Exploration Model for Possible Geothermal Reservoir, Coso Hot Springs KGRA, Inyo Co., California
- Key words
- Exploration; USA; California; Inyo; Coso Hot Springs; Geological Surveys; Mapping; Geophysical Surveys; Gravity
- Location
- Coso, California
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1980
- Session
- Exploration; Geophysical surveys; Reservoir modeling; Gravit
- Language
- English
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a steam filled fracture geothermal reservoir exists at Coso Hot Springs (CSH) KGRA, as proposed by Combs and Jarzabek (1977). Gravity data collected by the USGS (Isherwood and Plouff, 1978) was plotted and compared with the geology of the area, which is well known. An east-west trending Bouguer gravity profile was constructed through the center of the heat flow anomaly described by Combs (1976). The best fit model for the observed gravity at the anomaly was obtained by combining the gravitational effect of the known geology and that of a hypothetical geothermal reservoir. The reservoir proposed in this study was modeled as a cylindrical disk of radius 12,500 ft. height 5,000 ft. depth 5,000 ft. and steam filled porosity of 5%. Such a reservoir at the temperature suggested by hydro chemical geothermometers would be capable of sustaining a commercial sized electric generation project.
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