By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 1 -- Standard Steam Trust LLC, private Denver operator, has drilled five of 22 planned temperature gradient drilling sites in an undisclosed known geothermal resource area of Idaho, said U.S. Energy Corp., Riverton, Wyo.
Results show an increase in water temperature of 5-7°F./100 ft, indicating that commercial water temperatures may be found at 3,500-5,000 ft, said U.S. Energy, which owns 25% of SST. Drilling of the 500-ft holes is to run through midsummer 2009.
SST owns 73,500 acres of federal, state, and fee leases with geothermal potential in six prospect areas in three states. Its goal is to hold 140,000 net acres by the end of 2009.
