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Top Words project principal investigator briefs commission on geothermal testing, additional wells and water-rights request
Summary
Principal investigator Joe Moore updated commissioners on recent and upcoming geothermal operations including new seismic wells, a planned research-and-development circulation test, pump orders, and a pending water-rights increase request; a congressional subcommittee hearing was also mentioned.
Joe Moore, identified in the meeting as principal investigator for the "Top Words" geothermal project, and colleagues gave a detailed operational update on geothermal research and testing plans on state-managed sites.
Moore said the project recently completed two new 1,000-foot seismic wells, replaced two lost monitoring sites and continues to monitor seismicity in coordination with the state hazard seismologist, Chris Ankel. Moore outlined upcoming work: a rig to fish stuck cable and to clear deviated wells; a week-long research-and-development campaign in August followed by a four-month circulation test to measure how quickly reservoir temperatures decline under circulation. The team said four large horizontal centrifugal pumps had been ordered for the full circulation test.
Moore reported that a recent 30-day test achieved approximately 90% water recovery, and the project team said they had applied to increase annual water authorization from 50 acre-feet to 100 acre-feet on a fixed-term application through 02/1931 (as stated in the meeting); they said the request still must go through public comment and regulatory approval. Staff noted the produced geothermal fluid is not potable and could not be used for domestic or agricultural use.
Moore also mentioned planned drilling of another deep monitoring well (referred to as 16 c) and ongoing collaboration with university partners and federal grant sources. He said he expects to testify at a May 12 Subcommittee on Energy hearing related to permitting and rural research issues and invited commissioners to visit the site when operations begin in May.
Why this matters: the tests are designed to measure reservoir performance and longevity — key variables for potential commercial geothermal development and future energy projects that could affect local land use, water use and economic development.
