MAPPING OPTIMUM LOCATIONS FOR GEOTHERMAL POWER PRODUCTION: COLORADO, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, NEBRASKA, AND NORTH DAKOTA

The Denver, Illinois, Michigan, and Williston sedimentary basins were evaluated using a Play Fairway Analysis methodology to identify optimum locations for Geothermal Power Production. These regions have been previously assessed for thermal energy in place, and that information, along with gravity anomaly information, magnetic intensity, and DEMs for slope analysis were incorporated into a geodatabase for map generation. The raster layers were reclassified into nine classes each, with high geothermal gradient, low magnetic intensity, low Bouger anomaly, and low slope receiving the highest values. The layers were then weighted using a matrix weight assignment similar to that used in the Environmental Protection Agency’s DRASTIC water pollution model, and combined with the ‘Raster Algebra’ tool. Areas of greatest potential were identified and overlaid on a topographical map layer. This shows locations where temperature will be highest at the lowest depths in regions of soft sediments, refining the map creation process.