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Fossil vs. Active Geothermal Systems: A Field and Laboratory Method to Disclose the Relationships between Geothermal Fluid Flow and Geological Structures at Depth

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  • Domenico Liotta

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
    CNR-IGG, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Andrea Brogi

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
    CNR-IGG, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Giovanni Ruggieri

    (CNR-IGG, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy)

  • Martina Zucchi

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

Comparison between fossil and analogue active geothermal systems permit to obtain key-parameters to define a conceptual model of the area under exploration. The approach is based on structural, kinematic, and fluid inclusions analyses. The fossil system is investigated to describe the distribution of the hydrothermal mineralization as witness of the fluid flow through geological structures and bodies, at depth. Structural and kinematic data (to define the preferential direction of fluid flow) are collected in structural stations and by scan lines and scan boxes on key outcrops. Distribution, length, width of fractures, and hydrothermal veins bring to evaluate permeability in the fossil system and, by analogy, in the deep roots of the active system. Fluid inclusions analysis shed light on density, viscosity, and temperature of the paleo-fluids. Data integration provides the hydraulic conductivity. In active geothermal systems, fieldwork is addressed to paleo-stress analysis with data from recent faults (<2 Ma), to compare with local focal mechanisms. By this, indications on the present fluid pathways are given. The main advantage resides in obtaining parameters normally got after drilling, thus contributing to strengthen the strategy of exploration, de-risking unsuccessful boreholes.

Suggested Citation

  • Domenico Liotta & Andrea Brogi & Giovanni Ruggieri & Martina Zucchi, 2021. "Fossil vs. Active Geothermal Systems: A Field and Laboratory Method to Disclose the Relationships between Geothermal Fluid Flow and Geological Structures at Depth," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-27, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:933-:d:497123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Santilano, Alessandro & Donato, Assunta & Galgaro, Antonio & Montanari, Domenico & Menghini, Antonio & Viezzoli, Andrea & Di Sipio, Eloisa & Destro, Elisa & Manzella, Adele, 2016. "An integrated 3D approach to assess the geothermal heat-exchange potential: The case study of western Sicily (southern Italy)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 611-624.
    2. Emmanuel Olvera-García & Caterina Bianco & Garduño-Monroy Víctor Hugo & Andrea Brogi & Domenico Liotta & Walter Wheeler & Fidel Gómez-Alvarez & Sergio Najera-Blas & Adrián Jiménez-Haro & Jorge Alejand, 2020. "Geology of Las Minas: an example of an exhumed geothermal system (Eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 918-926, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marwan Marwan & Muhammad Yanis & Gartika Setiya Nugraha & Muzakir Zainal & Nasrul Arahman & Rinaldi Idroes & Dian Budi Dharma & Deni Saputra & Poernomo Gunawan, 2021. "Mapping of Fault and Hydrothermal System beneath the Seulawah Volcano Inferred from a Magnetotellurics Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Agust Gudmundsson, 2022. "Transport of Geothermal Fluids along Dikes and Fault Zones," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-36, September.
    3. Stefano Mazzoli, 2022. "Geothermal Energy and Structural Geology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-3, October.

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