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Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin

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This is a final report summarizing a one-year (2014-15) DOE funded Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis of the Low-Temperature resources of the Appalachian Basin of New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Collaborators included Cornell University, Southern Methodist University, and West Virginia University. As a result of the research, 'play fairways' were identified for further study, based on four 'risk' criteria: 1) the Thermal Resource Quality, 2) the Natural Reservoir Quality, 3) the Risk of Seismic Activity, and the 4) Utilization Viability.

In addition to the final report document, this submission includes project 'memos' referred to throughout the report. Many of these same memos are also provided in the submission with the detailed data products accompanying the relevant risk factor (thermal, reservoir, seismicity, and utilization).

A portion of the executive overview follows:

Geothermal energy is an attractive sustainable energy source. Project developers need confirmation of the resource base to warrant their time and financial resources. The hydrocarbon industry has addressed exploration and development complexities through use of a technique referred to as Play Fairway Analysis (PFA). The PFA technique assigns risk metrics that communicate the favorability of potential hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in order to enable prudent allocation of exploration and development resources.

The purpose of this Department of Energy funded effort is to apply the PFA approach to geothermal exploration and development, thus providing a technique for Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis (GPFA). This project focuses on four risk factors of concern for direct-use geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin (AB) portions of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (Figure 1). These risk factors are 1) thermal resource quality, 2) natural reservoir quality, 3) induced seismicity, and 4) utilization opportunities (Figure 2). This research expands upon and updates methodologies used in previous assessments of the potential for geothermal fields and utilization in the Appalachian Basin, and also introduces novel approaches and metrics for quantification of geothermal reservoir productivity in sedimentary basins. Unique to this project are several methodologies for combining the risk factors into a single commensurate objective that communicates the estimated overall favorability of geothermal development. Uncertainty in the risk estimation is also quantified. Based on these metrics, geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin were identified as potentially viable for a variety of direct-use-heat applications. The methodologies developed in this project may be applied in other sedimentary basins as a foundation for low temperature (50-150 degC), direct use geothermal resource, risk, and uncertainty assessment. Through our identification of plays, this project reveals the potential for widespread assessment of low-temperature geothermal energy from sedimentary basins as an alternative to current heating sources that are unsustainable.

There is an important distinction in this Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis project as compared to hydrothermal projects: this Appalachian Basin analysis is focused on the direct use of the heat, rather than on electrical production. Lindal (1973) illuminated numerous industrial and other low-temperature applications of geothermal energy for which this analysis can be useful. The major relationship to electricity is that direct-use applications reduce the electricity requirements for a region. Even though all of the geothermal resources in the Appalachian Basin are low grade, the high population and high heating demand across New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia translate into economic advantages if geothermal direct-use heating replaces electricity-based heating. The advantage is derived from the high efficiency of extracting heat from geothermal fluids rather than converting the fluids to electricity (Tester et al., 2015).

Anadarko Basin Thermal Conductivity.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. One of the key components in calculating heat flow and temperatures at depth is the thermal conductivity... more
140

BHT Corrections.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Determination of heat flow is a crucial element in estimating geothermal resource potential. Geothermal ... more
323

Catalog of Supporting Files and Memos.pdf

READ ME. This file lists the Catalog of Supporting Files supplementing the final report document. In addition to a copy of the original State of Project Objectives (... more
158

Combining Risk Factors.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Combining Risk Factors in GPFA-AB This memo provides details and extended results related to the play fa... more
269

Conductivity Stratigraphy Monte Carlo Analysis.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. In order to determine properties of the thermal field at depth, the thermal conductivity stratigraphy of... more
160

Identifying Potentially Activatable Faults.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Identifying Potentially Activatable Faults in GPFA-AB These analyses attempt to highlight the risk of in... more
163

Interpolation Thermal Field Estimation.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Exploratory Data Analysis and Interpolation Methodology for Thermal Field Estimation This memo describes... more
129

