Mapping and resource evaluation of deep high-temperature geothermal resources in the Jiyang Depression,China

In China,geothermal resource utilization has mainly focused on resources at shallow and medium depths.Yet,the exploration of deep,high-temperature geothermal resources holds significant importance for achieving the“dual carbon”goals and the transition of energy structure.The Jiyang Depression in the Bohai Bay Basin has vast potential for deep,high-temperature geothermal resources.By analyzing data from 2187 wells with temperature logs and 270 locations for temperature measurement in deep strata,we mapped the geothermal field of shallow to medium-deep layers in the Jiyang Depression using ArcGIS and predicted the temperatures of deep layers with a burial depth of 4000 m.Through stochastic modeling and numerical simulation,a reservoir attribute parameter database for favorable deep,high-temperature geothermal areas was developed,systematically characterizing the spatial distribution of geothermal resources within a play fairway of 139.5 km2 and estimating the exploitable deep geothermal resource potential by using the heat storage method and Monte Carlo data analysis.The study reveals that the Fan 54 well block in the Boxing-Jijia region is of prime significance to develop deep,high-temperature geothermal resources in the Jiyang Depression.Strata from the Cenozoic to the Upper Paleozoic are identified as effective cap layers for these deep geothermal resources.The Lower Paleozoic capable of effectively storing thermal energy and possessing an exploitable resource volume up to 127 million tons of standard coal,is identified as a target system for the development of deep high-temperature geothermal resources,providing significant insights for the efficient development of geothermal resources in the Jiyang Depression.

Progress in research on the exploration and evaluation of deep geothermal resources in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan region,China

Deep geothermal resources in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan region,China,offer significant potential for sustainable energy.The diverse igneous rock formations along the southeast coast present intricate geological challenges that impede exploration and evaluation efforts.In this study,we address critical concerns related to the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan region's deep geothermal resources,encompassing heat source composition,formation conditions,strategic favorable areas,and exploration directions.Our methods involve the analysis of regional geothermal reservoirs and cap rocks.Major findings include:the primary heat sources in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan region consist of the radioactive heat generation from granites in the crust,heat conduction in the mantle,and,in specific areas like Yangjiang and Shantou,melts within the middle and lower crust;the deep,high-temperature geothermal resources in the region predominantly reside in basins'depressed areas.These areas are characterized by the confluence of triple heat sources:heat from the Earth's crust,mantle,and other supplementary sources;our analysis led to the identification of three strategic areas favorable for deep geothermal resources in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan region.These are the Beibu Gulf Basin's continental area,the Yuezhong Depression,and the Fuzhou-Zhangzhou area.

Applications of artificial intelligence in geothermal resource exploration: A review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly important in geothermal exploration,significantly improving the efficiency of resource identification.This review examines current AI applications,focusing on the algorithms used,the challenges addressed,and the opportunities created.In addition,the review highlights the growth of machine learning applications in geothermal exploration over the past decade,demonstrating how AI has improved the analysis of subsurface data to identify potential resources.AI techniques such as neural networks,support vector machines,and decision trees are used to estimate subsurface temperatures,predict rock and fluid properties,and identify optimal drilling locations.In particular,neural networks are the most widely used technique,further contributing to improved exploration efficiency.However,the widespread adoption of AI in geothermal exploration is hindered by challenges,such as data accessibility,data quality,and the need for tailored data science training for industry professionals.Furthermore,the review emphasizes the importance of data engineering methodologies,data scaling,and standardization to enable the development of accurate and generalizable AI models for geothermal exploration.It is concluded that the integration of AI into geothermal exploration holds great promise for accelerating the development of geothermal energy resources.By effectively addressing key challenges and leveraging AI technologies,the geothermal industry can unlock cost‐effective and sustainable power generation opportunities.

