The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti
Geothermal Resource Investigations Project
Geothermal Resource Investigations Project (GRIP)
Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. This project focuses on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, monitor geothermal developments, and conduct resource assessments. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US. The results of national-scale assessments and supporting research studies provide State and Federal government policymakers with the information they need to evaluate the potential contribution of geothermal energy to the nation’s energy mix.
Why are we studying these issues?
The understanding of what constitutes a geothermal energy resource has evolved over time. Conventional hydrothermal systems were the first systems identified and developed to produce electric power, taking advantage of natural groundwater circulation through rock at elevated temperatures, resulting in significant advective transport of heat to near land-surface. Geothermal heat is plentiful, and if deep permeability can be located or engineered (EGS) within the identified hot rock underlying the western US, then geothermal energy could provide electric power equivalent to approximately 50% of the current US electric power production capacity. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US.
USGS has major responsibilities defined in Federal legislation, notably:
- Geothermal Steam Act of 1970
- Energy Policy Act of 1992
- Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Energy act of 2020
The most-specific mandate for USGS is to make “regional and national appraisals of all types of geothermal resources”. In response to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, in 1971, the USGS identified “known geothermal resource areas”, and completed the first national-scale assessment of geothermal resources of the US. In response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, geothermal energy assessments were updated. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that assessment updates are to be completed “as the availability of data and developments in technology warrants”. The Energy Act of 2020 directs the USGS to update the 2008 assessment of geothermal resources United States, expand the types of resources assessed, and focus on a larger geographic extent, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Our objectives
These objectives comprehensively address the five interrelated goals of the USGS Energy and Minerals Science Strategy
- Conduct regional and national scale geothermal energy assessments for the benefit of the US. Inventory and estimate each type of geothermal energy for which we have sufficient data and technical understanding about development of a potentially viable resource
- Cooperatively conduct fundamental and applied research into processes that control the occurrence and development of geothermal resources. USGS GRIP efforts are focused on characterization of each resource, which is distinct from prospecting or development activities, though there are synergies between these activities. This includes research on unintended adverse impacts to the environment. This information is used both to refine assessments and to advise partner agencies so that they may effectively achieve their missions.
Meeting Science Strategy goals
- Understand fundamental Earth processes that form energy and mineral resources
- Understand the environmental behavior of energy and mineral resources and their waste products
- Provide inventories and assessments of energy and mineral resources
- Understand the effects of energy and mineral development on the environment and society
- Understand the reliability and availability of energy and mineral supplies
![Steamboat Hills and Galena II geothermal power plant, Nevada.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/35618250235_ab30139202_k.jpg?itok=_5hJf1HI)
Low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage are both identified as hugely under-utilized. Geothermal resources could grow to supply more than 320 GWth of heating and cooling by 2050. USGS can provide critical assessment maps for the full range of geothermal resource types, can contribute to identified technological improvements for the characterization of resources, and can develop products that can aid the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other regulatory agencies in streamlining their permitting processes. Shortened permitting timelines are identified as a critical factor for effective geothermal development, and appropriate products generated by this project will aid partners in the decision-making process.
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Data associated with this project
Three-dimensional temperature model of the Great Basin, USA
GeoDAWN: Airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys of the northwestern Great Basin, Nevada and California
Maps of elevation trend and detrended elevation for the Great Basin, USA
Mineralogy, strontium (87Sr/86Sr), oxygen (18O/16O) and carbon (13C/12C) isotope composition, elemental concentrations, and U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park, USA
Chemical and isotopic composition of gas, water, and solids from the 2019-2020 water lake in Halema’uma’u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Provisional Multi-GAS Volcanic Gas Monitoring Data, Obsidian Pool thermal area, Yellowstone National Park
Regional geophysical maps of the Great Basin, USA
Elemental and Strontium Isotopic Composition of Select Central Plateau and Upper Basin Member Rhyolites, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
Geothermal resource favorability: select features and predictions for the western United States curated for DOI 10.1016/j.geothermics.2023.102662
Radiocarbon dating of silicified wood from around Steamboat Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, 2021-2022
Sr and U concentrations and radiogenic isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) of thermal waters, streamflow, travertine, and rock samples along with U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park,
Water-Chemistry and Isotope Data for Selected Springs, Geysers, Streams, and Rivers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Three-dimensional geologic map the southeastern Gabbs Valley geothermal area, Nevada
![Click on image for full description.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/EM-EarthMRI-Infographics-NV-v8-hr.png?itok=EjGqL548)
