Search for promising locations to explore geothermal resources based on joint analysis of sections of petro- and thermophysical properties of rocks

Abstract

The purpose of the study is identification of locations promising for geothermal resource exploration based on the joint analysis of sections of petro- and thermophysical properties of rocks. Having conducted magnetotelluric sounding in the geothermal area under investigation and having built 2-D models of electrical resistivity, porosity, permeability, temperature, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, the authors performed a joint cluster analysis of sections of enumerated parameters. A cluster cross-section is constructed taking into account all the discussed parameters, which is essentially a petro- and thermophysical “passport” of the site under examination. Each cluster of the latter is characterized by its own set of property ranges. Two promising locations for drilling exploratory boreholes have been identified in the Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) geothermal area. One of them corresponds to the already developed reservoir of petrothermal energy, while another is located at the depths of 2–3 km in another part of the section and has a potential for future exploration works. The information base created on this basis is a convenient tool for interactive selection of sites promising for exploration of different deposits and building of a “prospectivity map” of surface sites for drilling exploration boreholes.