Formation mechanisms and resource potential of carbonate geothermal reservoirs in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plain

Investigating the formation mechanisms of carbonate geothermal reservoirs is of theoretical and practical significance for summarizing the formation pattern of geothermal resources and further guiding their effective exploitation.The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Plain(BTHP),predominantly located within the Jizhong Depression and Cangxian Uplift in the Bohai Bay Basin,serves as the primary region for geothermal exploitation and utilization in China.More than 1500 geothermal wells have been drilled therein,with water temperature at the wellhead ranging from 55 to 110°C,single-well flow rate ranging between 80 and 120 m^(3)/h,and cumulative heating area exceeding 100×10^(6)m^(3).However,the exploration and research in the region remain limited overall.As per the previous geothermal and petroleum exploration results and the latest geothermal drilling data,this study comprehensively evaluated the geothermal resources of karst geothermal reservoirs.The results show that two suites of carbonate karst reservoirs,namely the Jxw Formation and the Ordovician strata,have primarily developed in the BTHP,and their formation and evolution can be divided into four stages:the Mesoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic stage with carbonate sedimentation and the development of interlayer karst,the Late Paleozoic stage with the development of direct sedimentary cover,the Mesozoic stage with compressional uplifting and development of buried hill karst,and the Cenozoic stage with regional cover deposition and the modification and finalization of karst geothermal reservoirs.Accordingly,the porosity evolution history of the geothermal reservoirs is composed of three stages,namely a significant decrease followed by a minor increase,a gradual decline,and then a small fluctuation from increase to decrease before slowly rising again.The karstification in geothermal reservoirs can be summarized into quasi-syngenetic karstification,epigenetic karstification,and burial karstification,which can be subdivided into seven subcategories.The carbonate geothermal reservoirs in the study area boast total geothermal resources of 53.821×10^(9)GJ,or 184.155×10^(9)t of standard coal equivalent(tce),and the annual exploitable geothermal resources in the urban area can heat an area of(400‒500)×10^(6)m^(3),indicating great potential of geothermal exploitation.

Distribution,exploitation,and utilization of intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in eastern China

The part of China,east of the Hu Huanyong Line,is commonly referred to as eastern China.It is characterized by a high population density and a well-developed economy;it also has huge energy demands.This study assesses and promotes the large-scale development of geothermal resources in eastern China by analyzing deep geological structures,geothermal regimes,and typical geothermal systems.These analyses are based on data collected from geotectology,deep geophysics,geothermics,structural geology,and petrology.Determining the distribution patterns of intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in the region helps develop prospects for their exploitation and utilization.Eastern China hosts superimposed layers of rocks from three major,global tectonic domainsd namely Paleo-Asian,Circum-Pacific,and Tethyan rocks.The structure of its crust and mantle exhibits a special flyover pattern,with basins and mountains as well as well-spaced uplifts and depressions alternatively on top.The lithosphere in Northeast China and North China is characterized by a thin,low density crust and mantle,whereas the lithosphere in South China has a thin,low density crust and a thick,high density mantle.The middle and upper crust contain geobodies with high conductivity and low velocity,with varying degrees of development that create favorable conditions for the formation and enrichment of geothermal resources.Moderate-to-high temperature geothermal resources are distributed in the MesozoiceCenozoic basins in eastern China,although moderate temperature geothermal resources with low abundance dominate.Porous sandstone reservoirs,karstified fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs,and fissured granite reservoirs are the main types of geothermal reservoirs in this region.Under the currently available technical conditions,the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in eastern China favor direct utilization over large-scale geothermal power generation.In Northeast China and North China,geothermal resources could be applied for large-scale geothermal heating purposes;geothermal heating could be applied during winter along parts of the Yangtze River while geothermal cooling would be more suitable for summer there;geothermal cooling could also be applied to much of South China.Geothermal resources can also be applied to high value-added industries,to aid agricultural practices,and for tourism.

