SMU Geothermal Laboratory

The SMU Geothermal Lab is an active research facility within the Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  The lab was founded in 1970 by Dr. Dave Blackwell who began his career recording high precision temperature-at-depth logs and measuring thermal conductivity to generate heat flow data for the Western United States.  Research sites included the Cascades, Columbia Plateau, Snake River Plain, Yellowstone National Park and the Great Basin.  By the 1980s, the focus of the lab broadened to include collecting and aggregating heat flow data across North America and editing the first Geothermal Map of North America.  Private companies and government agencies provided the funding for this research.  Dave is now Professor Emeritus at SMU.   Dr. Matt Hornbach is building upon the foundation laid by Dr. Blackwell and is expanding heat flow research to include methane hydrates and climate change.  In addition, Dr. Hornbach is collaborating with the other SMU Geophysists to study induced seismicity in the north Texas area. 

SMU Geothermal Laboratory

The SMU Geothermal Lab was established in 1970 by Dr. David Blackwell. We are an active research facility, with a variety of ongoing geothermal resource projects. Our faculty, staff, and students strive to broaden the understanding and use of geothermal energy, from the simplest form - geothermal heat pumps for buildings, to the large-scale deployment of geothermal power plants providing energy for our cities. Our research also explores opportunities to integrate renewable geothermal projects in an oil & gas setting.

Our expertise includes:

• Academic research by faculty, staff, and students
• Geothermal Maps such as the Geothermal Map of North America
• Projects, such as the National Geothermal Data System, the Enhanced Geothermal Potential of the Cascades, the Geothermal Synthesis of Dixie Valley, Nevada
• Current research on temperature logs for climate change, the stability of methane hydrates along continental shelves, co-production and distributed geothermal generation
• Well logging with high precision Temperature-Depth measurements
• Sample analysis of Thermal Conductivity measurement for commercial clients

The Lab assists the public through:

• Our Power Plays conference, Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields
• K-12 classroom materials
• A monthly newsletter on the geothermal, oil/gas, and energy industries
• Research and travel updates on our blog
• Publications and papers for those interested in learning more