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Geothermal Technologies Program

Geothermal Technologies Program. Doug Hollett Geothermal Technologies Program Manager Kate Young NREL Principal Investigator. April 25, 2013. Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap Project Review. Meeting Agenda. Status Update Roadmap Content Analyses Web Interface White Papers

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Geothermal Technologies Program

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  1. Geothermal Technologies Program Doug Hollett Geothermal Technologies Program Manager Kate Young NREL Principal Investigator April 25, 2013 Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap Project Review

  2. Meeting Agenda Status Update • Roadmap Content • Analyses • Web Interface • White Papers Moving Forward

  3. GRR Content Colorado • Colorado agency/industry review: March 6, 2013 • Completed  through agency and legal review • Now available online Texas • Texas agency/industry review: planned June 12, 2013 • Content currently under development Permitting Analysis Web Interface Technology White Papers Future Plans Roadmap

  4. GRR Content: Colorado Permitting Concerns Permitting Analysis Web Interface Technology White Papers Future Plans Roadmap

  5. Permitting Analyses FY13 FY12 FY14andBeyond Industry Agencies Congress Agencies OUTCOMES NREL/DOE Reduce Permitting Time Develop Framework Collect Data Develop Language Enact Law/ Policy Bring People Together Increase # of Projects Lower LCOE Industry Agencies Identify Game Changers Conduct Analyses Congress Agencies Increase Deployment • Centralized location for all permitting Analyze effectiveness of currently operating centralized permitting Collect NEPA data and conduct analysis • Reduce NEPA permitting time • Cost Recovery/ • Permit Fees Provide analysis of successful cost recovery programs Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  6. Permitting Analyses: Permit Coordination Office Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  7. Analysis Suggestions? • Suggestions for current analyses? • Other ideas for analyses? • Anything else? Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  8. Permitting Analyses: Cost Recovery Mechanisms Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  9. Analysis Suggestions? • Suggestions for current analyses? • Other ideas for analyses? • Anything else? Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  10. Permitting Analyses: NEPA Data NEPA Data • Populating a catalog of more than • 150 recent geothermal NEPA documents • NEPAdocuments collected from: • BLM, USFS, BOR, DOE • Includes all phases of development: • Information can be sorted, analyzed and compared by different criteria, such as by type of planned activity, by state or field office, by type of NEPA document Land Use Planning Exploration Well Field Power Plant Transmission Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  11. NEPA: List of Suggested Data to Collect • Administrative Data • Agency (State, Office, Document Number/Serial Number, leases) • Project Data • Applicant, Project Name, Project Type (Exploration, Drilling/Field Development, Utilization) • Scope (brief narrative) • Type of Analysis • Casual Use • Determination of NEPA Adequacy • Categorical Exclusion • Environmental Assessment • Environmental Analysis • Consultation, Special Interest and Concerns • Wildlife: Critical Habitat, Special Status Species • Cultural Resources • Visual Resources • Timelines/Action Dates • Application date • Public Notice • Decision • Processing Time Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  12. 1. Provide data for future NEPA Analyses • User Story • BLM field office receives application for a reflective seismic survey. Agency personnel, including geothermal permit processing agent, specialists (biologist, cultural specialist, etc.) are unfamiliar with reflective seismic surveys or their potential impacts. • Database Input • Users search for “reflective seismic survey.” • Basic information is provided about the survey, including how it is conducted, timeframes, output information, etc., • Links are provided for further information and potential “training” (videos, presentations, papers, etc.) • Lists of previous NEPA analyses conducted for reflective seismic surveys are listed, including dates, timeframes, locations, impacted species and stipulations • Impact • The collection of this information helps to: • Reduce misunderstanding about potential activity impacts • Provide consistency among NEPA analyses conducted for similar activities • Potentially reduce time required to determine impacts and stipulations Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  13. 2. Aid in Development of Categorical Exclusions Definition Categorical exclusion means a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment ... and ... for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. 40 CFR 1508.4 Note that a categorical exclusion can significantly reduce NEPA time requirements Typical CE 3 months Typical EA 10 months Categorical exclusions (CEs) are actions which meet the definition contained in 40 CFR 1508.4, and, based on past experience with similar actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts. They are actions which: do not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area, do not require the relocation of significant numbers of people; do not have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resource; do not involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts; do not have significant impacts on travel patterns; and do not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental impacts. 23 CFR 771.117(a) Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  14. 2. Aid in Development of Categorical Exclusions • Categorical exclusions (CX) are developed based on previous experience, so collecting information from existing geothermal NEPA documents for similar actions (e.g. specific exploration or drilling activities) can be the basis for development of categorical exclusions for geothermal. • CXs can be: • Implemented by administrative policies • Mandated by congress (Sec. 390 EPAct of 2005 for O&G) or through agency regulations. • Developed during land use planning process and within NEPA documents for multiple well and development projects, that provides for the use of individual CXs or determination of NEPA adequacy (DNA). • Providing the upfront data collection and analysis can provide the federal agencies the data needed for development of categorical exclusions. Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  15. Permitting Analyses: NEPA 1 DOI Department Manual 516 11 (6) 2 EPAct 2005, Title III-Oil and Gas, Sec. 390-& BLM IM 2005-247 3 32 CFR 220.6(e)(8) 4 10 CFR 1021 (b) 5 Small facilities only 6DOI Department Manual 516 6.5 Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  16. GEOTHERMAL POWER NEPA Document: EA at Brady Hot Springs (DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2012-0057-EA) Proposed Action Ormat’swell 15-12, located north of the Hot Springs Mountains, approximately 50 miles northeast of Reno, in Churchill County, Nevada; T. 22 N., R. 26 E., sec. 12 (Figure 1), was installed in April 2007 to serve as a production well; however, further testing revealed that the well does not have sufficient hydraulic connections with the geothermal reservoir and it has since remained inactive. Ormat proposes to implement a hydro-stimulation program (EGS) to increase energy production by enhancing natural hydraulic connections within the existing hydrothermal system. Hydro-stimulation involves creating better hydraulic connections by injecting cool geothermal water (temperatures ranging from 90-140°F) to further open the existing network of minute cracks in the rocks deep underground, where natural fractures already occur. During the process, geothermal water produced from the geothermal production wells and processed at the geothermal plant would be injected at wellhead pressures less than 1,400 pounds per square inch at depths ranging from approximately 4,245 to 5,096 feet below ground surface. The stimulation plan outlines the injection of cool geothermal water into three vertical intervals at varying pressures over a period of approximately three weeks. The increase in pressure would also accompany a pulsing of the rate of injection. Tracer compounds would be injected at specific times during the stimulation to identify movement of geothermal fluid in real time. Additional details are provided in the Tracer Testing section of the report. Applicant-Proposed Environmental Protection Measures Impacts Mitigation Conditions of Approval Link to Document: https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/nepa/34003/42110/44613/2013-1-11_Brady_Hydro-Stimulation_EA.pdf Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Printable version Permanent link Browse properties

