| Title | Formation-Scale Geothermal Favourability Mapping and the Geothermal Atlas of Alberta |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nevenka Nakevska, Arif Rabbani, Alex Onojeghuo, Hugo Geng, Matthias Grobe, Dan Palombi |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Summary Geothermal energy in the Alberta portion of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) remains largely untapped. The basin, known for its vast hydrocarbon resources, also features subsurface geological conditions conducive to hosting geothermal energy resources. Recent efforts by the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) have focused on identifying and characterizing geothermal reservoirs at the formation scale. The study involves creating new geothermal favourability maps for several geological units, applying a multi-criteria mapping approach that incorporates geological, petrophysical, and hydrogeological information to generate three key spatial data layers: temperature, porosity-thickness, and aquifer indication. These layers were subsequently utilized in a geographic information system (GIS) weighted overlay analysis to produce formation-scale geothermal favourability maps showing areas with varying geological favourability. A key outcome of this work is the development of a comprehensive Geothermal Atlas of Alberta: a publicly available digital platform designed to support geothermal exploration and development. The platform interacts with a rich repository of geological data and offers users interactive access to geothermal energy-related spatial data. It facilitates the identification of potential areas for geothermal exploration, assists in selecting geologically favourable subsurface targets, and provides tools for cartographic visualization and data analysis. This presentation will overview the Atlas, the data and analyses that it hosts, as well as recent updates. Acknowledgements Our appreciation extends to our AGS colleagues Mahshid Babakhani, Jesse Peterson, Nelson Bernal, Tyler Hauck, and Levi Knapp for their invaluable assistance in characterizing the geological and geochemical aspects. |