Application of Geologic Mapping in Geothermal Energy

Nolan Dellerman, a geologist with Cyrq Energy, discusses his background and work related to geothermal energy.
AGI's Early Career Professionals in Mapping Webinar Series features early career geoscience professionals who share their work related to mapping, especially geologic mapping, and experiences entering the geoscience community.
This webinar series is geared towards high school students and the general public. There will be time for live questions from the audience. The webinars will be recorded and posted on AGI's website and UA-cam channel.
This webinar series is generously supported by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program.

[@zack_120]

Geofield researchers/ surveyers are our heroes under challenging conditions 👍🙏✌️👏
A couole of highlights:
14:14- 👍
18:18

[@zack_120]

45:19- Wow, how did the cold SE Minnesota area get that lot of geothermal E? This map contrasts with the earlier red heat map where the heat concentrated in the SW states.

[@nolandellerman]

Thanks for the interest!
This map at 45:19 is depicting the outlook of geothermal heat pumps not the use of geothermal for electricity production. Heat pumps can be deployed basically anywhere and do not require a subsurface heat anomaly to take advantage of. It is likely that since SE Minnesota has such a cold climate, the pay off of residential heat pump systems is substantial.

[@ninjalanternshark1508]

What is up with the hotspot in south-central South Dakota?

[@nolandellerman]

This is a fantastic question, because I simply do not know! I would be excited to one day investigate that heat anomaly and understand it!

[@kimlibera663]

Where would you say the most prominent geotherm sites are in the US: Basin & Range, Sierra Nevada, AZ-NM (dormant volcanos).

[@nolandellerman]

In my bias and humble opinion, the best sites for geothermal in the US are the Basin and Range. This is due to the relative size and distribution of potential geothermal resources compared to anywhere else in North America. Parts of AZ and NM do fall within the Basin and Range tectonic province, which alludes to the vast size and ultimate potential of the region.

[@christophvonknobelsdorff1936]

🙏👍

[@yaniraespin9668]

Sorry, who is his sponsor researching needs too money.

[@nolandellerman]

I work for a for profit geothermal energy producer. So we are not sponsored by research grants and the like.