Jan 22 2010
Sierrra Geothermal Power, a company that explores and develops geothermal power, is developing the Silver Peak geothermal project. The project is situated in the Esmeralda County, Nevada. The total area of the project measures 32 square kilometers. Within the lease boundaries of the company, two transmission lines with 55 kilovolt capacity and a substation are present. The project area features many geothermal possibilities such as travertine manganese silica sinter deposits, geothermal vents, complex faulting, and fossilized algae mats.
The Silver Peak geothermal project location has shallow wells with a maximum temperature of 75 degrees Celsius at a depth of 21 meters or less. When the thermal waters were tested with chemical geo-thermometers, it indicated a temperature ranging from 200 to 230 degrees Celsius, at depth. The Bureau of Land Management has given Sierrra Geothermal Power a positive environmental assessment on the company’s proposed drilling and exploration plan.
The proposed work plan of the company includes geophysical surveys, drilling of both production assessment wells and additional temperature gradient wells. The company has completed significant transmission interconnection work for the drill-ready project. In addition, the company is also considering power purchase agreement options for the Silver Peak geothermal project. The independent assessment suggests that the project has 90 percent probability to produce 15 megawatts of power. The Silver Peak geothermal project is targeted to start production in the year 2012.