| Title | Geothermal Field and Geothermal Resources in Belarus, Country Update for Belarus |
|---|---|
| Authors | Zui, V; Dubanevich, M; Vasilionak, E |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | European Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Geothermics, geothermal energy, terrestrial temperature distribution, heat flow, geothermal resources, GSHP installations, country update |
| Abstract | The territory of Belarus is located in geographical center of Europe. In geologic respect it belongs to the western part of the East European Platform. The Precambrian crystalline basement is hidden under the platform cover within the whole area of the country. There are no visible geothermal manifestations such as geysers, fumaroles, mud volcanoes, etc. Since the time elapsed after the European Geothermal Congress 2013 held in Italy the main efforts were directed to prepare the Geothermal Atlas of Belarus which was finished in December, 2015. The density of Geothermal resources were estimated for a number of geothermal horizons. They range from first dozens of kg.o.e./m2 for shallow depths till a few t.o.e./m2 in deep sedimentary layers of the Pripyat Trough. Some of these resources are exploited in a number of localities mainly using small heat pump geothermal installations irregularly distributed within the territory of the country. During a few decades geothermal investigations were fulfilled there. In result of these works a number of geothermal maps were prepared covering the whole studied territory. Among them are temperature distribution maps compiled for the a number of depths starting from of 100 m till 4 km within the Pripyat Trough, which is the deepest sedimentary basin in the southeastern part of the country, maps of geothermal gradient, heat flow density and geothermal resourcs distribution maps. Geothermal resources were estimated for several geothermal horizons. No high enthalpy geothermal steam was revealed within the platform cover. Very preliminary estimates show that a depths position at which it could be possible to reach temperatures of 150–180 ºC, necessary to construct geothermal power plants are inside the crystalline basement. They are over the economically acceptable limits. Therefore the geothermal electricity generation is not considered for the nearest future. The maximal temperature recorded at the base of the platform cover was around 140 ºC at the vertical depth of 6.4 km in the deepest in the region Predrechitsa-1 inclined borehole. Around 150 geothermal installations were constructed and used all over the country starting from the middle of nineties of the past century and a few more geothermal heating systems are under construction now. All available installations are used for space heating and sometimes simultaneously to heat warm water. The biggest geothermal installation of 1 MWth was put into operation at the Greenhouse Complex “Berestye”, located at the eastern suburb of Brest town not far from the Belarus-Poland state border. All heat pump installations excluding the latter one are using shallow depth intervals of the platform cover with rather low-enthalpy geothermal resources. |