| Abstract |
In Kazakhstan one can distinguish two types of formation, containing aquifers: hydrogeological massifs and artesian basins. They differ by physical, geographical, hydrogeological and geological structural conditions. The major part of geothermal resources is associated with sedimentary basins which cover nearly 60% of Kazakhstan territory. In the Mesozoic-Cenozoic deposits of these basins at depths from 200 to 5000 m (the latter is assumed as a technically accessible depth) drill holes penetrated several aquifers. They are of different areal extent, occurrence, depth and thickness. Their temperature varies from 20 to 100. The map of geothermal resources (15 000 000) was drawn for the Kazakhstan sedimentary basins (Fig.1). By the method of development of geothermal resources five temperature zones of aquifers (T0<20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-90 and >9OoC) were distinguished in Kazakhstan. To do this work, maps were drawn to indicate the distribution of temperatures in the Earth's crust in Kazakhstan at the depths of 1, 2 and 5 km and an average depth of isothem of 20,40,60 and 90 C for each sedimentary basin. Geothermal resources of these temperatures zones were estimated by using of their areal extent, average temperatures, thickness of aquifers, coefficient of temperature recovery and conductive heat flow from the surrounding rocks. The temperatures zones of sedimentary basins have different potentials. The largest part of resources is associated with the zones where T>90?C (1356.109 toe) and the smallest part corresponds to the zones where T<20?C (281.109 toe). On the whole the energy potential of a technically accessible and ecologically clean alternative energy source of the Kazakhstan sedimentary basins totals 4.1 trillion toe. Evaluation and mapping of the Kazakhstan geothermal resources indicates that the republicís fuel and power industry could be significantly supplemented and diversified in favor of non-traditional energy source as are geothermal resources. |