Great Basin Current Geothermal Exploration Activity

Current Geothermal Exploration Activity in the Great Basin


Information from some of the active Great Basin geothermal exploration projects can be viewed either from the project list (below) or from an interactive map. The interactive map opens into a new window so you can view the project list and the map simultaneously. Keep in mind that although we try and verify this exploration data, we cannot ensure it's validity.

	CLICK HERE to view our interactive map of current geothermal exploration activity in the Great Basin
		Here are links to other sources of current Great Basin exploration activity:
			Nevada Geothermal Update, from the Nevada Department of Minerals
			Geothermal Newsletter, from Geothermal-biz.com
			Links page of the Great Basin Center

ACTIVE EXPLORATION PROJECTS - UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2009

Big Smoky Valley Truckee Geothermal Truckee Geothermal, a division of Raser Technologies, controls this this property in T12N and T13N, R43E (Nye County). No news since last update.

Black Warrior, NV      Nevada Geothermal Located in T23N, R25E, Section 8 (BLM) plus seven square miles of private land. Previous drilling has indicated a high geothermal gradient and a 128^o C at 552 m depth. NGP plans continued exploration in 2009. See synopsis and article with maps.

Blue Mountain, NV     Nevada Geothermal Financing has been finalized and construction of the 49.5 MW powerplant should be completed by the end of 2009. Also see article with maps.

Buffalo Valley, NV Ormat Nevada Ormat is currently drilling production wells for a proposed 24MW power plant here.

Carson Lake, NV   Ormat Nevada Sierra Pacific Power (now NV Energy) signs a JV agreement with ORMAT to jointly develop this property adjacent to the Fallon Naval air station if ORMAT can demonstrate >30 MW production.

Crump Geyser, OR Nevada Geothermal Company acquires 6500 acres of private land, including the geyser, inside the former KGRA area. The geyser well has 122^o C water at 10 m depth, at local springs have geothermometer temperatures of 170^o C. See article. NGP plans on continued exploration work in 2009.

Fallon Naval Air Station Navy and Ormat sign an agreement to develop the geothermal potential at Fallon Naval Base, including a proposed ~30 MW power plant. See article. No news since last update.

Fish Lake Valley NV Esmeralda Energy/Geo-Energy Partners See synopsis. Download geospatial data. No news since last update.

Gerlach, NV       Gerlach Green Energy Gerlach Green Energy and U.S> Geothermal sign JV agreement to develop the Gerlach geothermal resource. U.S. Geothermal will contribute land and $2 million See article.

Glass Mountain, CA Calpine BLM and USFS permits are in place for 49 megawatt geothermap plant, (see synopsis), but project is encountering stiff cultural opposition. See protests. No news since last update.

Grass Valley, NV Ormat Nevada Ormat signed a 20 MW power purchase agreement with Nevada Power for electricity to be provided from its Grass Valley power plant to be in operation by late 2010. An observation well was drilled in February-March of 2007.

Hazen NV Lyon Co. GridUSA.biz and Vulcan Power See article. No news since last update. Several exploration drill rigs were observed on ground controlled by Vulcan Power Company in January 2009.

Humboldt House/Rye Patch Great Basin Center drills 5 temperature gradient wells in the Humboldt House - Florida Canyon Mine area in 2003. Click here and here for information. No news since last update.

Jersey Valley, NV Ormat Nevada Geothermal Unit Agreement gets OK from BLM May 10, 2007. ORMAT drilled several slim hole wells in 2007, has asked BLM for permission to drill additional wells. Click here for more information.

McGuiness Hills, NV Ormat Nevada Surface sinter is exposed in this former gold exploration property in Lander County. Drilling encountered hot water with high geothermometry temperatures. ORMAT submits Notice of Intent with BLM to drill 27 temperature gradient holes; comment period ends 2/13/09.

Moana Geothermal area Nevada Geothermal Utility Company Permit issued 4/25/06 to drill a production and injection well in Section 26 of T19N, R19E. No news since then. See http://nvgeothermal.com/index.shtml

Pumpernickel Valley NV Nevada Geothermal Sierra Geothermal drops option of to acquire 50% option on this 10.3 mi² leasehold in T33N R40E of Pumpernickel Valley from NGP. Wells have a maximum measured temperature of 135^oC with geothermometer estimates of 150^oC to 218^oC.

Pyramid Lake       Paiute Tribe Pyramid Lake energy project included data compilation, water sampling, the drilling of 3 temperature gradient holes, and a slim hole. No news since last update.

Raft River, ID            U.S. Geothermal 11 MW plant is now operating at 99.9% availability. DOE awards $9 million EGS grant. Click here for details.

Reese River           Sierra Geothermal Power This 25km² land package has wells with measured temperatures reaching 150^oC. No news since last update.

Rock Hill, NV        Ormat Nevada Ormat files to permit 7 production and 3 injection wells of 6000' TD. for this Esmeralda County property in T3N and T4N, R36E.

Salt Wells, NV         Enel North America and Vulcan Power
ENEL’s Salt Wells 15 MW power plant is nearing completion, projected for late April 2009 Vulcan Geothermal recently completed a $300,000 Schlumberger/EScan geophysical survey on the property, with promising results.

