Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Thrinn Fridriksson
SOR Iceland GeoSurvey
Introduction
The objective is to obtain as much information
about the properties of the geothermal system
as possible, prior to drilling
Successful surface exploration will reduce the
cost of later stages in the development and
thus save a lot of money in the end
Geothermal surface exploration is a
multidisciplinary task
Exploration strategy depends on many factors,
including geological setting and temperature in
the system
Geological mapping
Volcanic history
Defines the active and extinct
geothermal manifestations
Structural control over fluid flow in the
subsurface
Risk assessment
Geological mapping
Fundamental/Obtainable Parameters
Temperature
Temperature
Resis
-tivity
Magnet
ization
(x)
Porosity
Permeability
Density
Pressure
Mineralogy
Texture
Streaming Pot.
Seismicity
(x)
(x)
Fluid Chemistry
Grain
Density
Seismic
Velocity
X
X
X
X
Iterpret.
ambigu.
Equipm.
cost
Labour
Diagnost.
Cost
efficiency
Surface thermal
mapping
Low
Low
Low
Low
High
Med
High
Electrical methods
(resistivity, IP)
Med.
Low
Med.
High
Low
Med.
High
High
Magnetics
Low
Med.
High
Low
Med.
Low
Low
Med.
Med.
Gravity
Low
Med.
High
High
High
Low
Low
Active seismics
(reflect./refract.)
High
Low
High
High
Low
Med
Low
Self-Potential
Low
High
Low
Low
High
Med.
Passive seismics
(micro earthq.)
High
Low
High
High
Med
High
Med.High
100C
Smectite
Zeolites
Smectite
Zeolites disappear
Dominant
Epidote
Dominant
SMECTITE
E
+
CONDUCTIVE
MOBILE
CATIONS
E
E
RESISTIVE
BRUCITE
LAYER
NG-7
NJ-11
400 m a.s.l.
NG-10
Nesjavellir
200 -
50
0-
100
- 200 -
150
200
- 400 -
250
- 600 -
200
500
TemperatureC
1000
Resistivity
> 25 m
10 - 25 m
2 - 10 m low resistivity cap
High resistivity core
1500
Alteration
2000 m
Unaltered rocks
Smectite - zeolite zone
Mixed layered clay zone
Chlorite zone
Chlorite-epidote zone
Geochemical methods
Water chemistry
Steam chemistry
Stable isotope methods
Soil chemical anomalies
Soil diffuse degassing
Water classification
Legend Title
Cl
0
10
25
TE
RS
MATURE
WATERS
WA
75
AN
LC
VO
75
LW
25
RA
HCO3
HE
SO4
RI P
IC
50
50
PE
Cl
AT
ER
25
10
0
SO4 0
75
100
HCO3
Chemical geothermometers
Temperature sensitive reactions control
concentrations and concentration ratios of
chemical components in water solutions and
gases
This allows evaluation of subsurface
temperatures based on fluid and gas
compositions
Chemical geothermometers implicitly assume
that equilibrium was attained in the reservoir
and no reactions occurred during the upflow
Chemical geothermometers
Univariant: e.g. SiO2, CO2, H2S, H2 etc.
Simple
Sensitive to secondary changes such as
dilution, steam loss and condensation.
Chemical geothermometers:
equilibrium controlling CO2 concentration
in fluids at Reykjanes, SW Iceland
1
a czo =
1
a re =
p
0.17
a czo =
0.80
a re =
p
Chemical geothermometers
Best to use as many geothermometers
as possible (complete analyses)
Discrepancies between results of
different geothermometers may provide
important information about the nature
of the system
e.g. extent and distribution of condensation
and interactions with cold groundwater
CONCLUSIONS
Geothermal exploration is a multidisciplinary
task (geology, geochemistry, geophysics)
No single method universally superior, but
electrical methods and chemical
geothermometry usually important
Integrated multi-method and dynamic
approach important
Cost-efficiency should be considered
Successful surface exploration will save big
money when project enters development
phase
Thank you
for the attention!
DC-method (Schlumberger)
TEM-method (central-loop)
In summer by helicopter: