Hydrothermal Systems
Hydrothermal resources consist of heat, groundwater, and specific rock features that allow fluid movement, such as open fractures. Water and steam under pressure in hydrothermal reservoirs can exceed temperatures of 375°C, providing a viable resource for power generation. Hydrothermal systems generally occur along tectonic plate boundaries, providing potential energy resources in both remote and densely populated areas. RESPEC has completed work worldwide to assist in heating and power generation, harnessing hot water and steam from these reservoirs.
Project Spotlight
Salton Sea, CA, U.S.
Completed in 2012, this power plant marked the first new development in California's Salton Sea geothermal field in nearly 20 years.
Ngatamariki, New Zealand
RESPEC engineers led exploration and drill design, ultimately proving the economic viability of what is currently the largest binary power plant in the world.
Fiale, Ethiopia
RESPEC engineers provided project management and assessed the commercial viability of power production in East Africa.
Laudat, Dominica
RESPEC provided drilling engineering and supervision, well testing, and resource assessment activities for exploration, injection, and production wells.
Differences between hydrothermal and sedimentary geothermal systems
- Heat flow in hydrothermal systems is convection dominated (reservoir temperatures are nearly constant over a large vertical section).
- In sedimentary systems, low-permeability horizontal layers prevent convective systems from forming, so heat transfer occurs by conduction through the rock, resulting in temperatures that increase linearly with depth.
- Fluid flow in hydrothermal systems is typically fracture dominated, whereas flow in sedimentary geothermal systems is characterized by Darcy flow through a permeable, porous medium.