Phase I - Resource Procurement and Identification
From Open Energy Information
GEA Development Phase I: Resource Procurement and Identification
GEA Development Phases
The Geothermal Energy Association’s (GEA) Geothermal Reporting Terms and Definitions are a guideline for geothermal developers to use when submitting geothermal resource development information to GEA for public dissemination in its annual US Geothermal Power Production and Development Update. GEA’s Geothermal Reporting Terms and Definitions serve to increase the consistency, accuracy, and reliability of industry information presented in the development updates.
The information for this page was taken directly from Geothermal Reporting Terms and Definitions: A Guide to Reporting Resource Development Progress and Results to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA, November 2010)
Phase I - Criteria
In reporting a Phase I geothermal project to the GEA the developer must ascertain whether or not the project being reported meets the following specified criteria. The development criteria are divided into three different subsections of geothermal Phase I development (Resource, Transmission, and External Development). It is not necessary that a geothermal project meet all of the criteria listed. The number of criteria that a project must meet in each subsection of geothermal Phase I development is specified below.
1. Resource Development Criteria
For a project to be considered a Phase I project at least two of the following Resource Development criteria must be met.
- Literature Survey Complete
- existing data and information from previous studies, exploration, and/or development has been acquired and analyzed by the developer. This preliminary analysis reveals conditions generally considered favorable for the presence of subsurface geothermal resources capable of being developed into a commercially viable geothermal reservoir.
- Geologic Mapping Completed, Geophysical and Geochemical Sample Sites Identified
- a geologic survey and any necessary airborne surveys have detected areas that exhibit features characteristic of a viable subsurface geothermal resource. This has enabled the construction of a geologic map of the area as well as a first draft conceptual model of the hydrothermal system so that sample sites have been identified.
- Geochemical and geophysical surveys in progress
- geochemical and geophysical survey techniques which determine the chemical properties, temperature, and overall characterization of the geothermal resource are underway or finished at the time of reporting and further indicate the presence of a commercially viable geothermal reservoir.
2. Transmission Development Criteria
For a project to be considered a Phase I project all of the following Transmission Development criteria must be met.
- Internal transmission analysis complete
- internal analysis of possible transmission routes by the developer completed.
3. External Development Criteria
For a project to be considered a Phase I project all of the following criteria must be met.
- Land or lease acquired
- The developer has acquired acreage sufficient to develop the power plant of the magnitude (MW) it proposes. If public land, the developer will have acquired the lease to development from the Bureau of Land Management. If private land, the developer will have secured surface rights and at least 50% mineral rights.
- Permitting process for exploration drilling (TGH and/or slimholes) underway
- the developer must have submitted and/or obtained either a permit for drilling a set of temperature gradient holes and/or a slimhole from the appropriate state agencies.
Phase I - Terms and Definitions
The following terms and their definitions are to be applied to geothermal projects which are in the Phase I stage of geothermal development.
- Possible Resource Estimate
- For a geothermal project to be considered a Phase I Possible Resource it must exhibit known characteristics which lead the developer to believe, with a level of confidence appropriate to the stage of development, that further development of the geothermal project may lead to potential economic utilization of the resource.
- Specifically, as mentioned above, the developer of a geothermal project must fulfill two of the criteria listed in the Phase I Resource Development Category, all of the criteria listed in the Phase I Transmission Development Category, and all of the criteria listed in the Phase I External Development Category.
- It should be noted that the Possible Resource Estimate should not be used as a value to indicate the potential installed capacity of a geothermal power plant. Rather, it is the estimated value of the subsurface geothermal resource.
- Possible Planned Capacity Addition (PCA) Estimate
- The Phase I Planned Capacity Addition (PCA) estimate is that portion of a Possible Resource that the developer deems to be viable for the economic production of electricity under existing economic conditions. Also, the PCA estimate should represent the potential capacity that is currently controlled by the developer, and not the total capacity that the developer intends to control and produce in the future. In other words, if the developer were to utilize the geothermal resource under its control to produce electricity via a geothermal power plant the Phase I PCA estimate would be the power plants estimated installed capacity. If the developer were expanding a currently operating plant the Phase I Possible PCA estimate would be the estimated capacity to be added to the plants current installed capacity.
Phase I - Projects
GEA Annual US Geothermal Power Production and Development Reports