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Article
Coupling Geophysical Investigation with Hydrothermal Modeling to Constrain the Enthalpy Classification of a Potential Geothermal Resource
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
  • J. T. White, University of South Florida
  • A. Karakhanian, National Academy of Science of Armenia
  • Charles B. Connor, University of South Florida
  • Laura J. Connor, University of South Florida
  • J. D. Hughes, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Rocco Malservisi, University of South Florida
  • Paul Wetmore, University of South Florida
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2015
Keywords
  • Geophysical inversion,
  • Hydrothermal modeling,
  • Armenia,
  • Distributed volcanism,
  • Karckar,
  • Gravity
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.03.020
Disciplines
Abstract

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 / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 298, p. 59-70

Citation Information
J. T. White, A. Karakhanian, Charles B. Connor, Laura J. Connor, et al.. "Coupling Geophysical Investigation with Hydrothermal Modeling to Constrain the Enthalpy Classification of a Potential Geothermal Resource" Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Vol. 298 (2015) p. 59 - 70
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_wetmore/20/