  17. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Geothermal Technique: Hydro-Shearing NEPA (2) Details Activities (9) Areas(2) Regions(0) Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Printable version Permanent link Browse properties

  18. Analysis Suggestions? • Suggestions for current analyses? • Other ideas for analyses? • Other ideas for displaying results? • Anything else? Web Interface Roadmap Technology White Papers Future Plans Permitting Analysis

  19. Technical White Papers Task Description: Develop technology characterizations of geothermal technologies to help educate agency personnel on the technical details, field operations, environmental impacts and permitting issues. General Outline: Introduction Technology Description 2.1 Technology Overview 2.2 Technology Features Environmental Impacts and Permitting Issues 3.1 Environmental Impact Screening Criteria 3.2 Potential Environmental Consequences 3.3 Permitting Requirements and Issues Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Future Plans Technical White Papers

  20. Technical White Papers - Topics FY13 White Paper Topics FY14 White Paper Topics Hydraulic Stimulation: • Multi-Stage Stimulation • Zonal Isolation • Diverters • Chemical Stimulation Downhole Fluids: • Stimulation Fluids • Tracers • Working Fluids • Nanotechnologies Production Drilling and Well Completion: • Drilling Muds • Casing • Cementing • BOPs • Injection Wells • Advanced Drilling Techniques • Step-Outs • Lateral/Horizontal Drilling Geophysical Surveys: • Seismic • MT • Gravity Reservoir Engineering: • Well Characterization Techniques • Flow Tests • Down-hole Methods • Induction of Fluid Flow Exploratory Drilling: • Temperature Gradient Holes (TGH) • 2M Probe Surveys • Slimhole Drilling Produced Fluids • Re-Injection • On-Site Treatment • Shipment for Treatment Geoscientific Surveys • Geological • Human Observation • Geochemical • Remote Sensing Other Stimulation: • Chemical Stimulation • Explosive Stimulation • Rock Mechanics • Fracture Propagation Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Future Plans Technical White Papers

  21. Technical White Papers Schedule April 25, 2013

  22. White Paper Suggestions? • Suggestions for current topics? • Other ideas for outlines? • Anything else? Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Future Plans Technical White Papers

  23. Web Interface: Updates Recent Updates to OpenEI • Link to roadmap from Geothermal Gateway • Roadmap pages now are available: by state, by technology • Makes documents more accessible • New pages will be the support behind the new web interface • Wizard interface (Turbo-Tax-like interface) – in process; plan to have mock-ups by next quarterly meeting Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Technology White Papers Future Plans

  24. Web Interface: State Pages Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Technology White Papers Future Plans

  25. Web Interface: Technology Pages Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Technology White Papers Future Plans

  26. Upcoming Plans • Finalize paper #1 (Hydraulic Stimulation) • Draft and finalize papers #2-5 Upcoming Plans Web Interface Roadmap Permitting Analysis Technology White Papers

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