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Heat Transfer Through the Wairakei‐Tauhara Geothermal System Quantified by Multi‐Channel Data Modeling
Author(s) -
Ardid Alberto,
Archer Rosalind,
Bertrand Edward,
Sepulveda Fabian,
Tarits Pascal,
Dempsey David
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl092056
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , magnetotellurics , geology , lithology , geothermal exploration , heat transfer , petrology , geothermal energy , petroleum engineering , geophysics , engineering , physics , electrical engineering , electrical resistivity and conductivity , thermodynamics
To obtain the fullest picture of geothermal systems, it is necessary to integrate different types of data, for example, surface electromagnetic surveys, lithology, geochemistry, and temperature logs. Here, by joint modeling a multichannel data set we quantify the spatial distribution of heat transfer through the hydrothermally altered, impermeable smectite layer that has developed atop the Wairakei‐Tauhara system, New Zealand. Our approach involves first constraining magnetotelluric inversion models with methylene blue analysis (an indicator of conductive clay) and mapping these onto temperature and lithology data from geothermal wells. Then, one‐dimensional models are fitted to the temperature data to estimate heat flux variations across the field. As a result, we have been able to map the primary seal that insulates the geothermal reservoir and estimate the heat flow of the system. The approach could be applied in geothermal provinces around the world with implications for sustainable resource management and our understanding of these magmatic systems.