WV HAS MORE GEOTHERMAL THAN COAL

West Virginia offers 18GW geothermal potential, study says
James Cartledge, October 19, 2010 (Brighter Energy)

"Researchers at Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory believe underground temperatures in West Virginia are significantly higher than previously thought…[and the] state could…[support] commercial geothermal energy production…

"Experts believe geothermal power projects could mean a renewable source of baseload power – electricity supplies available day or night – for West Virginia…They have estimated the potential for 18,890 megawatts of power could be available, even taking a conservative 2% thermal recovery rate. The total would surpass West Virginia’s 16,350MW portfolio of coal-fired generating capacity."

Heat verified by wells and hot springs (click to enlarge)

"The estimate marks a 75% increase on previous estimates, in a 2006 study from MIT…High temperature zones were found in the eastern portion of the state, where temperatures above 300 degrees fahrenheit are believed to be located at depths of 15,000 feet below ground level…The research is based on detailed mapping of temperature data from the oil and gas industry, as part of ongoing work to update a [2004] Geothermal Map of North America…

"The geothermal experts also point to newer geothermal power generation technologies, which can make use of lower temperature geothermal resources, as holding potential to develop power projects in West Virginia…[They say there is also] potential in the state for projects generating geothermal energy at oil and gas wells, and for Enhanced Geothermal Systems where underground geothermal reservoirs can be created by injecting high pressure fluids into suitable rock formations."

Heat discovered by drilling at various depths (click to enlarge)

"The next step for the research is to look at specific target sites in more detail, while the researchers are also looking to shed light on geothermal resources in other states."

[David Blackwell, Hamilton Professor of Geophysics/Director, SMU Geothermal Laboratory:] “We now know that two zones of Appalachian age structures are hot – West Virginia and a large zone covering the intersection of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana known as the Ouachita Mountain region. Right now we don’t have the data to fill in the area in between, but it’s possible we could see similar results over an even larger area.”