ABSTRACT
As noted in Chapter 7, drilling for oil and gas in the southern United States demonstrated the presence of horizons in the subsurface where the fluid pressure exceeded that expected for a simple hydrostatic gradient. Since first recognized, these geopressured systems have been found in other regions that are usually associated with oil and gas fields. They are attractive as a potential geothermal resource because they have temperatures suitable for power generation using binary generators. In addition, these zones are distributed in regions where industrial demand for power is high, as in the oil and gas industry. In many instances, such areas are also near major electric load centers, thus making them potential resources for municipal power (Figure 14.1).
