272-2 Mapping of Ambient Low-temperature Geothermal Resources Associated with Aquifer and Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract:

A method is described for assessing Ambient Low-Temperature (<90 °C) Geothermal Resources of Groundwater (AmbLT) and Aquifer and Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage (ATES and RTES, respectively).  It is demonstrated that these resources are end-members of a single resource that grade continuously into each other with geologic position or technologies applied.  The method can be used to create maps of regionally distributed resource potential in terms of annualized thermal energy density (joules per square meter) or annual heating and cooling supply density (watts-thermal per square meter).  The method is demonstrated for the RTES resource potential for the Columbia River Basalts underlying the Columbia Plateau, USA, providing a map of estimated total resource for seasonal heating and cooling energy assuming a maximum allowable thermal departure of 10 °C.  The extended implication is that there are potentially terra-watts of seasonal heating and cooling that could be supplied for the USA.  Resource development projects nationwide may use the simplified estimation methodology described herein as an approximation of local resource potential, but site-scale characterization is necessary to handle the more complex reality.   

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 5, 2026

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026AM-15888

© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.