Conceptual Model At Coso Geothermal Area (2005-2007)

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

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Exploration Activity: Conceptual Model At Coso Geothermal Area (2005-2007)

Exploration Activity Details
Location	Coso Geothermal Area
Exploration Technique	Conceptual Model
Activity Date	2005 - 2007
Usefulness	useful
DOE-funding	Unknown

Exploration Basis

Determine most productive areas of geothermal field using stress and faulting analysis to develop a geomechanical model

Notes

New geologic mapping and measurements of stress orientations and magnitudes from wells 34-9RD2 and 58A-10 were integrated with existing data sets to refine a geomechanical model for the Coso geothermal field. Vertically averaged stress orientations across the field are fairly uniform and are consistent with focal mechanism inversions of earthquake clusters for stress and incremental strain. Active faults trending NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW are well oriented for normal slip in the current stress field, where the mean Shmin orientation is 108V⁰± 24⁰ in a transitional strike-slip to normal faulting stress regime. These results together with stress magnitudes measured in the East Flank of the field suggest that the most productive portions are in stress environments conducive to normal faulting.

References

• Davatzes, N.C.; Hickman, S.H. (1 January 2005) Controls on Fault-Hosted Fluid Flow: Preliminary Results from the Coso Geothermal Field, CA

• Davatzes, N.C.; Hickman, S.H. (1 January 2006) STRESS AND FAULTING IN THE COSO GEOTHERMAL FIELD: UPDATE AND RECENT RESULTS FROM THE EAST FLANK AND COSO WASH

• Davatzes, N.; Hickman, S.   (1 January 2007) Stress and fault rock controls on fault zone hydrology, Coso geothermal field, CA