Newberry Volcano EGS Demonstration - Phase I Results

Abstract

Phase I of the Newberry Volcano Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Demonstration has recently concluded. This twenty month effort included permitting, community outreach, seismic hazards analysis, initial microseismic array (MSA) deployment and calibration, final MSA design, site characterization, and stimulation planning. The multi-disciplinary Phase I report, recently approved by a team of independent reviewers selected by the Department of Energy (DOE), summarizes the Phase I activities and supports stimulation planning and regulatory permitting, as well as addressing public concerns including water usage and induced seismicity. The final step of Phase I, an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), has been released for a 30 day public comment period with a regulatory decision expected soon after. In Phase II of the demonstration, an existing deep hot well, NWG 55-29, will be stimulated using hydroshearing and multi-zone isolation techniques to create an EGS reservoir. The Newberry Volcano EGS Demonstration will allow geothermal industry and academic experts to develop, validate and enhance geoscience and engineering techniques, and other procedures essential to the expansion of EGS. Successful development will demonstrate to the American public that EGS can play a significant role in reducing foreign energy dependence, and provide clean, renewable, and safe baseload geothermal power generation.