Geothermal potential in the Ouarsenis-Biban-Kabylie (North Central Algeria): hot spring catalogue

Abstract

This study presents hydrochemical analysis and geothermal evaluation of thermal springs located in north central Algeria for possible exploitation in agriculture, greenhouses, and residential heating. The exploitation of this energy depends on geothermal water parameters such as T°, pH, flow rate, and thermal power. Thirty one thermal springs were identified in our study area including Ouarsenis, Biban, and Kabylie provinces in the Tell Atlas, northern Algeria. These thermal springs are included by hammams, baths, and spas with hot waters exhibiting a mean temperature of 60 °C. Samples were collected during March 2018 on the thirty-one sites to evaluate the hydrochemical properties of hot waters and physicochemical parameters were measured in situ. The results show that the geothermal temperature of the reservoir in the study area is of approximately 130 °C. The temperature of hot waters varied between 22 and 80 °C. The pH revealed that the hot waters are acid; the flow rate varied from 0.8 to 30 L/s. The thermal power water calculated for all sites is ranged between 40 and 5020 KWth. This study is a part of a project related to a new global mapping of thermal spring parameters with corresponding geothermal energy potential. This potential is important for sustainable development by introducing geothermal energy instead of fossil energy.