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November 26, 2009

Oklahoma Geological Survey to play role in geothermal energy search

Transcript Staff

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu recently announced awards totaling $338 million, with $17.79 million from the Department of Energy (DOE) going to a coalition of 40 state geological surveys to produce a new National Geothermal Data System with relevant state-specific geothermal data.

In Oklahoma that effort is led by the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS), a state agency for research and public service that is affiliated with the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy at the University of Oklahoma.

The coalition of state surveys was organized by the Association of American State Geologists. As a member of the coalition, the OGS will collect data from across the state and incorporate the information into the National Geothermal Data System.

Dr. Randy Keller, Oklahoma's state geologist and director of the OGS, said he believes the project is perfect for his agency.

"This work will greatly enhance our efforts to compile drilling data that will help to understand the geothermal resource potential in Oklahoma," he said. "It's exciting to be part of this national effort by the state geological surveys and to address a critical database need that will produce an energy resource analysis for Oklahoma and the country."

Compiling state-specific geothermal data in an integrated and widely searchable data system is expected to drive renewed efforts to identify, assess and exploit geothermal energy resources across America. This national collaboration of state and federal agencies, universities, and industry has the goal of helping reshape America's energy landscape, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and leverage non-renewable petroleum resources well into the 21st century.

AASG already is a partner in the Geothermal Data Coalition, based at Boise State University, to design and build the National Geothermal Data System under contract to DOE. AASG member surveys will adapt the Geoscience Information Network (www.usgin.org) to provide data discovery, access and exchange services as a component in the developing data system. Other components include a data repository, software applications, vocabularies, data content, network operations and communications and Web portals.

GIN is a collaboration between AASG and the U.S. Geological Survey to integrate geological survey data bases using Web services and open source standards in a distributed system. The Arizona Geological Survey is the designated lead agency in building GIN for the nation's geological surveys and will manage the DOE-funded effort for AASG to populate the NGDS.

All of the 123 other geothermal projects funded are expected to integrate their data into the NGDS as well. Another of the projects funded was a geophysical study in Nevada to be undertaken by Dr. Katie Keranen, an assistant professor in OU's ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics.

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