Did you know… Italy is home to the oldest geothermal plant in the world? The first geothermal...
Helium Isotopes
Helium gas is a trace constituent of groundwater and thermal fluids, and the ratio of 3He to 4He can be measured with a high-precision mass spectrometer to determine whether it is derived from air, from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium in the crust, or from the mantle. The latter is a characteristic feature of volcanic and geothermal gases.
Geothermal Glossary
Word of the Week – Peak Load Generation
Peak Load Generation The amount of power required to maintain an electric grid for short-lived periods (e.g., morning, late afternoon and evening) in response to high demand. Thermal power plants that burn natural gas and hydroelectric dams are two common modes of...
Word of the Week – Perforation
Perforation The process of punching holes through the steel casing liner in a well in order to inject fluid into or produce fluid out of the reservoir rock. Perforations are achieved through deployment of a perforation gun, which is a string of explosive charges.
Word of the Week – Piezometric Surface
Piezometric Surface The imaginary surface to which groundwater rises under hydrostatic pressure in wells or springs.