Stillwater, Nevada     Inel North America
ENEL’s new 35 MW power plant is scheduled for completion in late April 2009, and will eventually replace the older, smaller unit.

Willow Springs, ID Idatherm LLC No news since last update.

ACTIVE EXPLORATION PROJECTS - UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2009
Big Smoky Valley Truckee Geothermal	Truckee Geothermal, a division of Raser Technologies, controls this this property in T12N and T13N, R43E (Nye County). No news since last update.
Black Warrior, NV Nevada Geothermal	Located in T23N, R25E, Section 8 (BLM) plus seven square miles of private land. Previous drilling has indicated a high geothermal gradient and a 128^o C at 552 m depth. NGP plans continued exploration in 2009. See synopsis and article with maps.
Blue Mountain, NV Nevada Geothermal	Financing has been finalized and construction of the 49.5 MW powerplant should be completed by the end of 2009. Also see article with maps.
Buffalo Valley, NV Ormat Nevada	Ormat is currently drilling production wells for a proposed 24MW power plant here.
Carson Lake, NV Ormat Nevada	Sierra Pacific Power (now NV Energy) signs a JV agreement with ORMAT to jointly develop this property adjacent to the Fallon Naval air station if ORMAT can demonstrate >30 MW production.
Crump Geyser, OR Nevada Geothermal	Company acquires 6500 acres of private land, including the geyser, inside the former KGRA area. The geyser well has 122^o C water at 10 m depth, at local springs have geothermometer temperatures of 170^o C. See article. NGP plans on continued exploration work in 2009.
Fallon Naval Air Station	Navy and Ormat sign an agreement to develop the geothermal potential at Fallon Naval Base, including a proposed ~30 MW power plant. See article. No news since last update.
Fish Lake Valley NV Esmeralda Energy/Geo-Energy Partners	See synopsis. Download geospatial data. No news since last update.
Gerlach, NV Gerlach Green Energy	Gerlach Green Energy and U.S> Geothermal sign JV agreement to develop the Gerlach geothermal resource. U.S. Geothermal will contribute land and $2 million See article.
Glass Mountain, CA Calpine	BLM and USFS permits are in place for 49 megawatt geothermap plant, (see synopsis), but project is encountering stiff cultural opposition. See protests. No news since last update.
Grass Valley, NV Ormat Nevada	Ormat signed a 20 MW power purchase agreement with Nevada Power for electricity to be provided from its Grass Valley power plant to be in operation by late 2010. An observation well was drilled in February-March of 2007.
Hazen NV Lyon Co. GridUSA.biz and Vulcan Power	See article. No news since last update. Several exploration drill rigs were observed on ground controlled by Vulcan Power Company in January 2009.
Humboldt House/Rye Patch	Great Basin Center drills 5 temperature gradient wells in the Humboldt House - Florida Canyon Mine area in 2003. Click here and here for information. No news since last update.
Jersey Valley, NV Ormat Nevada	Geothermal Unit Agreement gets OK from BLM May 10, 2007. ORMAT drilled several slim hole wells in 2007, has asked BLM for permission to drill additional wells. Click here for more information.
McGuiness Hills, NV Ormat Nevada	Surface sinter is exposed in this former gold exploration property in Lander County. Drilling encountered hot water with high geothermometry temperatures. ORMAT submits Notice of Intent with BLM to drill 27 temperature gradient holes; comment period ends 2/13/09.
Moana Geothermal area Nevada Geothermal Utility Company	Permit issued 4/25/06 to drill a production and injection well in Section 26 of T19N, R19E. No news since then. See http://nvgeothermal.com/index.shtml
Pumpernickel Valley NV Nevada Geothermal	Sierra Geothermal drops option of to acquire 50% option on this 10.3 mi² leasehold in T33N R40E of Pumpernickel Valley from NGP. Wells have a maximum measured temperature of 135^oC with geothermometer estimates of 150^oC to 218^oC.
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe	Pyramid Lake energy project included data compilation, water sampling, the drilling of 3 temperature gradient holes, and a slim hole. No news since last update.
Raft River, ID U.S. Geothermal	11 MW plant is now operating at 99.9% availability. DOE awards $9 million EGS grant. Click here for details.
Reese River Sierra Geothermal Power	This 25km² land package has wells with measured temperatures reaching 150^oC. No news since last update.
Rock Hill, NV Ormat Nevada	Ormat files to permit 7 production and 3 injection wells of 6000' TD. for this Esmeralda County property in T3N and T4N, R36E.
Salt Wells, NV Enel North America and Vulcan Power	ENEL’s Salt Wells 15 MW power plant is nearing completion, projected for late April 2009 Vulcan Geothermal recently completed a $300,000 Schlumberger/EScan geophysical survey on the property, with promising results.
Stillwater, Nevada Inel North America	ENEL’s new 35 MW power plant is scheduled for completion in late April 2009, and will eventually replace the older, smaller unit.
Willow Springs, ID Idatherm LLC	No news since last update.