Word of the Week – Basalt
Basalt Dark grey fine grained volcanic rock composed of plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine, with relatively low silica (45-52 wt %). The composition reflects an upper mantle origin. Basalt is the most common type of volcanic rock on Earth, and it erupts from mid-ocean spreading ridges and hot spots (e.g., Hawaii and Iceland). The intrusive coarsely… Read More »
Did you know… three of the largest geothermal power plants in the world are found in Indonesia?
Did you know… three of the largest geothermal power plants in the world are found in Indonesia? Indonesia is home to beautiful tropical islands, a rich and vibrant culture, and geothermal power plants! The first exploration geothermal wells were drilled in the 1920s, but the first power production did not start until 1978 at Kamojang.… Read More »
Word of the Week – Packers and Plugs
Packers and Plugs Downhole devices emplaced into a well to seal zones and intervals so they can be pressurized by pumping fluid from the surface in order to stimulate fractures at a specified location. They are designed for temporary and permanent deployments, depending on operational requirements, and they are commonly used for zonal isolation. Read More »
Did you know… Italy is home to the oldest geothermal plant in the world?
Did you know… Italy is home to the oldest geothermal plant in the world? The first geothermal plant in the world is located in Tuscany, Italy. The Larderello geothermal plant was constructed in the early twentieth century thanks to Prince Piero Ginori Conti of Trevignano. Through his work in the processing of boric acid, Conti… Read More »
At the Core 7th Edition (October 2021)
Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-october-2021. Read More »
Did you know… Mount Erebus is the southernmost volcano in the world?
Did you know... Mount Erebus is the southernmost volcano in the world? Located on the western half of Ross Island stands Mount Erebus – the tallest active volcano in Antarctica. Mt Erebus is the largest and only active center of the four volcanic peaks (Mt. Bird, Mt. Terra Nova, and Mt. Terror) that make up… Read More »
Did you know… there is a submarine volcano in Antarctica?
Did you know… there is a submarine volcano in Antarctica? Deception Island, Antarctica is home to an active submarine volcano which has created a large volcanic crater in the middle of the South Shetland Islands. The total land area of the island is 98.5 km2(~38.0 mi2), with a diameter of 15 km (~9.3 mi). The… Read More »
Did you know… Alaska uses geothermal energy to produce electricity?
Did you know… Alaska uses geothermal energy to produce electricity? It might seem highly unlikely that geothermal energy could be harnessed in the Arctic climate of Alaska considering HOT water is required. However, this is not the case! Geothermal reservoirs can be found almost anywhere in the world. In fact, Alaska has 97 known thermal… Read More »
At the Core 6th Edition (July 2021)
Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-july-2021 Read More »
Did you know… there is a geyser on one of Saturn’s moons?
Did you know... there is a geyser on one of Saturn's moons? And not just one, but over 100 huge water-vapor geysers occur at the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. They are believed to come from an ocean beneath the moon’s outer ice crust in which water comes to the surface through cracks in… Read More »
Did you know… Pamukkale is a travel HOT spot?
Did you know... Pamukkale is a travel HOT spot? Pamukkale is a western Turkish town known for the mineral-rich thermal waters that cascade over steep, white terraces that reach over 100 meters (~330 feet) high. Across the terraces, there are a total of 17 hot springs, which range in temperature from 35-100 degrees Celsius (95-212… Read More »
Did you know… that Paris has used geothermal energy to heat the homes of more than 2 million people?
Did you know... that Paris has used geothermal energy to heat the homes of more than 2 million people? You might not think that Paris, the city of love, would be a major producer of geothermal energy – but it is! Paris has been using geothermal energy to heat houses since 1969. Under the famous… Read More »
At the Core 5th Edition (April 2021)
Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-april-2021 Read More »
Did you know… geothermal wells can be highly deviated too?
Did you know... geothermal wells can be highly deviated too? Just as in the oil industry, the first geothermal wells were all vertical, which remains common practice mainly because it is cost-effective. The maximum depth is typically about 10,000 feet (3 km). Deviated geothermal wells have been drilled too, extending laterally over horizontal distances up… Read More »
Did you know… that the first wells were drilled over 2000 years ago?
Did you know that the first wells were drilled over 2000 years ago? Drilling is an ancient technology and it has long been used to explore for natural resources and to produce fluids such as water, brine, oil and gas that occur underground. The Chinese drilled shallow wells over 2000 years ago to produce brine.… Read More »
At the Core 4th Edition (January 2021)
Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-january-2020 Read More »
Utah FORGE and UofU’s Department of Communication partner up
In yet another example of inter-departmental collaboration, Utah FORGE, a geothermal energy research project, is delighted to be working closely with Dr. Sara K. Yeo in the University’s Department of Communication, within the College of Humanities. The research being conducted by Utah FORGE near the town of Milford is focused on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)… Read More »
Utah FORGE and the College of Education develop a new partnership
Inter-departmental cooperation has always been a hallmark of success for the University of Utah. The latest example of this cooperation is found in two seemingly disparate groups: Utah FORGE, a geothermal energy research project, and the College of Education. Harnessing the potential of geothermal energy could provide a great boost to the nation’s energy portfolio.… Read More »
At the Core 3rd Edition (October 2020)
Keep up to date on what is going on at Utah FORGE. Read about it in the quarterly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE and receive updates and special announcements. Open and download a pdf version at-the-core-october-2020.PDF Read More »
Did you know… that Reykjavík is a city of geothermal energy?
Did you know… that Reykjavík is a city of geothermal energy? Did you know that the city of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, is widely recognized for its geothermal energy? Many first think of the word ‘ice’ when hearing Iceland, but surprisingly Iceland is also known for its use of Earth’s heat. Due to its… Read More »
