GeoInformation Nevada: Sample Bibliography

Record 1
Article Title: Characterization of geothermal reservoirs with electrical
   surveys; Beowawe geothermal field

Authors: Garg, Sabodh K; Pritchett, John W; Wannamaker, Philip E; Combs, Jim
Affiliation: Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, CA,
   (USA); University of Utah, SA; Geo Hills Associates, USA
Source: Geothermics, vol. 36, no. 6, pp.487-517, Dec 2007

Abstract: The work reported here was undertaken to test the utility of electrical surveys for geothermal reservoir characterization using existing exploration and well data sets from the operating Beowawe geothermal field located in the Basin and Range Province of western USA. The STAR geothermal reservoir simulator was used to model the natural state of the system, and to compute the subsurface distributions of temperature and salinity, which were in turn utilized to calculate pore-fluid resistivity. Archie's law, which relates formation resistivity to porosity and pore-fluid resistivity, was adopted to infer the formation resistivity distribution. Subsequently, direct current (DC) resistivity, magnetotelluric (MT) and self-potential (SP) postprocessors were used to compute the expected response corresponding to available survey data. The measured apparent resistivity distribution from a dipole-dipole DC resistivity survey is in good agreement with the computed values. The calculated self-potential distribution agrees with the main features of an available SP survey. Although the computed MT apparent resistivity sounding curves reproduce the shapes of the measured MT sounding curves, an overall scale factor exists between the measured and calculated MT responses, and similarly with the computed dipole-dipole resistivity model. Possible reasons are static shifts in the coarsely sampled MT stations, and resistivity anisotropy due to the stratigraphy. Taken as a whole, the results of this study support the view that a suite of carefully designed electrical surveys (DC, MT, and SP) may be employed to infer favorable subsurface geothermal reservoir characteristics.

Record 2
Article Title: Hydrothermal alteration zoning in the Beowawe geothermal system,
   Eureka and Lander counties, Nevada [modified]

Author: Cole, David R; Ravinsky, Larissa I
Affiliation: Univ. Utah Res. Inst., Earth Sci. Lab., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Source: Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists,
   vol.79,no.4, pp.759-767, Jul 1984
Publisher: Economic Geology Publishing Company, Lancaster, PA, USA
Language: English
Features: References 35; illus. incl. 3 tables, geol. sketch map
[no abstract available]

Record 3
Title: A geologic and geophysical investigation of the Beowawe geothermal area,
   north-central Nevada
Author: Zoback, Mary Lou C
Source: Stanford University Publications. Geological Sciences, vol.16,
   79 pp., 1979

Record 1
Report Title: The Beowawe Geysers, Nevada, before geothermal development
Author: White, Donald E
Affiliation: U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA USA
Source: U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin, Report: 1998-B, 25 pp., 1992

Abstract:
Between 12 and 27 geysers were either observed or strongly inferred in the Beowawe Geysers area of north-central Nevada between 1945 and 1957. The area was second only to Yellowstone National Park for abundance of geysers in North America and owes its heat primarily to a high conductive rate from a thinned crust. Geothermal drilling and production started in 1959, terminating the period of assured natural eruptions. A 16-MW geothermal power plant has been in production since 1986.

Features: References: 19; illus. incl. 3 tables, sketch maps, Pages 25

Record 2
Smith, R.M., 1976, Mineral resources of Elko County, Nevada: U.S. Geological
   Survey, Open-File Report OF-76-56, scale 1:200000

Record 3
Struhsacker, E.M., 1980, The Geology of the Beowawe Geothermal System, Eureka
   and Lander Counties, Nevada: University of Utah Research Institute, Earth
   Science Laboratory Research Institute, Report ESL-37, scale 1:24000.

Record 1
Title: Three-dimensional geologic model of the Beowawe geothermal area,
   north-central Nevada
Author: Tilden, Janet E; Ponce, David A; Glen, Jonathan M G; John, David A;
   Person, Mark Austin
Affiliation: U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA; Indiana University, USA
Conference: Geological Society of America, 2005 annual meeting, Salt Lake
   City, UT, United States, Oct. 16-19, 2005
Source: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol.37, no.7,
   pp.380, Oct 2005
Publisher: Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, USA

