The Orpheus facility is a test site and a mobile laboratory of the Geothermal Research Department that is used to design and evaluate methods for employing acoustic waves in deep wells. This includes both remote inspection of and communication with down-hole equipment. These are not audible waves which one normally associates with acoustic measurements, but rather stress waves which are trapped in the steel tubulars and which are relatively inaudible. To achieve our goals, we use this facility to:
The Orpheus facilities have been in existence since 1991. Our primary function is to support research programs for the Geothermal Technology Division and the Natural Gas and Oil Technology Partnership (both DOE). This facility is crucial to development and testing of communication and measurement systems for use in recovery of geothermal, oil, and gas resources. To our knowledge, no similar facility is in existence in the world.
The Orpheus facility is located outside of the classified areas of Sandia National Laboratories and, therefore, is subject to only minimal access regulations. It is in close proximity to Albuquerque, and Sandia staff will always be on site to assist and supervise operations.