| Title | Resources of Geothermal Energy within Intersalt Deposits of the Pripyat Trough, Belarus |
|---|---|
| Authors | Vladimir I. Zui, Diana A. Mikulchik |
| Year | 2005 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Geothermal resources, Terrestrial temperature, Belarus |
| Abstract | The Pripyat Trough has a complex geological structure with two salt bodies within its platform cover. . The Intersalt deposits separate the Upper Salt and Lower Salt complexes within the trough. A thickness of the permeable intersalt deposits ranges from 100 meters in the western part of the area up to 1000 meter observed in a few wells. The complex geometry of the intersalt deposits reflects in the temperature distribution over the roofe of the complex. Low temperature values around 35 ?C were observed within the western part of the area. The temperature is on average two times higher in the northern part of the trough, where it reaches 65-70 ?C. The southern part exhibits again lower temperature around 40-45 ?C. The map of the density of geothermal resources, within the intersalt complex of the Pripyat Trough, shows that low values 0.2-0.4 tons of oil equivalent (t.o.e.) per square meter are typical for the western part of the area. Though there is a small area, corresponding so-called Turov Depression, where this value increases to 0.5 t.o.e./m2. The isoline 0.5 t.o.e./m2 has the general meridional orientation and separates the whole considered area into the western and eastern parts. Maximal density of geothermal resources up to 1-1.25 t.o.e./m2 and higher corresponds to the northern and north-eastern parts of the Pripyat Trough. It is stretched sub-parallel to the North-Pripyat Marginal Fault. It is the most promising area for the geothermal energy utilization within the trough. The depth of the intersalt complex surface here is on average 2,000-3,000 meters. High salinity brines were observed within this complex. The content of dissolved chemicals reaches on average here up to 200-300 g.p.l. The results show that the intersalt complex of the Pripyat Trough represents the interest for recovery of its geothermal resources especially in the northern and partially central zones. Dozens of abandoned deep wells, drilled originally for oil prospecting and plugged later, represent the interest for geothermal energy extraction. Their use will increase the economic feasibility of such projects. |