The main purpose of Mining the Earth's Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy is to preserve the concepts and data developed during the last 35 years, so that a new generation can build upon our efforts. Integrated into this one book is all known data available on HDR development and resources of the U.S. The book also includes relevant information on HDR projects outside of the U.S. The material is presented in a format easily grasped by any engineer, scientist, or educates layman.

Mining the Earth's Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy describes the work carried out by the Los Alamos National Laboratory to turn an idealistic concept - that of drawing useful amounts of energy from the vast underground store of hot rock at reachable depths - into a practical reality. This book provides comprehensive documentation of the over two decades of experiments carried out at the test site at Fenton Hill, New Mexico, where the feasibility of accessing and extracting this vast natural resource was finally demonstrated. It also discusses the numerous technical, administrative, and financial hurdles that had to be overcome along the way. This publication will no doubt prove invaluable to researchers around the world as they strive to move this now-proven technology toward commercial viability. In addition, it is a valuable source of relevant information for anyone interested in the world energy outlook for the 21st century and beyond.