Use of GIS Geoprocessing to Select the Most Favorable Sites for Geothermal Exploration in Oregon

Abstract

In order to select the most favorable sites with a geothermal potential in Oregon, a GIS-based geoprocessing technique was employed. This technique consists of compiling several GIS layers of spatial repartition of elements in favor of the presence of a geothermal system. The datasets that have been used in this analysis were grouped into two categories; the surface elements and the subsurface elements. The surface elements consider geologic and geochemical information, whereas the subsurface elements comprise thermal data obtained mostly from shallow drilling. After completing the different steps of the analysis, no more than thirteen sites are anticipated to have a geothermal potential and were retained. For some of these sites, more advanced exploration data are available from past studies, which will be useful to confirm the efficiency of the geoprocessed selection technique.