DOSECC

Project HOTSPOT Completed

The Snake River Scientific Drilling Project began in September 2010. This project will explore the interaction between the Earth's mantle and crust by collecting drill core at three sites in southern Idaho, USA.

The project also will implement and test a range of geophysical and geologic approaches to geothermal exploration and establish the central Snake River Plain as a viable target for the production of geothermal energy that is close to fast growing urban centers in southern Idaho and northern Utah. The slim-hole exploration wells drilled by DOSECC will be used to document thermal resources and to provide a lithologic and stratigraphic context for interpretation of the data obtained in Phase 1.

Phase 1 studies included surface mapping, shallow seismic surveys, potential field surveys (gravity and magnetics), compilation of existing well data, and the construction of three dimension structure sections. Phase 2 will comprise two intermediate depth (1.5-1.6 km) slim-hole exploration wells with a full suite of geophysical borehole logs and a vertical seismic profile to extrapolate stratigraphy encountered in the well into the surrounding terrain. Both of the exploration wells will be fully cored to preserve a complete record of the volcanic stratigraphy that can be used in complementary science projects. This project will function in tandem with Project Hotspot, a continental scientific drilling project that focuses on the origin and evolution of the Yellowstone hotspot. DOSECC will drill one exploration well in conjunction with the HOTSPOT project.

In addition, samples will be used to examine multiple proxies for paleo-climate and paleo-environmental change in continuous Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary records of deep 'paleo-Lake Idaho'. Fine clay-silt lacustrine deposits up to several hundred meters thick extend over 250 km in eastern SRP and contain evidence for endemic aquatic species evolution and cyclic changes of regional vegetation. Microfossil and geochemical analyses, logging and signal processing techniques on these long records will provide important benchmark record for late Pliocene climatic evolution in the northern hemisphere.

Utah State University project website

DOE project website

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