Experience

Gradient Geothermal Inc. has developed and refined many cutting-edge geothermal exploration techniques. These cost-effective and time-saving approaches allow Gradient Geothermal to quickly and accurately find high-profile targets for geothermal well drilling, especially in "blind" areas that have few surface indicators of geothermal activity.

Here are a few examples of the geothermal exploration approaches developed by Gradient Geothermal:

• Developed of "Gradient Gprobes" for temperature gradient surveys in lieu of hit-or-miss conventional and expensive drilling for geothermal reservoirs. This work evolved from working with the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada on geothermal exploration in the southwestern US.
• Developed computer techniques to evaluate regional terrains for geothermal potential in the western US, Alaska and Mexico (GIS, remote sensing).
• Designed deep, non-invasive geophysical exploration methods for geothermal evaluation and characterization. Designed field equipment and methodology to ensure a very cost-effective approach for geothermal development.
• Formed strategic alliances with companies developing geothermal power plants for use in lower temperature hot springs. These alliances allow using all strategies for fast track of power development.
• Developed a high-power induced polarization transmitter array for large scale temperature gradient and deep surveys for geothermal and mineral exploration. Worked on projects in Montana, Idaho and Nevada on deep electrical / IP surveys for identification of deep geothermal and mineral targets.
• Implemented the initial ground-based combination of high resolution magnetometer and VLF surveys in western US with equipment and computer software interpretation.
• Involved in the early stages of computer imaging and enhancements for high resolution airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey data for interpretation in the late 1980s. Worked with Phelps Dodge in the northwest US on airborne surveys as a result of this project.
• Developed a fast acquisition induced polarization technique for hot springs gold and platinum vein deposits in the western US.
• Developed an expertise in inversion interpretation of geophysical field data through UBC (University of British Columbia) state-of-the-art computer inversion software for geophysics.
• Developed a fast acquisition gravity technique for ground based gravity surveys.
• Developed one of the first gravity elevation correction computer programs (currently used by the University of Montana in its fieldwork) for gravity data interpretation.
• Developed an exploration model for geothermal resources in the US and Mexico based upon GIS compilation, geophysics and remote sensing.