| Title | Hydrostratigraphical Study, Geochemistry of Thermal Springs, Shallow and Deep Geothermal Exploration in Morocco: Hydrogeothermal Potentialities |
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| Authors | Yassine Zarhloule, Salem Bouri, Abderahim Lahrach, Mimoun Boughriba, Abdenbi Elmandour, Hamed Ben Dhia |
| Year | 2005 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | aquifers, thermal springs, geochemistry, temperatures, oil wells, shallow wells, hydrodynamism, geothermal gradient, thermal anomalies, conceptual model, Morocco |
| Abstract | The aim of this paper is to obtain a first reliable evaluation of the geothermal potential of the country. It's caracterised by more than 70 hot springs, several deep hot aquifers, more than 1000 petroleum exploration wells and various existing geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data. So, its was possible to distinguish the mains geothermal features if the country, by evaluating both the underground temperature and the potential reservoirs. The hydrostratigraphical study of each basin revealed several potentiel reservoir layers in which the carbonate aquifer of Turonian (Tadla basin and Agadir basin) and Liasic (North-western basin of Morocco and North-Eastern basin) are the most important hot water reservoirs in Morocco. this study made it possible to identify the main aquifers, their temperatures, depth and extension. A shallow geothermal prospecting has been performed in four zones in Morocco for wich few deep thermal data are available (North-western basin of Morocco, North-Eastern basin of Morocco, Tadla basin and Agadir basin). These areas are different geologically and hydrogeologically. The shallow temperature measurements program has been launched to estimate the natural geothermal gradient in these areas, to determine the principal thermal anomalies, to identify the main thermal indices, and to characterize the recharge, discharge and potential mixing limits of the aquifers.The main thermals clues and the principal thermal anomalies that coincide with zone of artesianism of Turonian and Liasic aquifers have been identified, as well as the potential mixing limit of the aquifers systems. Also,for each basin a conceptual model is presented to interpret the relation between temperature, hydrodynamism and topography within the sedimentary basins . |