Discovery and analysis of a blind geothermal system in southeastern Gabbs Valley, western Nevada, USA

This study assessed the potential for a high-temperature blind geothermal system in southeastern Gabbs Valley, an area with no previous geothermal exploration, by utilizing geothermal play fairway analysis. Gabbs Valley is a structurally complex, tectonically active basin occupying a transtensional displacement transfer zone. Multiple lines of evidence suggest the presence of a blind geothermal system, including collocated intersecting gravity gradients, magnetic-low, low-resistivity, 2-m temperature anomaly, and 130–140 °C geothermometers obtained from nearby agricultural wells. Six 150 m-deep temperature-gradient holes were drilled to target the geophysical and thermal anomalies. Two holes produced bottom-hole temperatures of 114.5 °C and 124.9 °C. Drilling results establish the discovery of a blind geothermal system. Power estimates based on resource conceptual models of the geothermal system suggest a median (P50) capacity of ∼16 MWe.