Methodology.pdf

Supplementary detail on the analysis methodologies employed throughout the project. Phase 1 of the project consisted of a series of 7 tasks, the first 5 of which ju... more
321

Natural Reservoirs Database Inputs.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Natural Reservoirs Database Inputs in GPFA-AB This document is intended to augment the "Natural Reservoi... more
121

Natural Reservoirs Methodology.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Natural Reservoirs Methodology in GPFA-AB Task 2 for this project involves the mapping and characterizat... more
127

Permitting Geothermal District Heating.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Permits for Geothermal District Heating Project in GPFA-AB Permits will be required for any new drilling... more
161

Phase 1 Final Report.pdf

Final phase 1 report for the Appalachian Basin Play Fairway Analysis project.
249

Risk Analysis And Risk Factor Descriptions.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Risk Analysis in GPFA-AB This memo builds upon the 1 April 2015 memo entitled "Combining Risk Factors." ... more
110

Seismic Risk Map Creation Methods.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Seismic Risk Map Creation Methods in GPFA-AB This memo describes the methods used to process the seismic... more
120

Select Best Thermal Resources Counties.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Selection of Four Counties in Each State with the Best Thermal Resources This memo describes the methods... more
124

Tasks and Milestones.pdf

The project tasks and milestones as described in the original Statement of Project Objectives
328

Thermal Conductivity Stratigraphy COSUNA.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Tests of Simplified Conductivity Stratigraphy by Monte Carlo Analysis in GPFA-AB The simplification of w... more
265

Thermal Model Methods.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Thermal Model Methods and Well Database Organization in GPFA-AB This memo describes the reorganization o... more
252

Thermal Outlier Assessment.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. The project team must determine which algorithm should be used to identify outliers in the geospatial da... more
121

Thermal Resource Thresholds.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. The thermal risk factor needs to have thresholds assigned for visualizing the map in the discrete play-f... more
132

Updated Phase 1 Final Report and Additional Data

Link to newer GDR submission with updated final report and full list of links to additional data on GDR.

Utilization Analysis SCLOH.pdf

One of several project memos supplementing the final report. Utilization Analysis in GPFA-AB Task four of Phase 1 of the project assesses the utilization demand for ... more
394

