Chemical geothermometers for geothermal exploration

Abstract

Chemical and isotope geothermometers constitute an important geochemical tool for the exploration and development of geothermal resources. They are also important during exploitation in monitoring the response of geothermal reservoirs to production load. During the exploration phase, geothermometry is used to estimate subsurface temperatures, i.e., temperatures expected to be encountered by drilling, using the chemical and isotopic composition of the hot spring and fumarole discharges. During the later phases in geothermal development and monitoring, geothermometry has been successfully applied to interpret the composition of well discharges with respect to locating the levels of producing horizons in the wells. Geothermometry is also useful in elucidating chemical reactions occurring in the zone of depressurization around wells that result from boiling and or cooling by recharging cold water.