Topic Area: EGS Demonstration

Type of Grantee: TGP Development Company, LLC– EGS Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $14,006,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521

Project Location: New York Canyon, NV 89316

Project Description: TGP plans to demonstrate the commercial application of EGS techniques at the NYC site in a way that minimizes cost and maximizes opportunities for repeat applications elsewhere with the help of Array Information Technology, Inc. (AIT), GeothermEx, Inc., and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The principal advantages of the NYC site are: 1) High temperature gradients at shallow depths; 2) Reported steam production from a 140-foot development drill hole at the New York kaolin deposit in 1963; 3) A location on the opposite side of the Stillwater Range suggesting a possible common heat source underneath the Stillwater Range; and 4) A large lease position which could complement the EGS stimulation effort with logistical support.

Project Impacts: Demonstrated commercial viability of the EGS-stimulated reservoir by generating electricity using fluids produced from the reservoir at economic costs.

Topic Area: EGS R&D – Geophysical Exploration Technologies

Type of Grantee: AltaRock Energy, Inc. – EGS Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $1,450,120

Grantee Location: Sausalito, CA 94965 

Project Location: Dixie Valley, NV 89406

Project Description: AltaRock Energy will develop, test, and calibrate an exploration methodology that integrates geology, geophysics, and geochemistry into a conceptual model to identify potential drilling targets.

Project Impacts: If successful, the project will provide a exploration methodology based on geology, ambient noise seismic techniques, geochemistry and other methods.

Topic Area: EGS R&D – Geophysical Exploration Technologies     

Type of Grantee: Board of Regents, NSHE, on behalf of UNR

DOE Grant Amount: $935,505

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89557-0138    

Project Location: Reno, NV 89557-0138    

Project Description: Comprehensive analysis of the structural controls of geothermal systems within the Great Basin and adjacent regions. 

Project Impacts: This project, if successful, will augment the discovery of new geothermal systems in the Great Basin.

Topic Area: EGS R&D – Integrated chemical, thermal, mechanical, and hydrological modeling         

Type of Grantee: Board of Regents, NSHE, on behalf of UNR

DOE Grant Amount: $1,278,070

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89557-0240    

Project Location: Reno, NV 89557-0240    

Project Description: Geothermal Heat Exchanger Model with Computational Fluid Dynamics integration for single or two-phase, laminar or turbulent flow and transport analysis.

Project Impacts: The proposed project will provide the ability to quantitative test hypotheses for new EGS designs and technologies, as well as reservoir sustainability modeling.

Topic Area: EGS R & D – HT Cement

Type of Grantee: Trabits Group, LLC

DOE Grant Amount: $2,154,238

Grantee Location: Wasilla, AK 99687-0404

Project Location: Wasilla, AK 99687-0404 / Fairbanks, AK 99775-5880 /  Arbuckle, CA 95912 / Reno, NV 89511, 99711

Project Description: The applicant proposes to develop a novel, zeolite-containing lightweight, high temperature, high pressure geothermal cement, which will provide operators with an easy to use, flexible cementing system that saves time and simplifies logistics. The project objective will be achieved by finding the right type of zeolite, and its optimum blend with silica flour and other additives to achieve the cement characteristics desirable for geothermal applications. A systematic, iterative approach will be used to test a large number of zeolite cement samples and shortlist them in order to identify potential cement compositions suitable for geothermal applications. Finally, these cements will be field tested in geothermal wells. 

Project Impacts: If successful, the project will result in the development of a cementing solution for high temperature geothermal wells.

Topic Area: Geothermal Demo – Low Temp

Type of Grantee: Beowawe Power, LLC  – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $2,000,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521

Project Location: Beowawe, NV 89821

Project Description: Beowawe Bottoming Binary Project:  Bottom-cycling binary power plant that will utilize waste water from existing 16 MW Geothermal Power plant.

Project Impacts:Innovative application new to low temp geothermal, potentially adding 10% additional power.  Good economics in high price region.

