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Transport of Geothermal Fluids along Dikes and Fault Zones

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  • Agust Gudmundsson

    (Department of Earth Sciences, University of London Royal Holloway, Egham TW20 0NW, UK)

Abstract

Field observations of active and fossil natural geothermal fields indicate that geothermal fluids are primarily transported along dikes and fault zones. Fluid transport along dikes (commonly through fractures at their margins) is controlled by the cubic law where the volumetric flow rate depends on the aperture of the fracture in the 3rd power. Dikes (and inclined sheets) also act as heat sources for geothermal fields. In high-temperature fields in volcanoes in Iceland dikes and inclined sheets constitute 80–100% of the rock at crustal depths of 1.5–2 km. Holocene feeder-dikes are known to have increased the activity of associated geothermal fields. Fault zones transport geothermal fluids along their two main hydromechanical units, the core and the damage zone. The core is comparatively thin and primarily composed of breccia, gouge, and clay and related low-permeability porous materials. By contrast, the fault damage zone is characterised by fractures whose frequency is normally highest at the contact between the core and the damage zone. Fluid transport in the damage zone, and in the core following fault slip, is controlled by the cubic law. During non-slip periods fluid transport in the core is primarily controlled by Darcy’s law. Secondary mineralisation (forming mineral veins and amygdales) tends to reduce the fault-zone permeability. Repeated earthquake activity is thus needed to maintain the permeability of fault zones in active natural geothermal fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Agust Gudmundsson, 2022. "Transport of Geothermal Fluids along Dikes and Fault Zones," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-36, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:19:p:7106-:d:926982
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. D. R. Faulkner & T. M. Mitchell & D. Healy & M. J. Heap, 2006. "Slip on 'weak' faults by the rotation of regional stress in the fracture damage zone," Nature, Nature, vol. 444(7121), pages 922-925, December.
    2. Haiyang Wang & Binwei Xia & Yiyu Lu & Tao Gong & Rui Zhang, 2017. "Study on the Propagation Laws of Hydrofractures Meeting a Faulted Structure in the Coal Seam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-17, May.
    3. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucjan Sajkowski & Rose Turnbull & Karyne Rogers, 2023. "A Review of Critical Element Concentrations in High Enthalpy Geothermal Fluids in New Zealand," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Janani Selvam & Ashok Vajravelu & Sasitharan Nagapan & Bala Kumaran Arumugham, 2023. "Analyzing the Flexural Performance of Cold-Formed Steel Sigma Section Using ABAQUS Software," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Stefano Mazzoli, 2022. "Geothermal Energy and Structural Geology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-3, October.
    4. Xiaohan Zhang & Yuanfu Zhang & Yuxiu Li & Yunying Huang & Jianlong Zhao & Yuchuan Yi & Junyang Li & Jinchuan Zhang & Dawei Zhang, 2023. "Geothermal Spatial Potential and Distribution Assessment Using a Hierarchical Structure Model Combining GIS, Remote Sensing, and Geophysical Techniques—A Case Study of Dali’s Eryuan Area," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-24, September.

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