EVALUATION OF GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL FOR SELECTED RESOURCES IN THE RIO GRANDE RIFT: DONA ANA COUNTY

The University of North Dakota Geothermal Laboratory Student Team determined there was substantial geothermal potential for selected resources in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. We determined this using a combination of literature reviews and digitized map layers in ArcGIS. The potential for direct use, district heating, binary power production, EGS power production and flash steam power production were considered. The depth to the 150°C isotherm ranges from less than 1 km to approximately 5.5 km in Doña Ana County and thus all the considered types of geothermal resource use are viable. The Radium Springs area was determined to have the greatest potential within the county due the combination of resources, infrastructure, and potential markets.

Examined attributes included geologic structures, heat flow, aquifer depths, water resources, physiography, infrastructure, archeological and cultural considerations, environmental considerations, land ownership, populations and target markets, and economic and legal incentives. The areas we examined closely were the Rincon area, East Mesa in Las Cruces, the Radium Springs area, and the Kilborne Hole area.