Conduction-Dominated Geothermal Systems

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Conduction-Dominated Geothermal Systems

Conduction-Dominated Geothermal Systems:

The transportation of geothermal heat is dominated by conduction.

Other definitions:Wikipedia Reegle

Moeck-Beardsmore Play Types

This classification scheme was developed by Moeck and Beardsmore, as reported in A New 'Geothermal Play Type' Catalog: Streamlining Exploration Decision Making.

• Convection-Dominated Geothermal Systems
  • Magmatic Geothermal Play Type
    • CV-1a: Extrusive
    • CV-1b: Intrusive
  • Plutonic Geothermal Play Type
    • CV-2a: Recent or Active Volcanism
    • CV-2b: Inactive Volcanism
  • CV-3: Extensional Domain
• Conduction-Dominated Geothermal Systems
  • CD-1: Intracratonic Basin
  • CD-2: Orogenic Belt
  • CD-3: Crystalline Rock - Basement

Conduction dominated geothermal systems are considered ‘passive’ because no convective flow of fluids or short-term variations in fluid dynamics exist. No recent tectonism exists in these areas thus depending on an increase of temperature with depth. Economic viability is closely linked to the geothermal gradient. Since no active tectonics exists, heat sources are located at greater depth than in convection dominated systems.

Conduction dominated systems are subdivided into three play types based on the natural porosity-permeability ratio within the potential reservoir rock, and the absence or presence of producible natural reservoir fluid. These three plays are intracratonic basin plays, orogenic belt and foreland basin plays, and crystalline rock/basement plays. Some areas, such as those with low permeability potential reservoirs can only be developed using engineered geothermal systems (EGS).

Examples

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CSV

Geothermal Resource Area	Geothermal Region	Play Type	Control Structure	Host Rock Age	Host Rock Lithology	Mean Capacity	Mean Reservoir Temp
Birdsville Geothermal Area	Australia - Great Artesian Basin	CD-1: Intracratonic Basin			Sandstone	0.8 MW800 kW <br />800,000 W <br />800,000,000 mW <br />8.0e-4 GW <br />8.0e-7 TW <br />	371.15 K98 °C <br />208.4 °F <br />668.07 °R <br />
Fenton Hill HDR Geothermal Area	Rio Grande Rift	CD-3: Crystalline Rock - Basement	Lithologically Controlled	Precambrian	Crystalline basement “pCu” (undifferentiated in map units); Biotite Granodiorite (Phase I Reservoir); Gneiss, Schist, Granodiorite, Granite, Metavolcanic Rocks (Phase II Reservoir)	20 MW20,000 kW <br />20,000,000 W <br />20,000,000,000 mW <br />0.02 GW <br />2.0e-5 TW <br />	508.15 K235 °C <br />455 °F <br />914.67 °R <br />
Garching Geothermal Area	Germany Geothermal Region	CD-2: Orogenic Belt				2 MW2,000 kW <br />2,000,000 W <br />2,000,000,000 mW <br />0.002 GW <br />2.0e-6 TW <br />
Innamincka SA	South Austrailia	CD-3: Crystalline Rock - Basement				1 MW1,000 kW <br />1,000,000 W <br />1,000,000,000 mW <br />0.001 GW <br />1.0e-6 TW <br />	551.15 K278 °C <br />532.4 °F <br />992.07 °R <br />
Neustadt-Glewe Geothermal Area	North German Basin	CD-1: Intracratonic Basin					343.15 K70 °C <br />158 °F <br />617.67 °R <br />
Unterhaching Geothermal Area	Molasse Basin - Foreland basin of the alps	CD-2: Orogenic Belt		Jurrasic	Limestone		395.15 K122 °C <br />251.6 °F <br />711.27 °R <br />