Deep geothermal resources in China:Potential,distribution,exploitation,and utilization

Deep geothermal resources mainly refer to the thermal energy stored in subsurface rocks and fluids therein at a depth of 3-10 km,which is a kind of renewable and sustainable clean energy unaffected by weather and seasonal changes.Large scale exploitation of the deep geothermal resources is of great significance to ensuring national energy security and achieving the“Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality”.Based on the latest terrestrial heat flow data,this paper estimated the potential of deep geothermal resources in the terrestrial areas of China,and the results show that the total amount of geothermal resources within 3e10 km under the Earth's surface in the terrestrial areas of China is 24.6×10^(15)GJ.In line with climate zones categorized,the geothermal resource proportion is 43.81%for severe cold regions,29.19%for cold regions,6.92%for mild regions,13.82%for hot summer and cold winter regions,and 6.26%for hot summer and warm winter regions.Statistics according to the burial depth range reveal that the resources within depth ranges of 3-5 km,5-7 km and 7-10 km under the Earth's surface are 4.3119×10^(15)GJ,6.37674×10^(15)GJ and 13.89594×10^(15)GJ respectively,showing an increasing trend of geothermal potential with increasing burial depth.The deep geothermal resources are mainly of medium-to-high temperature reserves,and the energy supply strategy can be optimized by combining the climate conditions and population distribution,as well as considering power generation.In regions of cold or severe cold climate,the geothermal resources may be applied to geothermal power generation and district heating in combination;in regions of hot summer and cold winter or mild climates,the resources can be used for geothermal power generation combined with cooling and heating;in regions of hot summer and warm winter climates,the resources may be applied to geothermal power generation combined with cooling and industrial and agricultural utilization.Exploitation of deep geothermal resources also can be combined with carbon dioxide sequestration,multi-mineral resources extraction and energy storage to realize comprehensive exploitation and utilization of various energy resources.It is suggested that theoretical technology research should be combined with pilot tests and field demonstrations,and large-scale economic exploitation of deep geothermal resources should be arranged in a coordinated manner,following the principles of overall planning and step-by-step implementation.

Deep bedrock geothermal resources in the Maichen Sag,Beibuwan Basin and their potential for exploitation and utilization

The Maichen Sag in the south-central part of the Beibuwan Basin is abundant in geothermal resources that have not been widely exploited and utilized due to inadequate research on it.This study evaluated the geothermal resources in the Maichen Sag based on the regional geological setting and geothermal conditions.Grid units for assessment and a geological model for areas with geothermal resources were established using spatial analysis techniques.The spatial distribution models of the physical and thermophysical properties of the geothermal reservoirs were also built using the Kriging interpolation method.Based on the terrestrial heat flow distribution in the target areas,the spatial distribution of the geo-temperature field through the inversion under the constraints of the temperature data from boreholes were predicted.Factors such as deep geo-temperature,thermophysical properties of rocks,and terrestrial heat flow values,were integrated into this quantitative evaluation of geothermal resources through the geological modeling-based volume method and the geothermal reservoir engineering-based numerical simulation method.The results show that the Maichen Sag has favorable heat source conditions with intersected,deep-rooted faults and widely developed Upper Paleozoic fissured granite geothermal reservoirs.The northern outer slope zone at a burial depth of 3‒5 km on the tectonic plane of the basement in the sag is suggested to be a potential target area,where,as calculated using the volume method,is likely to be the home to the total geothermal resources of 80.4×10^(9)GJ(i.e.,2.75×10^(9)tonnes of coal equivalent(tce))in the bedrock geothermal reservoirs at a burial depth of 3‒6 km.The geotemperature of 172‒201℃at a formation depth of 5 km in the sag also indicates that the deep geothermal resources are of high value for exploitation.

