Integration of a 3D-3C Reflection Seismic Survey over a Known Geothermal Resource: Soda Lake, Churchill County, Nevada

Abstract

Magma Energy (U.S.) Corp. (Magma) acquired a 13 sq mi three-dimensional, three-component reflection seismic survey over the Soda Lake geothermal field in June 2010. The Soda Lake field has been in production since the early 1980’s and gross generation is below name-plate-rating due to declining reservoir temperatures. Magma Energy (U.S.) Corp acquired the plant in October 2008 with the goal of increasing production to the plant’s name plate rating and identify additional resources. To achieve this goal, Magma made a major effort of integrating existing well field and new geophysical data into a comprehensive 3D GIS interpretation. Integration of the existing well data, 3D seismic and precision gravity led to a new conceptual model and identified two exploration targets outside of the existing producing area that were overlooked for twenty years.