Topic Area: Geothermal Demo – Low Temp

Type of Grantee: Terra-Gen Sierra Holdings, LLC – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $2,000,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521

Project Location: Dixie Valley, NV 89406

Project Description: Dixie Valley Bottoming Binary Project:  Add on to existing 60 MW Dixie Valley power plant. 

Project Impacts:Demonstrate economic feasibility of using waste-water for power generation utilizing a binary plant.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: GeoGlobal Energy LLC– Geothermal Engineer

DOE Grant Amount: $4,040,375

Grantee Location: Santa Rosa, CA 95401-6273

Project Location: Gabbs, NV 89409

Project Description: A systematic combination of LiDAR, push-core drilling, strain and stress mapping and He and O2 isotope analysis. 

Project Impacts:A demonstration of cost effective combination of techniques to target blind systems in the Basin and Range and possibly beyond.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Geothermal Technical Partners, Inc.– Geothermal Engineer

DOE Grant Amount: $1,609,275

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-1874

Project Location: McGee Mountain, NV 89445

Project Description: Truck mounted hydro probe (2 m, 75 m) for fluid sampling and thermal surveys. 

Project Impacts:The geology of the McGee site is similar to that of many fault hosted systems in the Basin and Range and thus there is a potential for large impact on future exploration projects in the region due to the relatively low cost of thermal surveys.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Magma Energy Corp.– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-9204

Project Location: Soda Lake, NV 89406 

Project Description: The applicant proposes to take 3 dimensional, 3 component seismic reflection data acquisition and processing heretofore only applied to oil and gas industry and apply them for use in geothermal energy exploration. 

Project Impacts:If successful, this would mark a major advance in our ability to image potentially productive fluid pathways in fracture-dominated systems.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Magma Energy Corp.– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-9204

Project Location: McCoy, NV 89820

Project Description: Combination of geophysical methods including soil gas survey and angled thermal gradient holes. 

Project Impacts:A range of methods that will provide a coherent case history in a Basin and Range system and validation of slant hole technique for thermal surveys to reduce upfront exploration risk in future projects.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Nevada Geothermal Power Company– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $1,597,847

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89502

Project Location: Black Warrior, NV 89406

Project Description: Subsoil and downhole gas geochemical surveys transferred from the oil and gas industry. Redesign of 2 m shallow temperature probe for rocky environments. 

Project Impacts:Validation of relatively simple and cost-effective analyses that would significantly advance our ability to target "blind" fault-hosted geothermal systems.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: OSKI Energy LLC– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $4,214,086

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521-8965

Project Location: Hot Pot, NV 89414

Project Description: Improve methods of determining subsurface velocities in 2D seismic surveys conducted in geothermal areas below the depths typically amenable to first-arrival processing. These methods have been used in oil and gas fields, but not yet in geothermal areas.         

Project Impacts:If successful, this should provide higher-quality seismic reflection images and more accurate depth control on imaged structures at depths typically targeted in geothermal fields.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Presco Energy, Inc. – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $2,277,081

Grantee Location: Castle Rock, CO 80108-8173

Project Location: Rye Patch, NV 89419

Project Description: 2D vertical seismic profiling (VSP) in a Basin and Range setting to image subsurface structures for effective well siting. The applicant intends to utilize dynamic cooling to prevent burning out geophones.

Project Impacts:Validation that 2D VSP is a viable exploration method for geothermal energy in a very promising geothermal field. The project addresses the regional challenge of shallow, unconsolidated fill and the solution could be applied across the Basin and Range.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

DOE Grant Amount: $4,845,534

Grantee Location: Nixon, NV 89424-0256

Project Location: Pyramid Lake, NV 89502

Project Description: Regional stress analysis, seismic survey and shallow temperature survey. The innovation is accomplished by combining several state of the art techniques into a unified characterization of a potential geothermal resource in a 3D model. 

