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Fossil Fuel and Geothermal Energy Sources for Local Use in Alaska Chapter I, Northwest Arctic indicate insufficient maturity has been reached to generate thermogenic gas (Decker and others, 1987). There is evidence for mature source rocks in the western Brooks Range and it is conceivable some gas is trapped in low-porosity sandstone or limestone. However, the repeated episodes of folding and faulting that have affected this area diminish the probability of a trap maintaining its integrity. Shale gas. Similar to tight gas, noted above, most of the region lacks the identified source rocks necessary for a successful shale gas petroleum system. The exception is within the western Brooks Range (northwestern part of the region), where organic-rich, Mississippian-age mudstones are recognized to contain gas trapped in a self-sourcing system. The large Red Dog Mine received State approval for a multi- well exploration program to explore for this resource, hoping to replace or defray the escalating cost of diesel fuel (Alaska Division of Oil & Gas, 2006). The targeted shales have good to excellent total organic carbon contents (up to 15 percent) and measured gas contents ranging from ~16 to 65 scf/ton, comparable to many successful shale-gas fields in the Lower 48. As noted in the description of this resource type (see Chapter A), successful production of this gas will require the rock to be manually fractured to induce permeability and flow. In addition, substantial volumes of water would be produced and appropriate disposal of this water must be considered in evaluating exploration costs. Although the preliminary results from the shale gas exploration around Red Dog have been promising, it is unclear how extensive this resource might be. Similar rocks are known across the western Brooks Range, although the only villages situated nearby are Noatak and possibly Kivalina. Gas hydrates. Gas hydrates are found in a narrow range of modern environments and only occur within specific temperature and pressure conditions. Presently, Alaska’s North Slope appears to be the only onshore region with sufficient permafrost to preserve methane hydrate. Geothermal resource potential There are limited data regarding the geothermal prospectivity of the region, but regional geologic considerations indicate several conditions are present that commonly lead to elevated near-surface temperatures. These include evidence for recent crustal extension, geologically young volcanic activity, and possibly elevated geothermal gradient of about 104°F (40°C) (Fisher, 1988). However, these characteristics by themselves do not result in an exploitable resource. Only three recognized thermal springs lie within the region (sheet 2): The Reed River, Upper Division, and Lower Division springs (Motyka and others, 1983). The Reed River occurrence (Pessel, 1975) is in the easternmost part of the region, but its protected land status (Gates of the Arctic National Park) precludes future development. The Division hot springs are located in the southeastern part of the region in the Purcell Mountains, approximately 40 miles south of the villages of Kobuk and Shungnak. This family of springs issues at very high rates (up to 547 gallons per minute) from an unusually radioactive pluton (Miller and Johnson, 1978). Although this flow rate is promising, measured temperatures of less than 158°F (70°C) are below the threshold required for modern small power generation units (Kolker, 2009). The Seward Peninsula area of the adjacent Bering Energy Region has several prospective geothermal resources that may benefit the Northwest Arctic Energy Region. Of particular note is the Granite Mountain hot spring approximately 40 miles south of Buckland. The characteristics of this occurrence are similar to the Division hot springs in terms of possessing excellent flow rates, but sub-optimal temperatures. RECOMMENDATIONS Coal resource recommendations The Northwest Arctic Energy Region contains widely spaced Cretaceous and Cenozoic coal occurrences that should be considered as a potentially viable source of energy for local use. Not all occurrences are located near villages (figs. I2–I4), and it is recommended that any future work focus on those coals that might most economically serve regional needs. Many of the coals in the area have not been adequately evaluated; the following discussion offers some general comments on the potential for locally developing coal as an energy source and highlights additional work that might mitigate risk and improve the knowledge of this resource. Significantly more geologic information is needed to reliably assess the Cretaceous coal prospects. Although the bituminous rank is promising, the lateral continuity of coal beds and correlations between outcrops remain unknown. Additional surface fieldwork, such as detailed geologic mapping and stratigraphic studies, might offer some first- order constraints on the geologic context of these coals, although ultimately drilling would likely be required to delineate this resource. The generalized map pattern shown for the Cretaceous coal-bearing strata (Patton and Miller, 1968) is perhaps misleading with respect to the structural complexity of the area. As noted by the authors in text discussions, the Waring Mountains and Kobuk River area has been significantly deformed as evidenced by numerous tight folds and high-angle faults, many of which could not be depicted at the reconnaissance scale of that mapping. These complications are relevant as they add significant risk to development mining where the orientation of the target seam is difficult to predict or is abruptly offset by faulting. Despite these caveats, it is possible there are sufficient Cretaceous coal deposits for local energy use, particularly those villages that might be served by shipments along the Kobuk and Singauruk rivers. It is noteworthy that some of the coal occurrences in the Kobuk region are within designated National Park lands and likely unavailable for mine development. Page 89 Northwest ArcticPDF Image | FOSSIL FUEL AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SOURCES FOR LOCAL USE
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