Joel Poppert Executive Vice President Rocky Mountain GeoExploration, Inc., & Alpine Geothermal Drilling Experience and Certifications B.Sc. Geology, B.Sc. Physics University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2004) M.Sc. Global Energy Management, University of Colorado-Denver Business School (Current) IGSHPA Accredited Installer CoGEHPA, President Ground Heat Exchanger contractor

Introduction: Colorado’s Unique Geological History

Introduction: Why is Subsurface Analysis So Important?  Design Considerations  Liability  Cost of Installation  Change Orders?  Schedule Preparation and Management

Tools that can be used to Analyze the Subsurface Conditions of your Project  Google Earth  Google Earth Geological Layers  Aerial View  Google Maps  Terrain  Street View  Water Well Permits  Aqua Map  Well Construction Reports  Geotechnical Site Specific Soils Report

Google Earth: Geological Map Overlay  Geological Map Overlay  Used to identify both the overburden and the underlying bedrock formations  Shows major geological structures such as fractures, faults, tilted bedrock  Can expose bedrock that could contain voids such as caves or fractures  Easy to identify glacial and river terrains

Google Earth: Geological Map Overlay

Google Earth: Aerial View  Google Earth Aerial View  Used to identify if bedrock is presence at or near the surface  Linear striations can indicate tectonic activity and dipping bedrock  Major outcropping visible indicates harder rock such as sandstone or granites  Can define glacial and river boundaries

Google Earth: Aerial View

Google Maps: Terrain View  Google Maps Terrain View  Terrain can be used to identify bedrock, alluvial fans, landslides, river and glacial deposits  Steep terrain indicates hard bedrock  Terrain inconsistent with surrounding terrain can indicate landslides, alluvial fans, and/or glacial moraines  Flat terrain in a valley indicates deeper overburden deposits  Flat terrain can also indicate horizontal bedrock such as seen in the western slope as buttes or mesas

Google Maps: Terrain View

Google Maps: Street View  Google Maps Street View  If you can’t personally visit the site, street view can be used to help visibly confirm your analysis  Can also be used to identify any site restrictions that may present difficulties for drilling operations

Water Well Permits: Aqua Map #4620  Used to locate onsite and/or nearby water well permits

Water Well Permits: Well Permit Search  Well Permit Search  Look up Permit # in Well Permit Search  Click tab Located at Bottom and Open Downloaded Documents

Water Well Permits: Construction Report  Water Well Construction Report  Review the drillers log and compare to your analysis  Does it confirm your analysis?  Are there any discrepancies?  What is the vicinity of the log to your project location?  Depth to Groundwater and Yield (GPM)  Establishes if groundwater may be present  Yield defines the volume of water in the formation  Beware; large volumes of water can come from 1-3’ fractures which will be sealed up with the grout  Sandstone tends to hold larger amounts of water that could be exposed to the loop pipe over longer depths

Water Well Permits: Construction Report  Download Construction Report  Review Driller’s Log  Look at Depth to Groundwater and Yield (GPM)

Geotechnical Subsurface Soils Report  Soils Report  Each new construction project should have this report available at your request  Gives an indication of near sub surface conditions (depths 0-45’ in many cases)  Indicates overburden thickness and type  Can determine bedrock depth and type in many cases  Valuable for estimating excavation costs and schedule

Understanding Subsurface Conditions: How it Can Impact Your Project?  Design  Reduces liability with the design  Could reduce costs by limiting over-design  Help determine the most cost effective design for the heat exchanger  Costs  Complicated geological conditions will increase installation costs  Understanding the subsurface can help identify proposals that haven't taken complicated subsurface conditions into consideration  Scheduling  Complicated subsurface conditions can affect your construction schedule  Drilling operations take up space and limit other contractors to execute their work  If it is likely potential problems may arise due to the subsurface, you can mitigate the impact to the schedule by scheduling drilling operations early or during a period that will minimize impacts to other construction activities

Conclusion

Relevant Links  Google Earth   Google Maps   DWR Home Page   Colorado Geological Survey (CGS)   Alpine Geothermal Drilling 