Geothermal surface exploration

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

Surface exploration can provide

information on:
temperature in the geothermal reservoir
permeability of the reservoir
areal extent of the thermal anomaly
depth do useful temperatures
location of the upflow zone
chemical composition of fluid

Components of geothermal surface

exploration
Geological mapping
Geophysical exploration
Geochemical exploration

Geological mapping
Volcanic history
Defines the active and extinct
geothermal manifestations
Structural control over fluid flow in the
subsurface
Risk assessment

Geological mapping

Objectives of geophysical surveys

To obtain information about:
Temperature
Permeability
Porosity
Structure and size of the geothermal
system
Etc.

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

Evaluation of Surface Geophysical Methods

Resolut.
at depth

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

Resistivity is the most diagnostic parameter

Main Electrical Methods

DC-methods (Schlumberger, Profiling Dipole-Dipole)

TEM-methods (Central-Loop TEM, LOTEM)

MT (Natural source, Controlled source)

Alteration mineralogy at different temperatures

50C

100C

230C 250C 200C

Thermal Alteration starts

Thermal Alteration prominent

Smectite

Zeolites

Smectite

Zeolites disappear

Dominant

S - Ch Mixed layered clay

Chlorite
Chlorite

Epidote

Dominant

CONDUCTIVITY OF ALTERATION MINERALS

CHLORITE

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

Objectives of geochemical surveys

To obtain information about:
Temperature in the reservoir
Chemical composition of fluids
Source of fluids
Active upflow zones
Etc.

Geochemical methods

Water chemistry
Steam chemistry
Stable isotope methods
Soil chemical anomalies
Soil diffuse degassing

Water classification
Legend Title

Cl
0
10

Katwe, cold water, dilute

Katwe, cold water, saline
Katwe, cold water, brackish
Katwe, hot spring water
Buranga, cold water, dilute

25

Kibiro, cold water, dilute

TE

RS

Kibiro, cold water, brackish

MATURE
WATERS

WA

Kibiro, hot spring water

75

Buranga, hot spring water

AN
LC
VO

75

LW

25

RA

HCO3

HE

SO4

RI P

IC

50

50

PE

Cl

AT
ER

25

10
0

SO4 0

STEAM HEATED WATERS

50

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.

Ratios: e.g. Na/K, CO2/H2, CO2/Ar etc.

Not as susceptible to dilution or
condensation
Equilibrium and rate conditions limiting

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

CO2 buffer reaction

2 clinozosite + 2 calcite + 3 quarz + 2 H2O
= 3 prehnite + 2 CO2

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

Geochemical field work

CO2-temperature map of Torfajkull

geothermal system, Central Iceland

Multiple equilibria geothermometry

Soil diffuse degassing

Soil diffuse degassing studies

Identify upflow zones and active faults
Allow evaluation of natural heat loss
from the system

Soil diffuse CO2 flux at Reykjanes, SW

Iceland
Results of soil
diffuse degassing
survey were used to
site a directionally
drilled well.

The well, RN-23, is

now the best, by far,
in the area

Soil diffuse degassing: Krafla, N Iceland

Active faults?

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)

EXPLORING HIGH TEMPERATURE FIELDS

Electrical soundings with TEM method are at present the most
effective exploration method for high temperature fields.
In winter on snow scooters:

In summer by helicopter: