Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Nationwide Heat Flow, Well Data, and Related Files in the SMU Node of the National Geothermal Database System (NGDS)

Published by Geothermal Laboratory, Southern Methodist University | Department of Energy | Catalog Last Checked: August 03, 2026 at 01:04 AM | Dataset Last Updated: July 07, 2026 at 07:45 PM
This dataset compiles heat flow and temperature gradient data from over 44,000 wells across the United States, along with more than 6,000 related geothermal exploration resources. Originally assembled prior to 2014 for the now-retired National Geothermal Data System (NGDS), the collection aggregates geothermal data collected and curated by the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Geothermal Laboratory and partner organizations. The project was supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, DE-EE0002852, awarded to the SMU Geothermal Laboratory to aggregate heat flow and other relevant geothermal data for sharing across the NGDS. In 2026, the data were moved to the Geothermal Data Repository for open access. SMU Geothermal Laboratory contributed two nationwide heat flow databases to the project. One is based on equilibrium temperature measurements from over 14,000 sites, and the other is based on corrected bottom hole temperature data from oil and gas industry wells from over 30,000 sites. The collection also includes curated well data, scanned field notes, temperature-depth curves, publications, reports, maps, geophysical survey materials, and other supporting documents. Records were corrected, and overlapping sites in the equilibrium heat flow database were linked between the original SMU National database and the UND Global Heat Flow database. Sites that were not previously published because they lacked full heat flow content are included as gradient-only information with detailed temperature data. The dataset is provided as flat-structured downloadable archives with accompanying Excel index files that support filtering by well name, location, description, and related metadata. Data files are labeled with state or institutional origin where available. SMU Geothermal Laboratory grant sub-recipients included Siemens Corporate Technology, a division of Siemens Corporation; the Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin; Cornell Energy Institute, Cornell University; the Geothermal Resources Council; MLKay Technologies; Texas Tech University; and the University of North Dakota. Users should begin with the 01_README and the Excel index files, which provide additional detail on the archive structure, index fields, and how to locate specific data files and related resources within the downloadable zip archives.

Resources

25 resources available

Find Related Datasets

Search by Tags

Click any tag below to search for similar datasets

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
[
  "019:20"
]
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "Maria Richards",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:geothermal@smu.edu"
}
dataQuality 
true
description This dataset compiles heat flow and temperature gradient data from over 44,000 wells across the United States, along with more than 6,000 related geothermal exploration resources. Originally assembled prior to 2014 for the now-retired National Geothermal Data System (NGDS), the collection aggregates geothermal data collected and curated by the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Geothermal Laboratory and partner organizations. The project was supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, DE-EE0002852, awarded to the SMU Geothermal Laboratory to aggregate heat flow and other relevant geothermal data for sharing across the NGDS. In 2026, the data were moved to the Geothermal Data Repository for open access. SMU Geothermal Laboratory contributed two nationwide heat flow databases to the project. One is based on equilibrium temperature measurements from over 14,000 sites, and the other is based on corrected bottom hole temperature data from oil and gas industry wells from over 30,000 sites. The collection also includes curated well data, scanned field notes, temperature-depth curves, publications, reports, maps, geophysical survey materials, and other supporting documents. Records were corrected, and overlapping sites in the equilibrium heat flow database were linked between the original SMU National database and the UND Global Heat Flow database. Sites that were not previously published because they lacked full heat flow content are included as gradient-only information with detailed temperature data. The dataset is provided as flat-structured downloadable archives with accompanying Excel index files that support filtering by well name, location, description, and related metadata. Data files are labeled with state or institutional origin where available. SMU Geothermal Laboratory grant sub-recipients included Siemens Corporate Technology, a division of Siemens Corporation; the Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin; Cornell Energy Institute, Cornell University; the Geothermal Resources Council; MLKay Technologies; Texas Tech University; and the University of North Dakota. Users should begin with the 01_README and the Excel index files, which provide additional detail on the archive structure, index fields, and how to locate specific data files and related resources within the downloadable zip archives.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "01_README.txt",
    "format": "txt",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/01_README-v2.txt",
    "mediaType": "text/plain",
    "description": "README file for the dataset, providing guidance on the archive structure, Excel index files, well codes, state-specific archives, and how to locate specific data files and related resources within the downloadable zip archives."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Curated Well Data.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Download%20Data%20Files.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing the curated geothermal well data for the dataset, including original submitted source files, combined data-type files, and PDF documentation describing source submissions. Users should refer to the Download Data Index.xlsx file to identify files by data type, source, state or institutional origin, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - ID.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20ID.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Idaho reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - MT.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20MT.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Montana reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - NV.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20NV.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Nevada reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - OR.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20OR.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Oregon reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - TX.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20TX.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Texas reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - WA.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20WA.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Washington state reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources described in Related Resources Index.xlsx. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in that file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Related Reports-Files-Maps - all other states.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Related%20Reports-Files-Maps%20-%20all%20other%20states.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing reports, maps, publications, and related geophysical or well-associated resources for states not distributed in the separate state-specific archives. Users should refer to the Related Reports-Files-Maps sheet in the index file to identify relevant files and associated well codes."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - ID.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20ID.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Idaho well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - MT.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20MT.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Montana well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - NV.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20NV.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Nevada well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - OR.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20OR.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Oregon well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - TX.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20TX.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Montana well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - WA.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20WA.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Washington state well data notes described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Data Notes - all other states.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Data%20Notes%20-%20all%20other%20states.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing well data notes for states not distributed in the separate state-specific well notes archives. These files may include detailed site information and raw field notes, and users should refer to the Well Data Notes sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, and well code."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - ID.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20ID.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Idaho temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - MT.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20MT.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Montana temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - NV.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20NV.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Nevada temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - OR.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20OR.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Oregon temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - TX.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20TX.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Texas temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - WA.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20WA.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing Washington state temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files described in the Related Resources Index.xlsx file. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in that file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Well Temperature-Depth data - all other states.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/Well%20Temperature-Depth%20data%20-%20all%20other%20states.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Archive containing temperature-depth data and related geophysical parameter files for states not distributed in the separate state-specific archives. Users should refer to the Well Temperature-Depth Data sheet in the index file to identify files by location, organization, well code, and description."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "02_Curated Well Data Index.xlsx",
    "format": "xlsx",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/data_index.xlsx",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
    "description": "Index for the curated well data archive. It is intended to help users locate files in the archive by using the available metadata fields, including file descriptions and other identifying information."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "03_Related Resources Index.xlsx",
    "format": "xlsx",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1704/resource_index_file_7-1-2026.xlsx",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
    "description": "Index for the related resource archives, organized into sheets for related reports, files, and maps; well data notes; and well temperature-depth data. Users should use this index to locate resources by state, location, description, well name, well code, organization or company, data type, and year where available. Please see the 01_README.txt file for more information on file contents and intended use."
  }
]
identifier https://data.openei.org/submissions/8722
issued 2014-03-01T07:00:00Z
keyword 
[
  "BHT",
  "NGDS",
  "NGDS-SMU",
  "SMU node",
  "energy",
  "geological data",
  "geothermal",
  "geothermal exploration",
  "geothermal mapping",
  "geothermal wells",
  "heat flow",
  "oil and gas wells",
  "processed data",
  "publications",
  "radiogenic heat",
  "subsurface data",
  "technical reports",
  "temperature gradient",
  "thermal conductivity",
  "well data"
]
landingPage https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1704
license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
modified 2026-07-07T19:45:42Z
programCode 
[
  "019:006"
]
projectLead Arlene Anderson
projectNumber EE0002852
projectTitle American Recovery and Reinvestment Award: Geothermal Data Aggregation
publisher 
{
  "name": "Geothermal Laboratory, Southern Methodist University",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial 
"{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-167.7267,13.518],[-53.8316,13.518],[-53.8316,75.0714],[-167.7267,75.0714],[-167.7267,13.518]]]}"
title Nationwide Heat Flow, Well Data, and Related Files in the SMU Node of the National Geothermal Database System (NGDS)

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov