37 The Heat Beneath our Feet: Geologic Controls on Geothermal Resources in the Rocky Mountain Region

Geologic controls in the Rocky Mountains and other analogous environments that influence geothermal systems—from fault and fracture dynamics to stratigraphic and lithologic influences, heat flow, and fluid flow pathways

Wednesday, 20 May 2026
10:20 AM - 12:20 PM
Alvarado A

The State of Geothermal Resource Exploration and Assessment in Utah, USA

Paper number: 37-0
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:20 AM – 10:40 AM

Authors

Abstract

Utah's geothermal sector is experiencing a modern-day renaissance, with a record number of companies and consortia exploring viable resources and developing state-of-the-art technologies to propel the entire industry forward. Conditions in the Utah geothermal sector serve as a reliable proxy for the situation in the U.S. geothermal market and beyond. Since the early 1960s, the Utah Geological Survey and its partners have conducted extensive scientific research into geothermal systems across Utah, setting the stage for historic levels of outside investment. The resulting expansion of exploration footprints and press releases about new discoveries across the state have in turn reshaped the existing knowledge base considerably. Building on these successes, the Utah Geological Survey received a one-time geothermal research appropriation from the Utah State Legislature to conduct rigorous geophysical campaigns, geologically de-risk prospective play fairways, and entice further capital investment. We have expanded our holistic scientific program that collects, interprets, and publishes pre-competitive data on the three primary geothermal resource plays in Utah: conventional hydrothermal, deep sedimentary basin, and enhanced geothermal systems. Expanded capabilities include deploying advanced geophysical instrumentation suitable for conducting resource assessments and building geothermal and geophysical data networks that collate legacy and modern data to create up-to-date resource potential maps at various scales across the state. Our publication strategy for these foundational geological and geophysical data includes maps, field reports, and a comprehensive web portal where products may be visualized and downloaded to suit user needs—data dissemination is key to driving outside interest. Our unique position affords us the opportunity to closely monitor industry developments, study the impact of development operations on local subsurface environments, and collaborate with geoscientists on post-investment activities. With most high-quality surface manifestations already developed, discovering new geothermal resource areas at the correct economic scale is more difficult than ever. Yet with only 0.1% of the total estimated electrical power potential of 49,400 megawatts developed thus far, Utah's undiscovered geothermal energy resources hold colossal potential to power the state's electricity needs well into the future with renewable, carbon-neutral domestic energy.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410658

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