Results to be used in geothermal development
 |
| The sign says “Hello there. You’ve found me. I am one of the Canoe Reach smart gnomes. I was installed in 2017 and I am here monitoring our earth’s subtle movements. I work with Borealis Geopower Inc., (Courtesy the University of Calgary Geoscience Department, and Nanometrics Inc.) |
A field research team from Borealis GeoPower along with members of the University of Calgary Geoscience Department were in the Valemount area between August 11 - 15 as part of a seismic monitoring program that will further research toward geothermal development.
The Canoe Reach Geothermal Project is one of two major projects under Borealis whose ultimate goal is to establish geothermal as a heat source that will provide power to community projects and businesses, and even sell power to the grid.
The program involves setting up monitoring equipment that will enable researchers to establish a baseline of seismic activity and track fault movement in the area. This will help them gain a better understanding of the area’s overall activity and changes in the subsurface that can be used for reservoir modeling, since seismic activity influences the flow of water. The more events - even the slightest - the more information this will provide the researchers. How faults are moving over time will give them a better idea of where there is fluid moving and where to possibly drill.