Study of the Earth's internal heat sources and their potential use for energy generation and geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Geothermal Energy: The study of thermal energy generated and stored within the Earth's crust and how this energy can be harnessed for practical use.
Geothermal Resource Assessment: The process of quantifying the available geothermal energy in a certain location and assessing the viability of the resource for energy production.
Heat Transfer: The study of the movement of thermal energy between objects as a result of temperature differences.
Thermodynamics: The branch of physics concerned with the relationships between heat, work, and energy.
Hydrogeology: The study of water movement and distribution within the Earth's crust, including the study of underground water sources and aquifers.
Petrology: The study of rocks and their origins, including the properties and behavior of minerals and other solid substances within the Earth's crust.
Geochemistry: The study of the chemical properties and behavior of elements and minerals within the Earth's crust.
Geophysics: The study of the physical properties of the Earth, including its structure, composition, and behavior under various conditions.
Geology: The study of the geological history and structure of the Earth, including the formation of rocks, mountains, and other landforms.
Geothermal Power Plants: The design, construction, and operation of power plants that utilize geothermal energy to generate electricity.
Geothermal Heat Pumps: The design, installation, and operation of heating and cooling systems that utilize geothermal energy to regulate temperatures in buildings.
Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy: The study of the environmental effects of geothermal energy production, including land use, water use, and waste disposal.
Social and Economic Impacts of Geothermal Energy: The study of the social and economic effects of geothermal energy production, including job creation, energy costs, and community development.
Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Geothermal Energy: The development and implementation of policies and regulations that support the growth of the geothermal energy industry and ensure the safety and sustainability of energy production.
Heat Flow Measurements: It is a direct method to determine the thermal gradient and the amount of heat being generated in the Earth's crust.
Resistivity Surveys: This method measures the electrical resistivity of rocks to identify geothermal reservoirs.
Magnetic Survey: This method identifies magnetic anomalies associated with geothermal reservoirs that are caused by magnetite-bearing rocks.
Gravity Survey: This method measures small variations in gravity caused by different densities of rocks to map geothermal reservoirs.
Seismic Reflection and Refraction Surveys: These methods use sound waves to identify subsurface rock layers and geothermal reservoirs.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): It's a technique based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves to image the subsurface layers of the earth to find the presence of geothermal reservoirs.
Near-Surface Geophysics: This method includes different techniques to investigate the top few hundred meters of the ground to find thermal anomalies that may indicate the presence of geothermal resources.
Geochemical Survey: This method uses chemical analysis of water, gas, and rocks in geothermal areas to identify heat sources and reservoirs.
Magnetotelluric (MT) Survey: This technique uses natural electromagnetic fields to measure the resistivity of subsurface rocks, which indicates the presence of geothermal reservoirs.
Pressure and Temperature Profiling: These profiles determine the depth and temperature of the geothermal reservoirs through exploring the changes in pressure and temperature with depth.
Downhole Geophysics: It includes different methods and tools to measure the physical and chemical properties of rocks and fluids at different depths in the reservoir to identify geothermal resources.
Microseismic Monitoring: This method uses sensors to monitor the small repeatable seismic signals that occur during geothermal production to track the activity and operation of the geothermal reservoir.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning: This technique uses a laser scanner to create highly accurate and detailed 3D models of geothermal reservoirs for exploration and monitoring.
Satellite Remote Sensing: This method utilizes images taken from satellites to detect changes in the Earth’s surface related to geothermal activity, such as thermal anomalies or ground deformation.
Borehole Logging: This method utilizes various instruments to measure and characterize the rock properties, the temperature, the pressure, the fluid conductivity, and other parameters inside boreholes to explore and monitor the geothermal reservoirs.