Citation Formats

TY - DATA AB - This is a final report summarizing a one-year (2014-15) DOE funded Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis of the Low-Temperature resources of the Appalachian Basin of New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Collaborators included Cornell University, Southern Methodist University, and West Virginia University. As a result of the research, 'play fairways' were identified for further study, based on four 'risk' criteria: 1) the Thermal Resource Quality, 2) the Natural Reservoir Quality, 3) the Risk of Seismic Activity, and the 4) Utilization Viability. In addition to the final report document, this submission includes project 'memos' referred to throughout the report. Many of these same memos are also provided in the submission with the detailed data products accompanying the relevant risk factor (thermal, reservoir, seismicity, and utilization). A portion of the executive overview follows: Geothermal energy is an attractive sustainable energy source. Project developers need confirmation of the resource base to warrant their time and financial resources. The hydrocarbon industry has addressed exploration and development complexities through use of a technique referred to as Play Fairway Analysis (PFA). The PFA technique assigns risk metrics that communicate the favorability of potential hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in order to enable prudent allocation of exploration and development resources. The purpose of this Department of Energy funded effort is to apply the PFA approach to geothermal exploration and development, thus providing a technique for Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis (GPFA). This project focuses on four risk factors of concern for direct-use geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin (AB) portions of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (Figure 1). These risk factors are 1) thermal resource quality, 2) natural reservoir quality, 3) induced seismicity, and 4) utilization opportunities (Figure 2). This research expands upon and updates methodologies used in previous assessments of the potential for geothermal fields and utilization in the Appalachian Basin, and also introduces novel approaches and metrics for quantification of geothermal reservoir productivity in sedimentary basins. Unique to this project are several methodologies for combining the risk factors into a single commensurate objective that communicates the estimated overall favorability of geothermal development. Uncertainty in the risk estimation is also quantified. Based on these metrics, geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin were identified as potentially viable for a variety of direct-use-heat applications. The methodologies developed in this project may be applied in other sedimentary basins as a foundation for low temperature (50-150 degC), direct use geothermal resource, risk, and uncertainty assessment. Through our identification of plays, this project reveals the potential for widespread assessment of low-temperature geothermal energy from sedimentary basins as an alternative to current heating sources that are unsustainable. There is an important distinction in this Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis project as compared to hydrothermal projects: this Appalachian Basin analysis is focused on the direct use of the heat, rather than on electrical production. Lindal (1973) illuminated numerous industrial and other low-temperature applications of geothermal energy for which this analysis can be useful. The major relationship to electricity is that direct-use applications reduce the electricity requirements for a region. Even though all of the geothermal resources in the Appalachian Basin are low grade, the high population and high heating demand across New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia translate into economic advantages if geothermal direct-use heating replaces electricity-based heating. The advantage is derived from the high efficiency of extracting heat from geothermal fluids rather than converting the fluids to electricity (Tester et al., 2015). AU - Jordan, Teresa E. A2 - Horowitz, Frank A3 - Stedinger, Jery A4 - Tester, Jefferson A5 - Camp, Erin A6 - Whealton, Calvin A7 - Smith, Jared A8 - Anderson, Brian A9 - Welcker, Kelydra A10 - He, Xiaoning A11 - Richards, Maria A12 - Chickering Pace, Cathy A13 - Hornbach, Matt A14 - Frone, Zachary A15 - Ferguson, Christine A16 - Bolat, Rahmi A17 - Magnani, Maria Beatrice DB - Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory DO - KW - geothermal KW - New York KW - Pennsylvania KW - West Virginia KW - deep direct use KW - DDU KW - Appalachian Basin KW - geothermal play fairway analysis KW - PFA KW - play fairway KW - analysis KW - Monte Carlo KW - final report KW - phase 1 KW - low temperature KW - exploration KW - characterization LA - English DA - 2015/09/30 PY - 2015 PB - Cornell University T1 - Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin UR - https://data.openei.org/submissions/6914 ER -
Export Citation to RIS
Jordan, Teresa E., et al. Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin. Cornell University, 30 September, 2015, GDR. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/682.
Jordan, T., Horowitz, F., Stedinger, J., Tester, J., Camp, E., Whealton, C., Smith, J., Anderson, B., Welcker, K., He, X., Richards, M., Chickering Pace, C., Hornbach, M., Frone, Z., Ferguson, C., Bolat, R., & Magnani, M. (2015). Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin. [Data set]. GDR. Cornell University. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/682
Jordan, Teresa E., Frank Horowitz, Jery Stedinger, Jefferson Tester, Erin Camp, Calvin Whealton, Jared Smith, Brian Anderson, Kelydra Welcker, Xiaoning He, Maria Richards, Cathy Chickering Pace, Matt Hornbach, Zachary Frone, Christine Ferguson, Rahmi Bolat, and Maria Beatrice Magnani. Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin. Cornell University, September, 30, 2015. Distributed by GDR. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/682
@misc{OEDI_Dataset_6914, title = {Research Report of Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin}, author = {Jordan, Teresa E. and Horowitz, Frank and Stedinger, Jery and Tester, Jefferson and Camp, Erin and Whealton, Calvin and Smith, Jared and Anderson, Brian and Welcker, Kelydra and He, Xiaoning and Richards, Maria and Chickering Pace, Cathy and Hornbach, Matt and Frone, Zachary and Ferguson, Christine and Bolat, Rahmi and Magnani, Maria Beatrice}, abstractNote = {This is a final report summarizing a one-year (2014-15) DOE funded Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis of the Low-Temperature resources of the Appalachian Basin of New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Collaborators included Cornell University, Southern Methodist University, and West Virginia University. As a result of the research, 'play fairways' were identified for further study, based on four 'risk' criteria: 1) the Thermal Resource Quality, 2) the Natural Reservoir Quality, 3) the Risk of Seismic Activity, and the 4) Utilization Viability.