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti
Publications associated with this project
Characterizing structure in southern Summer Lake valley, Oregon using ground- and sUAS-based potential field geophysics
Updated three-dimensional temperature maps for the Great Basin, USA
Predicting large hydrothermal systems
We train five models using two machine learning (ML) regression algorithms (i.e., linear regression and XGBoost) to predict hydrothermal upflow in the Great Basin. Feature data are extracted from datasets supporting the INnovative Geothermal Exploration through Novel Investigations Of Undiscovered Systems project (INGENIOUS). The label data (the reported convective signals) are extracted from meas
Don’t Let Negatives Hold You Back: Accounting for Underlying Physics and Natural Distributions of Hydrothermal Systems When Selecting Negative Training Sites Leads to Better Machine Learning Predictions
Selecting negative training sites is an important challenge to resolve when utilizing machine learning (ML) for predicting hydrothermal resource favorability because ideal models would discriminate between hydrothermal systems (positives) and all types of locations without hydrothermal systems (negatives). The Nevada Machine Learning project (NVML) fit an artificial neural network to identify area
Cursed? Why one does not simply add new data sets to supervised geothermal machine learning models
Recent advances in machine learning (ML) identifying areas favorable to hydrothermal systems indicate that the resolution of feature data remains a subject of necessary improvement before ML can reliably produce better models. Herein, we consider the value of adding new features or replacing other, low-value features with new input features in existing ML pipelines. Our previous work identified st
Exploratory analysis of machine learning techniques in the Nevada geothermal play fairway analysis
Effect of thermal and mechanical processes on hydraulic transmissivity evolution
When less is more: How increasing the complexity of machine learning strategies for geothermal energy assessments may not lead toward better estimates
New maps of conductive heat flow in the Great Basin, USA: Separating conductive and convective influences
Effects of structure and volcanic stratigraphy on groundwater and surface water flow: Hat Creek basin, California, USA
Geochemistry and fluxes of gases from hydrothermal features at Newberry Volcano, Oregon, USA
Violent groundwater eruption triggered by a distant earthquake
Web tools associated with this project
Western United States Geothermal Favorability
This map shows identified medium and high temperature geothermal systems and relative favorability for additional systems in the western United States.
Geothermal energy is a significant source of renewable electric power in the western United States and, with advances in exploration and development technologies, a potential source of a large fraction of baseload electric power for the entire country. This project focuses on advancing geothermal research through a better understanding of geothermal resources and the impacts of geothermal development. This is achieved by applying a wide range of research methods to characterize resource occurrences, monitor geothermal developments, and conduct resource assessments. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US. The results of national-scale assessments and supporting research studies provide State and Federal government policymakers with the information they need to evaluate the potential contribution of geothermal energy to the nation’s energy mix.
Why are we studying these issues?
The understanding of what constitutes a geothermal energy resource has evolved over time. Conventional hydrothermal systems were the first systems identified and developed to produce electric power, taking advantage of natural groundwater circulation through rock at elevated temperatures, resulting in significant advective transport of heat to near land-surface. Geothermal heat is plentiful, and if deep permeability can be located or engineered (EGS) within the identified hot rock underlying the western US, then geothermal energy could provide electric power equivalent to approximately 50% of the current US electric power production capacity. While much emphasis has been placed on electricity generation, low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage in geological reservoirs have been identified as potentially large sources of energy for direct-use heating and cooling of infrastructure across the entire US.
USGS has major responsibilities defined in Federal legislation, notably:
- Geothermal Steam Act of 1970
- Energy Policy Act of 1992
- Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Energy act of 2020
The most-specific mandate for USGS is to make “regional and national appraisals of all types of geothermal resources”. In response to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, in 1971, the USGS identified “known geothermal resource areas”, and completed the first national-scale assessment of geothermal resources of the US. In response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, geothermal energy assessments were updated. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that assessment updates are to be completed “as the availability of data and developments in technology warrants”. The Energy Act of 2020 directs the USGS to update the 2008 assessment of geothermal resources United States, expand the types of resources assessed, and focus on a larger geographic extent, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Our objectives
These objectives comprehensively address the five interrelated goals of the USGS Energy and Minerals Science Strategy
- Conduct regional and national scale geothermal energy assessments for the benefit of the US. Inventory and estimate each type of geothermal energy for which we have sufficient data and technical understanding about development of a potentially viable resource
- Cooperatively conduct fundamental and applied research into processes that control the occurrence and development of geothermal resources. USGS GRIP efforts are focused on characterization of each resource, which is distinct from prospecting or development activities, though there are synergies between these activities. This includes research on unintended adverse impacts to the environment. This information is used both to refine assessments and to advise partner agencies so that they may effectively achieve their missions.
