UT Austin researchers say Presidio County and nearby West Texas areas show strong potential for enhanced geothermal systems using water‑injection techniques adapted from fracking. A $15,000 feasibility study conducted over nine months in 2023 found very hot subsurface rock that could produce low‑emission power. While the approach could create local jobs and leverage existing energy infrastructure, it carries seismic risks that require careful monitoring and oversight. Local leaders plan to discuss next steps later this year.
Researchers Find Strong Geothermal Potential Beneath West Texas — Could Presidio County Power Up with Fracking-Style Techniques?
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Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin’s Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) report that parts of West Texas — especially Presidio County and nearby communities such as Marfa — show promising potential for geothermal power generation using water‑injection techniques adapted from the oil and gas industry.
What the Study Found
After receiving a $15,000 feasibility grant from the Presidio Municipal Development District in mid‑2023, BEG researchers spent nine months studying the region. The team concluded that the area contains unusually hot subsurface rock — described as some of the "hottest subsurface rock east of the Rocky Mountains" — and could be a strong candidate for development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).
“Bottom line is, the immediate area in Presidio, but the whole county, looks like a really good development target,” said Ken Wisian of UT Austin, who led the study. “As good or better than areas that are already being developed in Texas.”
How The Proposed Technology Works
Traditional geothermal plants rely on naturally occurring hot water or steam from permeable rock. In contrast, the proposed approach borrows from hydraulic fracturing methods: engineers would inject water into hot, low‑permeability rock, create pathways for fluid to circulate, let the rock heat the fluid, then recover the heated fluid to drive turbines for low‑emission electricity.
Benefits
Developing geothermal resources in Presidio County could diversify local energy supplies, create jobs in a sparsely populated region, and offer a transitional pathway for oil and gas companies to apply existing skills and equipment to a renewable resource.
Risks And Safeguards
Water injection and induced fracturing carry seismic risks. Notably, the 2017 Pohang earthquake in South Korea was later linked by investigators to nearby geothermal activity — a reminder that injection projects require stringent monitoring, careful site selection, and regulatory oversight to minimize the potential for induced tremors.
Next Steps
Local officials remain interested and plan to discuss next steps later this year. Any future project would require larger investment, detailed engineering studies, environmental assessments, community engagement, and robust seismic monitoring plans before development could proceed.
Context: The United States leads the world in installed geothermal electricity capacity at roughly 4 gigawatts, but geothermal contributes only about 0.4% of U.S. electricity generation — far below countries like Iceland, where geothermal supplies a large share of primary energy. Regions such as Presidio County could help expand U.S. geothermal capacity if development proceeds carefully.
