temperature water from these wells. With over 18,000’ of high net to gross fluvial and lacustrine sediments, there is large undeveloped potential in this NEGS™. Since the 1970s, the Imperial Valley of Southern California has been an important geothermal province, with vertical wells historically developed for both flash and binary power generation. DAVINCI EP is re-evaluating this resource through the lens of a new conceptual framework: the Naturally Enhanced Geothermal System (NEGS™) a hydrothermal reservoir in which tectonically induced pervasive fracturing provides permeability comparable to, or possibly exceeding, that achievable through artificial stimulation. Using integrated gravity, aeromagnetic, and 3D seismic datasets, Davinci has delineated a structurally controlled transfer zone within the Brawley Seismic Zone, located between two segments of the San Andreas Fault. The results reveal a dense fracture network with preferred orientations favorable for horizontal wellbore intersection. A pilot horizontal drilling program planned for 2026 will test the NEGS™ model, quantify directional permeability anisotropy, and evaluate sustainable high-temperature flow from producers and injectors without hydraulic stimulation. With more than 18,000 feet of high net-to-gross fluvial and lacustrine sediments and strong convective heat transfer, the Imperial Valley represents a substantial untapped resource base. If validated, the NEGS™ model could enable widespread geothermal development in tectonically fractured sedimentary basins worldwide — expanding access to sustainable, low-impact geothermal energy without reliance on artificial reservoir stimulation.

Topic: Emerging Technology