Controlling effects of cap rocks on the formation of deep geothermal resources

Cap rocks with high thermal insulation are important for deep geothermal systems at a depth of 3000‒6000 m.Based on the deep geothermal geological conditions in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan area of South China,this study established an ideal geological model of reservoir-cap rock assemblages and simulated the geothermal field distribution of cap rocks of different thicknesses and thermal conductivity.The simulation results show that the vertical geothermal temperature distribution in an uplifted area of a depression was present as inverted mirror reflections relative to the elevated area of the basement.Specifically,the isotherms above the elevated area are convex in shape,while those below the elevated area are concave.There is a temperature equilibrium line between the convex and concave isotherms.The heat flow moves from the depressed area to the uplifted area below the temperature equilibrium line and migrates in an opposite direction above the line.On this base,this study conducted the inversion of geothermal temperature fields in typical areas with thin,moderately thick,and thick cap rocks.The results indicate that,at the depth of 3000e6000 m,areas with thin cap rocks(igneous rock zone in the coastal area of Fujian)mainly host moderate-to low-temperature hydrothermal resources;areas with moderately thick cap rocks(Yuezhong Depression)have the geothermal temperature ranging between 100℃and 200℃and may develop moderate-to high-temperature hydrothermal resources and hot dry rocks(HDRs),with the former superimposing on the latter;and areas with thick cap rocks(onshore Beibuwan Basin)have a geothermal temperature of 120‒220℃,and contains mainly moderate-to high-temperature hydrothermal resources and HDRs.Therefore,it is recommended that the evaluation,exploitation,and utilization of deep geothermal resources be carried out according to the burial depth of the temperature equilibrium line and the specific demand for geothermal resources.

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION IN TUANBO REGION

This paper mainly deals with the reservoir on the heat and mass transfer and mass and energy balance in a geothermal field.On the basis of briefing the general characteristics of the reservoir and the supposition of the reservoir modeling,the paper emphasizes the mathematical descriptions of hydra thermal transportation and convection by two methods according to the different models,such as lumped parameter model and distributed parameter model.It is effective to use these models in simulating the heterogeneous,and anisotropical fracture reservoir for the designed lifetime of 15 years.

Structural Controls Analysis and Its Correlation with Geothermal Occurrence at Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC), Turkana, Kenya

Geothermal is a clean energy source that is freely available in the subsurface. The exploitation of this vital resource needs intensive exploration in order to identify and quantify its occurrence. The three parameters considered when assessing the viability of a geothermal system include;heat source, fractures and fluids. Geological structures are important in transportation of fluids to and from the heat source aiding in recharge of the geothermal system and enhancing productivity. Remote sensing method was applied in mapping the structures at Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC) by using hill shading technique which utilized four illumination angles of the sun (azimuth) i.e. 45°, 90°, 150°, and 315°, constant elevation of 45° and exaggeration of 10. The data used was Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) Satellite Imagery. ArcGIS Software was used for lineaments delineation and density mapping, PCI Geomatica was used to generate major faults, while Georose and Rockworks 17 were used to generate the rose diagrams. Geological structural analysis was done by delineating lineaments, determining the density distribution of lineaments and finally determining the structural trends of lineaments. The generated major faults in the area and the location of the occurrence of surface manifestations were compared with the generated lineaments. A total of 260 lineaments were generated whereby at 45° there was a total of 60 lineaments, at 90° 95 lineaments, at 150° 61 lineaments, and at 315° 44 lineaments. The results of structural analysis in the area as shown by the rose diagrams indicate an NNE-SSW and N-S trending of structures. In conclusion, the study area is highly fractured as indicated by the presence of numerous lineaments. These lineaments provide good recharge to the geothermal system and enhance the geothermal reservoir in the area.

Characteristics of geothermal field and evaluation of geothermal resource potential in the Yingjiang Basin

Geothermal resource,a green and sustainable energy resource,plays an important role in achieving‘emission peak’and‘carbon neutrality’targets.The Yingjiang Basin is located in the eastern branch of the Mediterranean-Himalayan high-temperature geothermal belt and exhibits considerable potential for geothermal resources.However,current investigations into the distribution of deep geothermal resources in this region are somewhat limited.In this paper,the transient plane source(TPS)method is used to measure the thermal conductivity parameters of 31 rock samples within the study area.Additionally,the one-dimensional steady-state heat conduction equation is employed to calculate the deep geothermal field,considering the constraints of rock thermal properties and terrestrial heat flow in the study area.Furthermore,the“stripping method”is used to determine the contribution rate of sedimentary layer to terrestrial heat flow,while the volume method is applied to estimate the geothermal resources at burial depths of 3000-5000 m.The results show that(1)The heat generation rate of granite is the highest with an average value of 4.52 mW/m^(3),followed by gneiss with an average value in the range of 2.0-3.5 W/(m·K),mudstone and sandstone being the lowest with an average value between 1.0 and 2.0 W/(m·K).(2)The main contributor of terrestrial heat flow in the study area is mantle heat flow,and the contribution of sedimentary layers to terrestrial heat flow only accounts for about 2%.(3)The geothermal resources in Yingjiang Basin within the depth range of 3000-5000 m is 93.6×10^(15)kJ,or 3.2×10^(9)tonnes standard coal equivalent(SCE).

