Dan KingAAAS Science & Technology Policy FellowGeothermal Technologies Office

The National Geothermal Data System (NGDS)EarthCube End-User Domain Workshop for Rock Deformation and Mineral Physics Research

Alexandria, VA Nov. 2013

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Geothermal – Why is it important?

• Large, global resource– 3.4 GWe US installed– 12 GWe worldwide– 12 GWe global under development

• Baseload energy, renewable, low emissions

• Potential for expansion out of the traditional “hot” regions in the US– +30 GWe hydrothermal “yet-to-find”– +100 GWe possibility for EGS– Significant “low temp” potential

• Opportunity for significant growth – but requires more knowledge of and R&D regarding subsurface

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Identify New Geothermal Opportunities• Lowered risk and cost• New prospecting workflow/“Play Fairway”

Accelerate a Commercial Pathway to EGS • Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal

Energy (FORGE)• Reservoir characterization/creation technologies

Overcome Deployment Barriers• Regulatory Roadmap: Streamlining• National Geothermal Data System: Reducing upfront exploration cost

Additive Value• Co-production and Distributed Power• Strategic Materials

Subsurface Engineering Crosscut

• Intra- and inter-agency efforts to address common subsurface challenges and better leverage DOE funding

GTO Key Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

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NGDS Vision

Support the discovery and generation of geothermal sources of energy. The NGDS will provide online access to important geothermal-related data from a network of data providers in order to:• Increase the efficiency of exploration,

development and usage of geothermal energy by providing a basis for financial risk analysis of potential sites

• Assist state and federal agencies in making land and resource management assessments

• Foster the discovery of new geothermal resources by supporting ongoing and future geothermal-related research

• Increase public awareness of geothermal energy

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International Cyber Infrastructure

‘Key actions in the next 10 years…’

• ‘…Develop publicly available databases, protocols and tools for geothermal resource assessment and ongoing reservoir management to help spread expertise and accelerate development.’

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• Data System, not a Database

• Unified by:– Catalog and standardized

metadata– Data access protocols and

interchange formats

What is the NGDS

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1. Unstructured data• Useful to people but not well suited for

machine processing without significant user investment

2. Structured data in a custom format• Immediately suited for machine

processing, but user investment required to understand data format

3. Structured data in a standard interchange format• In a community defined format suited for

machine processing and integration of multiple data sets with minimal user investment

Tiered Interoperability

NGDS content model

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• Granular approach– Simple, narrowly scoped models– Reuse property elements among models– Standardize units, vocabulary, etc.

Interchange Format

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Current Content Models (Tier 3)

• Active Fault/Quaternary Fault• Aqueous Chemistry• Borehole Temperature Observation

Feature• Direct Use Feature• Fault Feature• Fluid Flux Injection and Disposal• Geologic Contact Feature• Geologic Unit Feature• Geothermal Area• Geothermal Fluid Production• Geothermal Power Plant• Heat Flow• Heat Pump Facility

• Lithology Interval Log Feature• Metadata• Physical Sample• Powell Cummings Geothermometry• Power Plant Production• Radiogenic Heat Production• Seismic Event Hypocenter• Thermal Conductivity• Thermal/Hot Spring Feature• Volcanic Vents• Well Fluid Production• Well Header• Well Log Observation• Well Test Observations

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Web Interface

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Example

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. . .

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Application of the NGDS

• Play Fairway Analysis: Basin-scale analysis of geologic factors which contribute to discovery probability.

• Adapting to geothermal will require an analogous, yet unique workflow

• Leverages DOE investments in innovative exploration technologies, and data systems (NGDS)

• Impact: Enables targeted, and higher probability of success geothermal exploration, coupled with better resource classification

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Program Topic Summary Funding Range

EGS Integrated EGS R&D Solicitation will focus on R&D related to zonal isolation, novel stimulation methodologies, joint geophysical techniques for fracture and reservoir imaging, and advanced tracer technologies

$5M - $6M

Innovative Exploration Technologies

Innovative Exploration Technologies Towards Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis

Solicitation will focus on regional-scale assessments of risk/probability for finding new resources, highlighting the most prospective parts of a region and creating geothermal “play fairway” maps

$2M - $3M

Low Temperature and Coproduced Resources

Geothermal Energy Production Coupled with Strategic Materials Recovery

Solicitation will focus on strategic mineral identification and extraction technologies from geothermal brines

$1M - $2M

Planned GTO 2014 FOAsSubject to availability of Appropriations

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FY 2009 (excl. ARRA)

FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 Request

2014 Senate Mark

2014 House Mark

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10

20

30

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50

60

70

80

$43.3 $43.1 $38.0 $37.8 $37.8

$60.0 $60.0

EGS Low Temp and Coproduced Innovative Exploration Technologies Ground Source Heat Pumps Systems Analysis

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$12.0

Budget Overview

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• Geothermal energy transformations: Nationwide resources and value chains (January 2014)

• Should the U.S. export natural gas?: Opportunities and constraints (February 2014)

• Nuclear energy: uranium and thorium resources, geological hazards, and waste management (March 11, 2014)

• Shale oil and gas: reserves and production, environmental risks, water issues

• Are oil sands part of our energy future?: Global and U.S. resources, comparative environmental risks

• Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific exploration: oil and gas resources, environmental and safety issues

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Questions?