A Supercritical Geothermal Inventory For New Zealand ?

As part of workstreams led by GNS Science in New Zealand’s Geothermal the Next Generation research programme there is an activity to develop an inventory of supercritical resource potential, assets and infrastructure, seeking to establish the nation’s supercritical geothermal potential.

This paper assembles process methodologies developed in selected nations, comparing and contrasting approaches, working to assist New Zealand researchers in identifying an appropriate assessment methodology to implement in the New Zealand context.

The work references the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) incorporating Specifications for its Application to Geothermal Resources with the paper identifying notional projects under the UNFC framework. This methodology may allow an overall estimate and classification of New Zealand’s supercritical Geothermal Energy Resources. These notional projects might be able to adequately classified to be relevant however it must be held lightly because none of the supercritical prospects in New Zealand are linked to defined projects.

The paper details the approach that the New Zealand researchers are pursuing.