Geothermal-type Lithium Resources in Southern Xizang,China

High-temperature geothermal water has abundant lithium(Li)resources,and research on the development and utilization of geothermal-type lithium resources around the world are increasing.The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau contains huge geothermal resources;especially,Li-rich geothermal resources in southern Xizang,southwestern China,are widely developed.The Li-rich geothermal spots in Xizang are mainly distributed on both sides and to the south of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone.Such resources are often found in the intensely active high-temperature Li-rich geothermal fields and,compared with other Li-rich geothermal fields around the world,the Li-rich geothermal fluid in the Xizang Plateau,southern Xizang is characterized by good quality:the highest reported Li concentration is up to 239 mg/L;the Mg/Li ratio is extremely low and ranges from 0.03 to 1.48 for most of the Li-rich geothermal fluid;the Li/TDS value is relatively high and ranges from 0.25–1.14%compared to Zhabuye Li-rich salt lake(0.19%)and Salar de Uyuni(Bolivia)(0.08–0.31%).Continuous discharge has been stable for at least several decades,and some of them reach industrial grades of salt lake brine(32.74 mg/L).In addition,elements such as boron(B),caesium(Cs),and rubidium(Rb)are rich and can be comprehensively utilized.Based on still-incomplete statistics,there are at least 16 large-scale Li-rich hot springs with lithium concentration of 20 mg/L or more.The total discharge of lithium metal is about 4300 tons per year,equivalent to 25,686 tons of lithium carbonate.Drilling data has shown that the depth is promising and there is a lack of volcanism(non-volcanic geothermal system).With a background of the partial-melting lower crust caused by the collision of the Indo-Asia continent and based on a comprehensive analysis of the tectonic background of southern Xizang and previous geological,geophysical,and geothermal research,deep molten magma seems to provide a stable heat source for the high-temperature Li-rich geothermal field.The Li-rich parent geothermal fluid rushes to the surface to form hot springs along the extensively developed tectonic fault zones in southern Xizang;some of the Li-rich fluid flows in to form Li-rich salt lakes.However,most of the Li-rich geothermal fluid is remitted to seasonal rivers and has not been effectively exploited,resulting in great waste.With the continuous advance of lithium extraction technologies in Li-rich geothermal fluid,the lithium resource in geothermal water is promising as a new geothermal type of mineral deposit,which can be effectively exploited.This is the first study to undertake a longitudinal analysis on the characteristics,distribution and scale,origin and utilization prospects of Li-rich geothermal resources in southern Xizang,research that will contribute to a deeper understanding of Li-rich geothermal resources in the area and attract attention to these resources in China.

Characteristics of geothermal reservoirs and utilization of geothermal resources in the southeastern coastal areas of China

Based on regional geological setting, stratigraphic distribution and other geological conditions, this paper summarized three types of geothermal reservoirs in the southeast coastal areas of China: Cenozoic sandstone or sandy conglomerate reservoir, Mesozoic granite fissure reservoir and Paleozoic karst reservoir. Cenozoic sandstone or sandy conglomerate reservoirs are mainly located in Cenozoic basins, such as Zhangzhou, Fuzhou, Sanshui and Leiqiong basins. The Tertiary sedimentary basins such as Leiqiong Basin and Sanshui Basin, are controlled by NE-trending faults, while the Quaternary sedimentary such as Zhangzhou and Fuzhou basins are controlled by NW-trending faults. Mesozoic granite fissure reservoirs are mainly distributed in the southeast coastal areas, such as Zhangzhou, Fuzhou, Fengshun, Yangjiang and southern part of Hainan Province. The distribution of good Mesozoic granite fissure reservoir in these areas is mainly controlled by NE-trending faults. Paleozoic carbonate reservoirs are widely distributed in these areas. Most carbonate rocks are from the upper Paleozoic strata, such as those in the area of Huizhou in Guangdong Province. The major types of geothermal systems in the southeast coastal areas of China belong to medium and low-temperature convection. The geothermal resources developed from the ground to-3 000 m underground could be utilized directly for space heating, greenhouse heating, aquaculture pond heating and industrial uses, as well as other purposes. The geothermal resources with a depth of 3 000~6 000 m underground is mainly featured by Hot Dry Rock(HDR) with a temperature ranges from 150 ℃ to 200 ℃, which is conductive to the development of Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS) and can be utilized for power generation.