In addition to the final report document, this submission includes project 'memos' referred to throughout the report. Many of these same memos are also provided in the submission with the detailed data products accompanying the relevant risk factor (thermal, reservoir, seismicity, and utilization).

A portion of the executive overview follows:

Geothermal energy is an attractive sustainable energy source. Project developers need confirmation of the resource base to warrant their time and financial resources. The hydrocarbon industry has addressed exploration and development complexities through use of a technique referred to as Play Fairway Analysis (PFA). The PFA technique assigns risk metrics that communicate the favorability of potential hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in order to enable prudent allocation of exploration and development resources.

The purpose of this Department of Energy funded effort is to apply the PFA approach to geothermal exploration and development, thus providing a technique for Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis (GPFA). This project focuses on four risk factors of concern for direct-use geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin (AB) portions of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (Figure 1). These risk factors are 1) thermal resource quality, 2) natural reservoir quality, 3) induced seismicity, and 4) utilization opportunities (Figure 2). This research expands upon and updates methodologies used in previous assessments of the potential for geothermal fields and utilization in the Appalachian Basin, and also introduces novel approaches and metrics for quantification of geothermal reservoir productivity in sedimentary basins. Unique to this project are several methodologies for combining the risk factors into a single commensurate objective that communicates the estimated overall favorability of geothermal development. Uncertainty in the risk estimation is also quantified. Based on these metrics, geothermal plays in the Appalachian Basin were identified as potentially viable for a variety of direct-use-heat applications. The methodologies developed in this project may be applied in other sedimentary basins as a foundation for low temperature (50-150 degC), direct use geothermal resource, risk, and uncertainty assessment. Through our identification of plays, this project reveals the potential for widespread assessment of low-temperature geothermal energy from sedimentary basins as an alternative to current heating sources that are unsustainable.

There is an important distinction in this Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis project as compared to hydrothermal projects: this Appalachian Basin analysis is focused on the direct use of the heat, rather than on electrical production. Lindal (1973) illuminated numerous industrial and other low-temperature applications of geothermal energy for which this analysis can be useful. The major relationship to electricity is that direct-use applications reduce the electricity requirements for a region. Even though all of the geothermal resources in the Appalachian Basin are low grade, the high population and high heating demand across New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia translate into economic advantages if geothermal direct-use heating replaces electricity-based heating. The advantage is derived from the high efficiency of extracting heat from geothermal fluids rather than converting the fluids to electricity (Tester et al., 2015).
}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/682}, year = {2015}, howpublished = {GDR, Cornell University, https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/682}, note = {Accessed: 2025-07-21} }

Details

Data from Sep 30, 2015

Last updated May 6, 2020

Submitted Jan 13, 2016

Organization

Cornell University

Contact

Teresa E. Jordan

tej1@cornell.edu

607.255.3596

Authors

Teresa E. Jordan

Cornell University

Frank Horowitz

Cornell University

Jery Stedinger

Cornell University

Jefferson Tester

Cornell University

Erin Camp

Cornell University

Calvin Whealton

Cornell University

Jared Smith

Cornell University

Brian Anderson

West Virginia University

Kelydra Welcker

West Virginia University

Xiaoning He

West Virginia University

Maria Richards

Southern Methodist University

Cathy Chickering Pace

Southern Methodist University

Matt Hornbach

Southern Methodist University

Zachary Frone

Southern Methodist University

Christine Ferguson

Southern Methodist University

Rahmi Bolat

Southern Methodist University

Maria Beatrice Magnani

Southern Methodist University

Research Areas

DOE Project Details

Project Name Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin

Project Lead Holly Thomas

Project Number EE0006726

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