Anchorage-based GeoAlaska had been granted a geothermal prospecting permit for a 3048-acre study area in the South Augustine Island, effective 1 September 2022. We had previously reported on the interest of the company on acquiring the said permit in early 2022. The island is home to the Mount Augustine volcano, an active stratovolcano with last recorded activity on 2006.
The company will collect data over five square miles. Approximately 192 gravity survey stations and 29 MT stations will be deployed.
According to GeoAlaska CEO Paul Craig, the commencement of the geophysical survey is a huge step forward for the project. “If the data are favorable it opens the way forward to drill temperature gradient wells, which we hope to design to convert to production wells.”
If the geophysical data suggest the existence of a viable geothermal reservoir, then GeoAlaska will have the data needed to finance the drilling of one ore more temperature gradient wells. This is tentatively planned for the summer of 2024.
Environment and safety
According to Craig, GeoAlaska is committed to protecting the environment in Augustine Island. “GeoAlaska will leave the island as we found it. If we find any trash discarded by private parties visiting Augustine Island, we will remove it.”
GeoAlaska also continuously monitors for any changes in the status of the volcano, with the assistance of the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO). If Mount Augustine exhibits behavior outside of its normal patterns, the company will immediately evacuate all personnel and abandon the geophysical survey.
“We want everybody to return home safely and we want Augustine Island to be in the same condition – if not better- than when we arrived,” said Craig.
GeoAlaska is also one of two companies exploring for geothermal resources in the area of Mount Spurr, northwest of Anchorage. The two permits were awarded in a noncompetitive process.
