T59 Innovations in Geological Mapping (Posters)

Sunday, 16 October 2005
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

INTEGRATION OF SUBSURFACE DATA IN REGIONAL SCALE 3-D GEOLOGICAL MAP FOR NATURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT: EXAMPLE OF 3-D GEOTHERMAL MODEL OF POLAND

Paper number: T59-20
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Recently, 3-D geological maps in detailed and regional scales are constructed for applications in natural resources assessment and management. Beside major use of the 3-D geological mapping and modeling in oil exploration industry, significant advances in multidimensional geological mapping occur in the field of mineral resources exploration and groundwater applications. Integration of large sets of existing, subsurface geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data into modern geological maps is an important part of methodology and technique used in characterization of natural resources and presents innovations in geological mapping. The methods utilized in subsurface mapping and modeling of oil and groundwater resources are applicable also in geothermal resources assessment. Distribution of reservoir and petrophysical rock properties, as well as thermal regime of bedrock units are significant for exploration of reservoirs of geothermal waters as sources of renewable energy.

On the base of framework of 3-D regional scale geological map of Poland geothermal model was built for assessment of potential geothermal resources in depth interval of 3000 m. Formation temperature distribution in range of 8 to 130 deg C and terrestrial heat flow density in range of 20-95 mW/m2 were interpreted and interpolated from well and surficial measurements. Reservoir and petrophysical rock properties were used to characterize thermal and hydrogeologic regime of bedrock units. Some formations characterized by positive thermal anomalies and relatively high porosity and permeability were selected as potential for geothermal exploration and detailed maps of their formation temperature and geothermal gradients were extracted from 3-D property model. Maps obtained from 3-D property model show close relations of subsurface geologic structures and geothermal anomalies.