EXPLORATION PROSPECTS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN PAKISTAN

The geodynamic setup, tectonic evolution and young volcanism in Pakistan provide appropriate natural environments to accretion geothermal energy at certain zones. Geodynamically Pakistan embraced by three Gondwanian Tectonic Plates and two Ceno-Tethyan Island Arcs. Geotectonically its bordered by the South Pamir Block, Afghan Block, Iran Block, and Arabian Oceanic Plate. The geodynamics and geotectonics of Pakistan are complex and dominated by collision, convergent and rifting of crustal plates during diverse geological timescales. The plate movements influenced by five leading active seismotectonic zones. Associated with active seismotectonic events, the Kohat-Potwar, Sulaiman, Kirthar, Makran and Balochistan Sedimentary Foldbelt Basins and Indus Platform Basin instigated. The thickness of sedimentary basins ranges from 4 to 15 Km that formed geopressured thermal systems. The Koh-e-Sultan Volcano is part of Chagai Magmatic Arc and was active until 0.09 million years. The magmatic rocks comprised of andesitic to dacitic lava flows and volcanoclastics that range in age from Pliocene to Late Pleistocene. The surface heat flow of inactive volcanoes is in the range of 80 mWm^-2. The technical potential for all direct heat applications range from 50-150/Yr/Km²(T)Y^-1Km^-2, and thermal power potential for spatial cooling varies between 75-150/Yr/Km². The subsurface CO² and nuclear waste storage potentials are good to excellent in different sedimentary basins. The natural flow of thermal springs varies from 1-26 lt/s and surface temperatures range from 25-98^oC. While the evaluated reservoir temperature with chemical geothermometers varies between 92-313^oC. It has been estimated that by utilizing available geothermal resources around 100,000-Megawatt electric generation capacities are present in Pakistan.

Keywords; Geothermal, geodynamics, tectonic evolution, geopressured, Pakistan.