27 Introduction • Heat Pumps: Stable subsurface temperatures (10–16 °C) for efficient building heating and cooling. Geothermal Resources • Conventional Hydrothermal Systems: These systems involve naturally occurring hot water or steam reservoirs. They are typically used in volcanic or highgeothermal-gradient areas and are well-suited for electricity generation. • Non-Conventional Systems (Enhanced Geothermal Systems and Closed Loop). In regions lacking natural hydrothermal reservoirs, EGS can artificially create or enhance pathways in hot dry rock/low permeability rocks for water to circulate, picking up heat for use at the surface. Closed-loop systems involve circulating a working fluid through pipes underground without any interaction with natural groundwater, making them potentially viable and after a complete economic assessment in a broad range of geological environments. Hydrothermal Play Conventional hydrothermal systems exploration requires four key elements: a heat source (e.g., magmatic activity or geothermal gradients), a porous and permeable reservoir for fluid storage, a circulating fluid to transfer heat, and a caprock to trap fluids. Geophysical methods can contribute to the assessment of these components. Derisking subsurface elements • Identifying subsurface structures: For instance, faults, fractures, and geological boundaries between different geological formations are important to characterize. • Mapping temperature distribution: Mapping the temperature distribution underground and monitoring its variation over time allows engineers to target regions with sufficient heat for effective geothermal energy production. • Characterizing reservoirs: It is important to have insights into rock types and properties away from the wellbore to estimate the size, depth, porosity, permeability and productive thickness of the geothermal reservoir. • Characterizing geothermal fluids: Identifying fluid pathways, assessing fluid properties, tracking thermal and cold fronts in the reservoir are important to address success. • Fault activity assessment: Avoiding active faults minimizes the risk of induced seismicity and other drilling complications, enhancing operational safety. • Real-time well steering: Need reassurance on optimal drilling trajectories by guiding wells toward the targeted zones.
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