Coupling geophysical investigation with hydrothermal modeling to constrain the enthalpy classification of a potential geothermal resource.
An appreciable challenge in volcanology and geothermal resource development is to understand the relationships between volcanic systems and low-enthalpy geothermal resources. The enthalpy of an undeveloped geothermal resource in the Karckar region of Armenia is investigated by coupling geophysical and hydrothermal modeling. The results of 3-dimensional inversion of gravity data provide key inputs into a hydrothermal circulation model of the system and associated hot springs, which is used to evaluate possible geothermal system configurations. Hydraulic and thermal properties are specified using maximum a priori estimates. Limited constraints provided by temperature data collected from an existing down-gradient borehole indicate that the geothermal system can most likely be classified as low-enthalpy and liquid dominated. We find the heat source for the system is likely cooling quartz monzonite intrusions in the shallow subsurface and that meteoric recharge in the pull-apart basin circulates to depth, rises along basin-bounding faults and discharges at the hot springs. While other combinations of subsurface properties and geothermal system configurations may fit the temperature distribution equally well, we demonstrate that the low-enthalpy system is reasonably explained based largely on interpretation of surface geophysical data and relatively simple models.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2015 |
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Title | Coupling geophysical investigation with hydrothermal modeling to constrain the enthalpy classification of a potential geothermal resource. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.03.020 |
Authors | Jeremy T. White, Arkadi Karakhanian, Chuck Connor, Laura Connor, Joseph D. Hughes, Rocco Malservisi, Paul Wetmore |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research |
Index ID | 70144300 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Texas Water Science Center |