Pouring Water Into a Volcano To Generate Power 321
Hugh Pickens writes "Until recently, geothermal power systems have exploited only resources where naturally occurring heat, water, and rock permeability are sufficient to allow energy extraction. Now, geothermal energy developers plan use a new technology called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) to pump 24 million gallons of water into the side of the dormant Newberrry Volcano, located about 20 miles south of Bend, Oregon, in an effort to use the earth's heat to generate power. 'We know the heat is there,' says Susan Petty, president of AltaRock Energy, Inc. of Seattle. 'The big issue is can we circulate enough water through the system to make it economic.' Since natural cracks and pores do not allow economic flow rates, the permeability of the volcanic rock can be enhanced with EGS by pumping high-pressure cold water down an injection well into the rock, creating tiny fractures in the rock, a process known as hydroshearing. Then cold water is pumped down production wells into the reservoir, and the steam is drawn out. Natural geothermal resources only account for about 0.3 percent of U.S. electricity production, but a 2007 Massachusetts Institute of Technology report projected EGS could bump that to 10 percent within 50 years, at prices competitive with fossil-fuels. 'The important question we need to answer now,' says USGS geophysicist Colin Williams, 'is how geothermal fits into the renewable energy picture, and how EGS fits. How much it is going to cost, and how much is available.'"
Renewable energy is a myth. (Score:2, Funny)
In the long run the universe will achieve heat death.
Re:They're going to frack a Volcano? (Score:5, Funny)
Look at it this way. It's a low emissions way to generate power which will help combat global warming.
OR
It will set off the volcano and release particles into the atmosphere which will combat global warming.
It's all good!
Re:Renewable energy is a myth. (Score:5, Funny)
From what we have observed of the universe, yes, that does appear to be the long term diagnosis.
In the short-term, though, I'm more worried about the Sun undergoing its projected expansion phase (in a few billion years), or human beings accidentally finding a way to stop the Earth's dynamo (that one actually keeps me up at night).
Pouring water into volcanos... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I heard the same thing about the German V2 (Score:5, Funny)
There were apparently theories that the upper atmosphere was uncombined hydrogen and oxygen, and that there was a chance a V2 going high enough would set it off. Lotta nerve there.
They also must have thought that all those countless meteors must be really polite to respect the "no smoking" warnings every time they are flying throught that layer.
Volcano God want ... (Score:5, Funny)
Volcano God plenty angry now. Flatten peasants' puny city.
Re:They're going to frack a Volcano? (Score:5, Funny)
What could possibly go wrong . . .
Michael Bay is inspired for a new movie?
Re:Volcano God want ... (Score:5, Funny)
You are recruiting in the right place.
If the volcano gods want attractive virgins I think you are out of luck.
Re:yea (Score:2, Funny)
[...] the Deepwater Horizon spill was stopped in a few short months. [...]
I'm pretty sure they were normal-duration months.
Re:yea (Score:5, Funny)