Meeting Science Strategy goals
- Understand fundamental Earth processes that form energy and mineral resources
- Understand the environmental behavior of energy and mineral resources and their waste products
- Provide inventories and assessments of energy and mineral resources
- Understand the effects of energy and mineral development on the environment and society
- Understand the reliability and availability of energy and mineral supplies
![Steamboat Hills and Galena II geothermal power plant, Nevada.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/35618250235_ab30139202_k.jpg?itok=_5hJf1HI)
Low-temperature geothermal resources and thermal energy storage are both identified as hugely under-utilized. Geothermal resources could grow to supply more than 320 GWth of heating and cooling by 2050. USGS can provide critical assessment maps for the full range of geothermal resource types, can contribute to identified technological improvements for the characterization of resources, and can develop products that can aid the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other regulatory agencies in streamlining their permitting processes. Shortened permitting timelines are identified as a critical factor for effective geothermal development, and appropriate products generated by this project will aid partners in the decision-making process.
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Data associated with this project
Three-dimensional temperature model of the Great Basin, USA
GeoDAWN: Airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys of the northwestern Great Basin, Nevada and California
Maps of elevation trend and detrended elevation for the Great Basin, USA
Mineralogy, strontium (87Sr/86Sr), oxygen (18O/16O) and carbon (13C/12C) isotope composition, elemental concentrations, and U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park, USA
Chemical and isotopic composition of gas, water, and solids from the 2019-2020 water lake in Halema’uma’u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Provisional Multi-GAS Volcanic Gas Monitoring Data, Obsidian Pool thermal area, Yellowstone National Park
Regional geophysical maps of the Great Basin, USA
Elemental and Strontium Isotopic Composition of Select Central Plateau and Upper Basin Member Rhyolites, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
Geothermal resource favorability: select features and predictions for the western United States curated for DOI 10.1016/j.geothermics.2023.102662
Radiocarbon dating of silicified wood from around Steamboat Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, 2021-2022
Sr and U concentrations and radiogenic isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) of thermal waters, streamflow, travertine, and rock samples along with U-Th disequilibrium ages for travertine deposits from various locations in Yellowstone National Park,
Water-Chemistry and Isotope Data for Selected Springs, Geysers, Streams, and Rivers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Three-dimensional geologic map the southeastern Gabbs Valley geothermal area, Nevada
![Click on image for full description.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/EM-EarthMRI-Infographics-NV-v8-hr.png?itok=EjGqL548)
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to conduct airborne geophysical and 3DEP lidar surveys over parts of Nevada and California to collect information on undiscovered geothermal, criti
Publications associated with this project
Characterizing structure in southern Summer Lake valley, Oregon using ground- and sUAS-based potential field geophysics
Updated three-dimensional temperature maps for the Great Basin, USA
Predicting large hydrothermal systems
We train five models using two machine learning (ML) regression algorithms (i.e., linear regression and XGBoost) to predict hydrothermal upflow in the Great Basin. Feature data are extracted from datasets supporting the INnovative Geothermal Exploration through Novel Investigations Of Undiscovered Systems project (INGENIOUS). The label data (the reported convective signals) are extracted from meas
Don’t Let Negatives Hold You Back: Accounting for Underlying Physics and Natural Distributions of Hydrothermal Systems When Selecting Negative Training Sites Leads to Better Machine Learning Predictions
Selecting negative training sites is an important challenge to resolve when utilizing machine learning (ML) for predicting hydrothermal resource favorability because ideal models would discriminate between hydrothermal systems (positives) and all types of locations without hydrothermal systems (negatives). The Nevada Machine Learning project (NVML) fit an artificial neural network to identify area
Cursed? Why one does not simply add new data sets to supervised geothermal machine learning models
Recent advances in machine learning (ML) identifying areas favorable to hydrothermal systems indicate that the resolution of feature data remains a subject of necessary improvement before ML can reliably produce better models. Herein, we consider the value of adding new features or replacing other, low-value features with new input features in existing ML pipelines. Our previous work identified st
Exploratory analysis of machine learning techniques in the Nevada geothermal play fairway analysis
Effect of thermal and mechanical processes on hydraulic transmissivity evolution
When less is more: How increasing the complexity of machine learning strategies for geothermal energy assessments may not lead toward better estimates
New maps of conductive heat flow in the Great Basin, USA: Separating conductive and convective influences
Effects of structure and volcanic stratigraphy on groundwater and surface water flow: Hat Creek basin, California, USA
Geochemistry and fluxes of gases from hydrothermal features at Newberry Volcano, Oregon, USA
Violent groundwater eruption triggered by a distant earthquake
Web tools associated with this project
Western United States Geothermal Favorability
This map shows identified medium and high temperature geothermal systems and relative favorability for additional systems in the western United States.