T9 Advancement in the Exploration Practices Used to Characterize Geothermal Resources

Sunday, 9 October 2011
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 101H-J

3D GEOLOGIC MODELING IMPROVES WELL TARGETING IN GLASS BUTTES, OREGON

Paper number: T9-15
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM

Authors

Abstract

Three-dimensional modeling of new geological, geophysical and remote sensing data were combined with previous drilling data to finalize drilling targets for Midnight Point and Mahogany Prospects at Glass Buttes, Lake County, OR. The Leapfrog Geothermal model fits mathematical functions to surface and downhole lithologic, structural, alteration and temperature data so that interpretations can be quickly manipulated and reinterpreted to improve geological consistency. Three-dimensional interpretation of multiple geological and geophysical data sets also provided insight into likely intersections of permeable structures and their relationship to known temperature anomalies.

By displaying and cycling through multiple data sets, interpreters made fault surface interpretations honor all data sets and proposed the most likely location to target permeability. Similarly, the group required the temperature grid to follow alteration trends and structural planes to improve reliability. The first two planned core wells, one at each prospect, target different geologic structures and temperature anomalies. The combination of incorporating several data sets into innovative modeling techniques with testing more than one geologic model reduces geologic exploration risk. With each newly drilled well, the model will incorporate the new data, improving sequential drilling target bottom hole locations.