GEOTHERMAL ENERGY POTENTIAL IN EXTENDED TERRAINS

Geothermal energy continuously radiates from the depths of the Earth’s crust to the surface. Certain geologic settings are known for their concentrations of high heat flow. By harnessing heated water and steam from the subsurface to drive turbines, geothermal energy is used to produce electricity for human consumption. The heat flow and associated geothermal gradient are usually higher in extended terrains such as the Basin and Range Province (USA), Western Anatolia (Turkey), and Iceland. These regions already have many plants where geothermal energy have been harnessed to drive turbines for electricity generation. However, these regions are not producing electricity at their full potential and are expected to produce much more.

Geothermal systems may be located and characterized with both indirect and direct geological exploration techniques. Indirect techniques include collection of magnetotelluric and seismic data. Direct exploration includes drilling wells for geothermal energy exploration. These wells provide well log, geoelectrical and thermal data. Since the Basin and Range Province (USA) and Western Anatolia (Turkey) are similar in structural and tectonic setting, the two regions can be explored and developed using similar techniques. The geothermal power generation in Iceland could also be used as a model for future power generation plants in the Basin and Range Province (USA).