| Title | Geothermal Exploration in Chukotka, Far East Russia |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kn?tur ¡rnason, Hjalti Franzson, Bjarni Richter, Sigvaldi Thordarson and ¡rni Hjartarson |
| Year | 2005 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Chukotka, Far East Russia, Geothermal |
| Abstract | The Chukotka region in Russia has several low-temperature geothermal prospects. The Government of Chukotka has plans for harnessing the Kukun hot springs for a hot water supply system for the Lorino village 14 km to the southeast. Kukun hot springs discharge large quantities (45 l/s) of thermal waters, with temperatures up to 58?C. Chemical analysis indicate temperatures at depth in the range of 105-110?C. Orkustofnun Geoscience (now Iceland Gesurvey, ISOR) was engaged to carry out exploration at Kukun hot springs aiming at getting hotter water and to make a reconnaissance survey of geothermal resources 6 km south of the village Uelen, which is on the NE tip of the Chukotka peninsula. In a mission in the summer of 2002, geology and thermal anomalies were mapped at Kukun hot springs and geophysical investigations (TEM resistivity and gorund magnetic surveys) were carried out. An exploratory drilling program was set up to locate the feeding fractures in the plutonic granite basement. Samples of the up to 69?C hot thermal waters were collected at Uelen showing high salinity and abnormally low silica content, indicating carbonate sedimentary origin, and with high radioactivity. Five wells have been drilled at Kukun hot springs, two of which are productive with large amount of thermal waters (48 and 74 l/s respectively). The geothermal system is associated with a complex system of open fractures. The thermal waters are interfering with colder groundwater as indicated by chemical analysis. The highest temperature obtained so far is 64?C. In a mission in the summer of 2003 a flow and interference test was made for the wells at Kukun. A second visit was made to Uelen to map geology and thermal anomalies in detail, and an exploratory drilling program was set up. |