Unalaska Geothermal Development

Abstract

There are 88 active volcanoes in the Aleutian Chain which contain an extensive geothermal resource. Geothermal resource investigations have been conducted for the two years on Unalaska Island. been Maskushin Volcano and Bay, 12 km and 3 km respect ively from the town of Unalaska. The focus of these investigations have Shall ow drilling operations have discovered a small low temperature resource at Summer Bay. Eight fumarole fields have been located on Makushin Volcano. Further work is now planned with the commitment by the State of Alaska to a multi million dollar resource confirmati on program for the Makushin geothermal anomaly. Projected increases of electrical consumption of 40 MW by the year 2000, and the location of $100,000,000 fisheries will continue to be driving forces to develop this resource. This paper presents the geological, geophysical and logistical studies for the development of a geothermal power plant on Unalaska Island of the Aleutian chain.