Mobile and direct-prospecting methods: the possibility of their application for areas of geothermal water accumulation searching and mapping

Abstract

The results of application of the frequency-resonance technology of remote sensing data processing and geoelectric methods of forming a short-pulsed electromagnetic field (FSPEF) and vertical electric-resonance sounding (VERS) within prospecting areas in Turkey, Slovakia, Mongolia, Nevada (USA), England and Ukraine are analyzed. Anomalous zones of “thermal water” type have been found within all survey areas. The drilled geothermal wells in all surveyed areas in Turkey fell into the contours of the anomalous zones of “thermal water” type. In some areas, a detailed vertical sounding by VERS method and vertical scanning of satellite data were carried out; the depths and thicknesses of aquifers were determined, and the water temperatures in them were estimated. For a more confident search for zones of accumulation of fresh (mineralized, geothermal) water, it is necessary to process remote sensing data at a scale of 1:10 000 and larger. The results of frequency-resonance processing of satellite images can be verified and refined by FSPEF and VERS methods. The joint use of these methods allows accelerating and optimizing the geothermal sources prospecting and exploration of. Approved mobile geophysical methods are recommended for practical use during prospecting and exploration of geothermal waters within known zones of geothermal sources development.