The status quo and prospect of geothermal resources exploration and development in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region boasts rich geothermal resources and new achievements have been made in the exploration and development of geothermal resources in this region based on previous regional investigation.In detail,geothermal reservoirs of Gaoyuzhuang Formation of Jixian System and Changcheng System in Xiongan New Area have been recently discovered,opening up the second space of geothermal resources;the calculation method of the recoverable resources of geothermal fluid with reinjection being considered has been improved in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region,and uniform comprehensive assessment of shallow geothermal energy,hydrothermal geothermal resources,and hot dry rocks(HDR)geothermal resources in the whole Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang region has been completed.The scientific research base for cascade development and utilization of geothermal resources in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has applied hydraulic fracturing technology to the geothermal reservoirs in Gaoyuzhuang Formation.As a result,the production capacity doubled and two-stage cascade utilization composed of geothermal power generation and geothermal heating were realized,with the first-phase installed capacity of 280 kW and the geothermal heating is 30000 m2.In this way,a model of the exploration,development,and utilization of geothermal resources formed.Large-scale utilization has become the future trend of geothermal resource development in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region,and great efforts shall be made to achieve breakthroughs in reinjection technology,geothermal reservoir reconstruction technology,thermoelectric technology and underground heat exchange technology.

CENOZOIC VOLCANISM AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN NORTHEAST CHINA

This paper is concentrated on Cenozoic volcanism and geothermal resources in Northeast China. There are a lot of Cenozoic volcanoes, a large area of volcanic rocks, a large number of active faults and rich geothermal resources in Northeast China. The time and space characteristics of Cenozoic volcanism and the space distribution characters of hot springs and high geothermal flux regions in Northeast China are described and discussed on the basis of geological, geothermal, drilling and volcanological data. It is revealed that the hot springs and high geothermal flux regions are related to the Cenozoic volcanism, rifting and faulting in Northeast China. It is especially emphasized that the hot springs and high geothermal anomaly areas are controlled by active deep faults. It is proposed that the Cenozoic volcanism regions, rift basins, active fault belts, activated plate suture zones and large earthquake occurrence points are the best areas for prospecting geothermal resources. The geothermal resources in younger volcanic zones are richer than those in older volcanic belts. The hot springs and active or activated faults might be a very good clue for looking for geothermal resources.

Non-seismic geophysical analysis of potential geothermal resources in the Longgang Block,Northeast China

Although geothermal energy has many clear advantages,including its sustainability and environmentally friendly nature,research into potential geothermal resources across the Longgang Block,Northeast China,has been limited.Here we present the first analysis of the potential geothermal resources in this region that employs joint geological and non-seismic geophysical methods to identify target areas that may be economically viable.We acquire and analyze high-precision gravity,magnetic,and magnetotelluric sounding data,which are constrained using the petrophysical parameters of outcropping rocks across the Longgang Block,to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s deep geological structures and their geothermal resources potential,with a focus on identifying faults,rock masses,and thermal storage structures.We find that Archean granitic gneiss and Mesozoic rock masses in the deeper section of the Longgang Block possess weak gravity anomalies and high resistivities.We also identify thermal storage structures near these deeper geological units based on their extremely low resistivities.The data are used to infer the dip and depth of known or hidden faults,to constrain the spatial distribution of intrusive rock masses,and to determine the spatial distribution of subsurface thermal storage structures.The potential of the target areas for geothermal resources exploitation is divided into three grades based on contact depths between faults and thermal storage structures,and the scale of their thermal storage structures.Our results suggest that a joint non-seismic geophysical approach can be effective in locating and evaluating geothermal resources in complex geological settings.

Advances in Assessment of Geothermal Resources of South America

Updated data for 1417 localities have been assembled for purposes of assessments of geothermal resources in South America. Analyses of these data sets have allowed improved estimates of geothermal resource base and recoverable resources for thirteen countries in the continent. The results obtained have also allowed identification of more than 20 crustal blocks where the resource base per unit area (referred to the accessible depth limit of 3 km) is in the range of 100 to 1000 Giga Joules, while the recoverable resources per unit area are in the range of 1 to 100 Giga Joules. Most of the high temperature resources occur within regions of recent tectonic activities in southern and central Chile, highlands regions in Bolivia, and several localities along the magmatic arc covering western Ecuador, central volcanic belt of Colombia and northern Venezuela. In addition, isolated pockets of geothermal resources have been identified along the eastern Andean belt of Peru. There are indications of occurrence of medium and low temperature geothermal resources at depths of 1 to 3 km in several regions in the eastern sectors of the continent, mainly in the northeastern and central parts of Brazil. In addition, considerable progress has been made in assessments of low temperature resources associated with deep fracture systems in Precambrian terrains. Progress has also been achieved in assessment of low temperature resources in deep aquifers of Paleozoic sedimentary basins. The results of such estimates are currently being considered for planning large-scale exploitation of the Guarani aquifer system, which spans over large areas of western Uruguay, northern Argentina and southern Brazil.

ADVANCES IN STUDIES ON GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN CHINA

Based on recent year’s advances in geothermal resources studies and explorations in China, this paper reviews the basic distributive characteristics of hot springs in the uplifted area and geothermal water in the Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary basins, suggests that two hydrothermal activity concentrated zones (South Tibet Autonomous Region - West Sichuan Province - West Yunnan Province and coastalarea of Southeast China), one large basin(North China Basin) and two smaller basins(Weihe Basin and Leiqiong Basin) are major areas of study and exploration of geothermal resources in China continent, considers that geothermal resources in China have certain potential of exploitation and should be used, but the scale of exploitation seems to be limited, they cannot occupy an important position in energy supply and can only be regarded as a supplementary energy source.

Geothermal Resources Potential Analyses of Tanggu Urban Area and the Vicinity,Tianjin

In order to construct a newly developed green area, the Tanggu urban area as the core part of Binhai new area,needs more and more clean energy year by year. This area is abound in geothermal resources endowed by the grand Nature.Based on the estimation of

Mathematical Model of the Geothermal Water Resources in the South Hot Spring System in Chongqing

The geothermal waters of south hot spring, small hot spring and Qiaokouba in Chongqing, are all part of the south hot spring geothermal water system. Exploitation has caused a decline in the water levels of the south and small hot springs, which have not flowed naturally for 15 years. Now, bores pump geothermal water to the springs. If the water level drops below the elevation of the rivers, river-water will replenish the geothermal water, destroying this resource. It is therefore an urgent task to model the geothermal water system, to enable sustainable development and continued use of the geothermal water in Qiaokouba. A numerical simulation of the geothermal water system was adopted and a quantitative study on the planning scheme was carried out. A mathematical model was set up to simulate the whole geothermal water system, based on data from the research sites. The model determined the maximum sustainable water yield in Qiaokouba and the two hot springs, and the south hot spring and small hot spring sustainable yields are 1 100 m^3/d and 700 m^3/d from 2006 to 2010, 1 300 m^3/d and 1 000 m^3/d from 2011 to 2015, and 1 500 m^3/d and 1 200 m^3/d from 2016 to 2036. The maximum exploitable yield is 3 300 m^3/d from 2006 to 2036 in Qiaokouba. The model supplies a basis to adequately exploit and effectively protect the geothermal water resources, and to continue to develop the geothermal water as a tourist attraction in Chongqing.