Project Impacts:A validation of an exploration methodology designed for successful exploration in the Basin and Range. The project also creates jobs on an Indian Reservation.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Sierra Geothermal Power, Inc. – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000

Grantee Location: Olympia, WA 98501-1859    

Project Location: Alum, NV 89405

Project Description: Thermal infrared imaging both night and day, coiled tube drilling, 3D resistivity and shallow temperature surveys. 

Project Impacts: Validation of utilizing thermal infrared images from both day and night to do mineral and thermal mapping in combination with other surveys for successful well siting. The relative contribution of each technology will be assessed and reported.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Sierra Geothermal Power, Inc.– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000

Grantee Location: Olympia, WA 98501-1859

Project Location: Silver Peak, NV 89047

Project Description: Develop a replicable method for identifying geothermal resources using innovative hyperspectral infrared survey and coiled tube drilling. 

Project Impacts: Validation that hyperspectral surveys can be successfully employed in geothermal exploration and that coiled tube drilling can be used to reduce tripping time and lower costs in geothermal well drilling.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc.

DOE Grant Amount: $2,400,509

Grantee Location: Lawrence, KS 66045-7563

Project Location: Fish Lake Valley, NV 89010

Project Description: Thermochronological data analysis using (U-Th)/He data integrated into a comprehensive 3D model of the reservoir. 

Project Impacts: Provide insight into the time evolution of the thermal and hydrological regime of the area and validate that the method is effective in lowering exploration risk.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: US Geothermal, Inc.– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $3,772,560

Grantee Location: Boise, ID 83706 

Project Location: San Emidio, NV 89502 

Project Description: Develop an exploration strategy for large aperture fractures using 3 Component (3C) seismic survey, PSInSAR, and kinematic structural modeling. 

Project Impacts: Demonstration that the methodology utilizing advanced seismic can be effectively used to find large apertures and good flow rates with potential broad application.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Vulcan Power Company– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $3,825,973

Grantee Location: Bend, OR 97702

Project Location: Colado, NV 89049

Project Description: Remote sensing radiation detection in combination with aerial photography and shallow temperature survey to identify structural and thermal anomalies. 

Project Impacts: A remote sensing technology with potential to reduce overall exploration risk and costs for identifying hidden geothermal systems.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Nevada Geothermal Power Company– Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $1,764,272
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89502
Project Location: Crump Geyser, OR 97630
Project Description: Combination of Flowing Differential Self-Potential to determine water movement and resistivity tomography studies and low footprint drilling.

Project Impacts: Low footprint, sump-less drilling can minimize the environmental impact of drilling operations for geothermal projects and open up new exploration sites and the electrical monitoring of fluids during well tests could improve well characterization.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,475,015

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511

Project Location: Wister, CA 92257

Project Description: High resolution, 3D multicomponent seismic analysis.

Project Impacts: Validating an advanced technology to define fractures in a blind geothermal resource to reduce exploration risk in the high potential resource area (Imperial Valley) and potentially applicable to other sedimentary areas.

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $4,911,330

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511

Project Location: Maui, HI 96790

Project Description: Combined gravity survey with heli-based aeromagnetics and HE and CO2 gas analysis.  The methodology is based on recent evidence that He and CO2 analyses can be indicative of fracture/fault zones and deeper fluid. Applicant intends to use the well studied geothermal system on Hawaii to calibrate exploration techniques and then apply them to an unexplored green field on Maui.

Project Impacts: Demonstration that this new combination of technologies can be effectively utilized in a volcanic environment. 

Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $4,377,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511

Project Location: Glass Buttes, OR 97759

Project Description: Combined use of remote sensing tools including hyperspectral, LiDAR, high resolution aeromagnetic, and gravity surveys to define possible fault conduits.

Project Impacts: Validation of a new combination of remote sensing tools to characterize fault geometries and relationships to reduce resource exploration risk for potential broad application.

 Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project

Type of Grantee: Ram Power, Inc. – Geothermal Developer

DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000

Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511

Project Location: Imperial Valley, CA 92257

Project Description: Tectonic analysis combined with thermal and drilling data from surrounding area.

Project Impacts: Proof of a new tectonic theory for the Imperial Valley.