Spanning more than 45 square miles, The Geysers in northern California is the largest geothermal power plant complex in the world. For over a century, its steam has powered innovation, clean energy, and communities across the region.
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 – Brine
Brine In producing geothermal fields, this term refers to the hot water that is produced from wells. It is rarely as salty as implied. Instead, the salinities of most natural hot waters are commonly less than seawater, but they contain a wide range of rock-forming...
Word of the Week – Cap Rock
Cap Rock A poorly permeable or impermeable layer that overlies a geothermal reservoir. The term is borrowed from the oil industry and was once considered an essential feature of a producing geothermal resource in confining the flow and pressure of hot water....
Word of the Week – Casing Shoe
Casing Shoe In geothermal wells, this is the bottom of the cemented casing string. Below the casing shoe, the well may be unprotected and open to the surrounding rock or lined with a slotted liner. The depth of the casing shoe generally coincides with the top of the...