Abstract:
A simplified three-dimensional geologic model of the Beowawe geothermal area, including parts of Battle Mountain, Shoshone Mountains, and the Sheep Creek Range, was developed from geologic, geophysical, and drill-hole information to aid fluid flow modeling and provide a framework for tectonic interpretations of northern Nevada. The model encompasses a volume about 85-km long, 75-km wide, and 6-km deep, approximately centered on the Beowawe geothermal area in north-central Nevada. Five stratigraphic layers were defined: low-density basin-filling deposits, volcanic rocks, basalt-andesite rocks of the northern Nevada rift (NNR), and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of the upper and lower plate of the Roberts Mountain Allochthon. The model is based on surface geology, geologic cross sections, drill-hole information, and 2D geophysical models. Using an iterative gravity inversion technique, geophysical data were particularly useful in determining the thickness of low-density basin-filling deposits. Geologic cross sections were constrained using two-dimensional geophysical (gravity and magnetic) modeling techniques. Geologic layers were extrapolated across the area of the model from the revised geologic and geophysical cross sections and imported into a geologic modeling and visualization software package that allows fully three-dimensional rendering and manipulation (EarthVision, Dynamic Graphics, Inc., Alameda, Calif.). The Beowawe geothermal system lies within a 1.5-km thick basin, about 10 km east of the magnetically-defined northern Nevada Rift, along a zone of prominent ENE-striking faults (e.g., Malpais Fault) that bound the southern edge of Whirlwind Valley, and near prominent N-striking faults (Dunphy Pass fault zone). Due to the increased permeability along these faults, the faults are likely conduits for groundwater flow from the Humboldt River to Beowawe. In addition, major NNW-striking structures bounding the Shoshone Range (e.g., Muleshoe Fault) may provide another source for groundwater recharge.

Record 2
Title: Fluid volume and flow constraints for a hydrothermal system at Beowawe,
   Nevada
Author: Rose, P E; Apperson, K D; Faulder, D D
Affiliation: University of Utah, USA; Idaho National Engineering and
   Environmental Laboratory, USA
Monograph Title: 1997 SPE annual technical conference and exhibition; Production
   operation and engineering/general; Part II
Conference: 1997 SPE annual technical conference and exhibition, San Antonio,
   TX, United States, Oct. 5-8, 1997
Source: SPE - Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, vol. 1997, pp.129-137,
   1997

Record 1
Title: Use of soil gas fluxes as an indirect geothermal exploration tool.
Author: LeRoy, Michael P

Abstract: The initial objective of this study was to determine if geothermal areas could be detected and the surface projection of the reservoir defined by measuring CH (sub 4) in soil gas fluxes from the soil to the atmosphere. Methane is an easily measured component of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which operates in geothermal reservoirs.
Initial experiments were conducted at three known geothermal areas in June and July of 1995. The areas sampled include Roosevelt Hot Springs, Utah; Beowawe, Nevada; and Steamboat Springs, Nevada. Results of initial sampling in the summer of 1995 gave average negative CH (sub 4) fluxes for all three sampled areas, indicating a flow of CH (sub 4) from the atmosphere into the soil. A random distribution of small negative and positive fluxes suggested no surface expression of geothermal activity by measurement of CH (sub 4) leakage. It was then hypothesized that methanotrophic bacterial oxidation of CH (sub 4) was occurring in the soils, masking any CH (sub 4) leakage from the geothermal reservoir. Sampling in the winter of 1996 was planned at Roosevelt Hot Springs geothermal area to verify the hypothesized reason for lack of an observable CH (sub 4) flux anomaly. Methane measurements were repeated in the same fashion as in the summer of 1995 to determine if methanotrophic activity may have decreased or shifted deeper in the soil in the geothermal area. In addition, CO (sub 2) flux measurements were planned for the same locations. Carbon dioxide is also a component in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Stable carbon isotope ratios were also determined on CH (sub 4) and CO (sub 2) in flux samples and soil gas at three selected sites within a known anomalous area at Roosevelt Hot Springs. Winter flux measurements of CH (sub 4) yielded similar results as summer, no significant flux anomaly. However, the CO (sub 2) flux measurements did yield a positive flux over the geothermal area, and promises to be a useful indirect geothermal exploration tool at the soil-atmosphere interface. Use of CO (sub 2) and CH (sub 4) fluxes to delineate fault leakage and subsurface structure is also possible. Stable carbon isotopic measurement confirmed that methanotrophic oxidation of CH (sub 4) was occurring in the soil column. Similar measurements on carbon isotopic composition of CO (sub 2) indicated the presence of geothermal CO (sub 2) in shallow soils and a partial leakage to the atmosphere due to diffusion.

Features: References 32; illus. incl. 8 plates, pages 171
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Type: Thesis or dissertation
Organization Name: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

Record 2
Title: Source of recharge to the Beowawe Geothermal System, north-central Nevada
Author: Day, Garrett Arthur
Features: References 42, Pages 82
Publication Year: 1987
Publication Type: Thesis or dissertation
Organization Name: University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV, USA