Sanborn Expands Geothermal Surveying Operations to Support Growing U.S. Clean Energy Development
As interest in renewable and domestically sourced energy continues to rise across the United States, geothermal energy is gaining renewed attention as a reliable and sustainable power source capable of supporting long-term energy security goals. Against this backdrop, Sanborn, through its subsidiary EDCON-PRJ, Inc., is significantly expanding its geothermal surveying activities across the western United States to meet growing demand for advanced subsurface intelligence and exploration data.
The company has recently completed three aeromagnetic geothermal surveys within a two-month period and is currently advancing several additional projects for developers, public agencies, and research organizations. These efforts are designed to provide detailed geophysical insights that can help accelerate geothermal resource identification, reduce exploration risks, and improve project development outcomes.
Geothermal energy development relies heavily on understanding underground geological conditions, particularly in regions where heat resources are hidden beneath complex rock formations. High-resolution magnetic surveys have become an increasingly important exploration tool because they allow scientists and developers to map underground structures that influence geothermal reservoir formation and fluid movement.
EDCON-PRJ specializes in collecting and interpreting these advanced datasets. Using airborne magnetic surveying technologies, the company can detect subtle variations in magnetic susceptibility within subsurface rock formations. These variations help identify important geological features such as basement structures, fault systems, fracture networks, intrusive rock bodies, caldera boundaries, lithologic contacts, and zones affected by hydrothermal alteration.
Such information is critical for geothermal developers because underground structures often determine where heat, fluids, and permeability exist within a geothermal system. By producing detailed geophysical maps, EDCON-PRJ enables project teams to build more accurate conceptual models of geothermal reservoirs before committing to expensive drilling programs.
According to Nathan Campbell, General Manager and Geophysicist for EDCON-PRJ, the geothermal industry increasingly requires integrated datasets that provide a clearer understanding of subsurface reservoir controls.
“As geothermal development accelerates, the industry needs geophysical data that directly informs subsurface structure and reservoir controls,” Campbell explained. “Our recent surveys are focused on delivering magnetic datasets that can be directly integrated with geologic, geochemical, and well data to improve resource assessment and move projects forward with confidence.”
The growing focus on geothermal energy comes at a time when governments, utilities, and private developers are seeking clean energy technologies capable of providing stable baseload electricity generation. Unlike solar and wind resources, geothermal systems can produce continuous power regardless of weather conditions, making them an attractive component of future low-carbon energy portfolios.
The western United States contains some of the country’s most promising geothermal provinces due to its tectonic activity, volcanic systems, and elevated heat flow. States such as California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho have seen increased exploration activity in recent years as technological advances improve the economic viability of geothermal development.
However, geothermal exploration remains technically challenging and financially intensive. Drilling exploratory wells can cost millions of dollars, and uncertainties regarding reservoir location, temperature, permeability, and fluid flow can significantly affect project economics. This has increased demand for advanced geophysical methods capable of reducing exploration risk before drilling begins.
Aeromagnetic surveying has emerged as one of the key tools in this effort because it allows large geographic areas to be surveyed efficiently and at relatively lower cost compared to extensive drilling campaigns. Aircraft equipped with sensitive magnetic instruments fly over targeted regions, collecting high-resolution data that reveals changes in subsurface geology.
EDCON-PRJ’s work supports not only private geothermal developers but also government-led scientific initiatives aimed at improving understanding of domestic geothermal resources. One of the company’s notable contributions has been its participation in the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, commonly known as EarthMRI.
EarthMRI is a national program focused on improving geological and geophysical mapping across the United States to support critical mineral development, energy exploration, and resource sustainability. Through this initiative, EDCON-PRJ participated in the GeoFlight Salton Trough project, a major geophysical survey effort covering portions of the Imperial Valley and Salton Sea region in southern California.
The Salton Trough is widely recognized as one of the most productive geothermal regions in North America and has also attracted growing interest for its lithium-rich geothermal brines. These brines are considered a potentially important domestic source of lithium, a critical mineral used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
From January 2022 through the spring of 2023, EDCON-PRJ conducted a high-resolution magnetic and radiometric survey across the region as part of the GeoFlight initiative. Supported by both the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office, the project sought to improve understanding of concealed geothermal systems and subsurface mineral resources within the Salton Sea geothermal field.
The survey generated detailed geophysical datasets that can help scientists and developers better understand fault structures, geothermal reservoirs, hydrothermal alteration zones, and the geological controls associated with lithium-bearing brines. Such information may ultimately contribute to expanded geothermal production as well as domestic critical mineral supply chains.
Sanborn’s acquisition of EDCON-PRJ has further strengthened the company’s position within the geophysical surveying sector by expanding access to specialized aircraft, advanced sensor technologies, and integrated geoscience capabilities. The acquisition has enabled broader deployment of both airborne and ground-based survey solutions for energy, environmental, and resource exploration applications.
In addition to magnetic surveys, Sanborn maintains expertise in radiometric surveying technologies through the Sanborn Geophysics Group and Sanborn Geophysics ULC. The company manufactures advanced airborne radiometric systems, including the Sanborn AGRS radiometric platform, which is used in a variety of geophysical exploration programs.
Radiometric surveys complement magnetic data by measuring naturally occurring gamma radiation from surface rocks and soils. When combined with magnetic datasets, radiometric information can provide additional insights into lithology, alteration patterns, and geological structures relevant to geothermal exploration.
The integration of multiple geophysical methods has become increasingly valuable as geothermal developers seek more sophisticated exploration strategies capable of improving drilling success rates and reducing project timelines. By combining magnetic, radiometric, geological, geochemical, and well datasets, companies can build more robust models of geothermal systems and make better-informed investment decisions.
Sanborn’s expanding geothermal survey operations reflect broader trends within the renewable energy sector, where demand for advanced geoscience services is expected to increase substantially in the coming years. Governments around the world are prioritizing low-carbon energy development, while growing electricity demand from data centers, industrial electrification, and transportation is increasing the need for reliable renewable baseload power sources.
Geothermal energy is increasingly viewed as a strategic solution because of its ability to provide consistent electricity generation with a relatively small land footprint and minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Emerging technologies such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are also opening opportunities to develop geothermal resources in regions previously considered unsuitable for conventional geothermal production.
As the industry evolves, accurate subsurface data will remain essential for identifying viable geothermal reservoirs and optimizing resource development. Companies capable of delivering high-quality geophysical intelligence are likely to play an increasingly important role in supporting exploration success and advancing clean energy infrastructure.
Sanborn says it remains committed to providing advanced geophysical solutions that contribute to energy security, sustainable resource management, and the transition toward a cleaner energy future. Through EDCON-PRJ’s expanding geothermal surveying operations, the company is helping developers and public agencies gain the insights needed to unlock new domestic geothermal opportunities across the United States.
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