There is a persistent perception worldwide that The Geysers field is a classic example of everything that could go wrong with geothermal power development. This presentation analyzes the history of The Geysers to dispel that perception. It concludes that this field has proven to be the most productive geothermal field discovered yet, and that it provides the best example to date of maintaining commercial viability of geothermal power generation through ingenious field management. The analysis considers both the resource behavior and the socioeconomic forces at play at this field. The presentation also forecasts the performance of this field over the next two decades and considers the lessons learned from its forty-year history.

Franciscan rocks in The Geysers Geothermal Resources Area (GRA) constitute a greatly deformed and chaotic assemblage of rocks known as melange which, under natural conditions, poses problems to slope stability. Unstable conditions inherent in the melange are accentuated by the steepness of slopes, chemical alteration of the rocks, and numerous faults and shear zones. Adverse effects that may be .experienced- with development of melange terrain can, however, be mitigated if potential problem areas are recognized before development begins and if good engineering geology·and engineering practices are followed.