Title:

The Role of the National Laboratories i n Geothermal Reservoir Engineering

Authors:

P. A. Witherspoon, C. F. Tsang

Conference:

Stanford Geothermal Workshop

Year:

1981

Session:

Developments in Geothermal Reservoir Engineering

Language:

English

File Size:

105KB

View File:

Abstract:

The national laboratories, since the beginning of the national geothermal energy development program, have played an important research role for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies.These laboratories,specifically,LawrenceBerkeleyLaboratory(LBL),Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL),IDS Alamos National Laboratory(LANL), Sandia National Laboratory(SNL), Brookhaven National Laboratory(BNL), Argonne National Laboratory(Am),and the Idaho National Eng.Laboratory(INEL),have large, multidisciplined scientific,engineering and technical support staff,and excellent research facilities,enabling the laboratories to conduct and manage research projects beyond the abilities of university departments and many geothermal developers.LBL has the unique feature of being located adjacent to the Berkeley campus of the University of California. As a result, faculty, graduate students and staff augment the Laboratory staff and make significant contributions.

In general, the boundary relationship between the national laboratories and industry is defined by the laboratories' focus on longterm, high-risk generic research and the ir facilities and special capabilities, many of which are lacking in industrial laboratories and are nonexistent within the organizations of many private geothermal energy developers. At the same time, the national laboratories maintain close contact with industry, thus ensuring relevancy of the research and the transfer of technology.

Because we are most familiar with LBL and the research performed there, and because LBL has been the lead laboratory in geothermal reservoir engineering research, this paper will deal largely with LBL's role. From our perspective, however, we see the following basic strengths within most of the national laboratories:

1. Starting with initial strengths in computer technology and advanced engineering facilities, the laboratories are able to design, build, and test new or improved tools together with supporting methodologies and numerical analyses.
2. With their multidisciplinary staffs, the national laboratories have the proper mix of scientists, engineers, technicians and managers needed to conduct longer-term research, and to respond more quickly to the emergency needs of DOE and other government agencies.
3. Because public service and high quality research are central to the functioning of national laboratories, they are capable of providing independent and unbiased assessments and solutions to problems brought to them. They are committed to the transfer of technology to the private sector.


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