Geothermal Resource Exploration in Magmatic Rock Areas Using a Comprehensive Geophysical Method

Jie Zhu,Sheng Jin,Yang Yang,Tianyu Zhang,Martina Zucchi

doi:10.1155/2022/5929324

Abstract

Geothermal resources have significant development and usage potential. It is critical to conduct geological investigation of geothermal resources prior to mining, so as to deepen our knowledge and comprehension of geothermal resources. Ground water is heated by magmatic rocks and geothermal resources can be created in magmatic rock areas. However, their communication is weak, and the depth of burial is typically great. It is difficult for traditional geophysical methods, such as induced polarization method, to achieve useful exploration depths, and they have low accuracy. In this article, a comprehensive geophysical method, based on the controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric method (CSAMT) and transient electromagnetic method (TEM), is applied to geothermal exploration in a magmatic rock area. This method compensates for the shortcomings of a single method and achieves a good exploration effect, thereby providing a reliable geological foundation for further development and utilization of geothermal resources.

Highlights

In China, there are enormous reservoirs of geothermal resources, most of which are reserved in the form of liquiddominant systems and mainly distributed throughout southern Tibet, western Sichuan, western Xinjiang, western Yunnan, and Taiwan (Figure 1) [1]. ey have a total thermal value of 3.06 × 1,018 kWh per year, accounting for approximately 8% of the global geothermal reservoirs [2]
Controlled Source Audio-Frequency Magnetotelluric Method. e controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric method (CSAMT) is a frequency-domain artificial source electromagnetic technology developed on the basis of the magnetotelluric method (MT)
Rough theoretical analysis and engineering examples, it is shown that the two electromagnetic methods, CSAMT and transient electromagnetic method (TEM), can both be used to effectively explore geothermal resources from different angles, as follows

Summary

Introduction

In China, there are enormous reservoirs of geothermal resources, most of which are reserved in the form of liquiddominant systems and mainly distributed throughout southern Tibet, western Sichuan, western Xinjiang, western Yunnan, and Taiwan (Figure 1) [1]. ey have a total thermal value of 3.06 × 1,018 kWh per year, accounting for approximately 8% of the global geothermal reservoirs [2]. To obtain a better knowledge of geothermal resources, it is important to undertake a geological survey prior to exploiting, so as to determine their depth, position, and reserves. In the exploration of geothermal resources, geophysical methods have been shown to be effective [4, 5]. A variety of geophysical methods have been successfully applied in geothermal exploration. Soengkono et al [6] used the magnetic method to explore in potential geothermal areas and successfully delineated the scope of geothermal resources in 1992. Guo et al [9] applied the remote-sensing and the electromagnetic methods to the convective geothermal field in Qinghai, China, in 2012. E remote sensing was used to divide the geological structure and determine the thermal target area, and the electromagnetic methods were used to determine the location, depth, and tendency of fault structures Guo et al [9] applied the remote-sensing and the electromagnetic methods to the convective geothermal field in Qinghai, China, in 2012. e remote sensing was used to divide the geological structure and determine the thermal target area, and the electromagnetic methods were used to determine the location, depth, and tendency of fault structures

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion