| Title | The Geothermal Research in Morocco: History of 40 Years |
|---|---|
| Authors | Y. Zarhloule, A. Rimi, M. Boughriba, A.Barkaoui, A. Lahrach |
| Year | 2010 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | geothermal potentialities, hot water, aquifers, heat flow, geothermal use, Morocco |
| Abstract | The interest of geothermal research in Morocco has been increased since 1968 with studies conducted by for academic or economic purpose. So and tough temperatures were sometimes not directly determined, different authors tried to take the most of it in order to approach the real formation temperature. In any case some corrections have been operated, on measured or deducted temperature values from suitable geochemical tools Whatever their direct or indirect link to the potential geothermal resources evaluation, these investigations endowed Morocco of an important mass of information on the geothermal gradient, the heat flow and the underground temperatures spatial distribution. These informations constitute a considerable enrichment for our database (geothermal gradient and heat flow maps, characterization and descriptions of the warm water aquifers, geochemistry of the thermal springs, area of potential geothermal resources, etc). Morocco counts more than 10 hot aquifers and 50 thermal springs whose emergence temperature varies between 30 and 54°C. Therefore these important hot springs and reservoirs revealed by hydrogeologic and oil wells place the country as promising target in geothermal energy and thermal waters. Geodynamic studies linked the zones showing geothermal gradient and heat flow exceeding 50°C/Km and 100mW/m2 respectively, to Neogene - quaternary volcanic and neotectonic activities. However these thermal phenomena are still not developed and their exploitation limited to drinkable water distribution or to balneotherapy “ancient Hamam”. |