Utilization of geothermics as a renewable resource. Prospection methods for assessing geothermal areas: geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and geochemistry. From the exploration to the extraction of the geothermal research. The geothermal energy at low, medium and high entalphy.
Geothermal Power Plants, Second Edition: Principles, Applications, Case Studies and Environmental Impact. R. Di Pippo. Geothermal Energy Systems: Exploration, Development, and Utilization. E. Huenges
Learning Objectives
The course will be devoted to exploitation of the geothermal resources in order to develop the renewable energies. The main subjects will be concerning the activity of geophysical, hydrogeological and geochemical prospection along with an adequate geological asset. Part of the course will be regarding the well drillings in geothermal areas and environmental impacts of the waste waters and gases.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
All the lectures are presented in ppt and they will be distributed to the students on a weekly basis and inserted in the Moodle platform.
Type of Assessment
Question time during lectures.
Course program
Introduction to Geothermics – Origin of the terrestrial heat. The geothermal gradient. Stratigraphical and geostructural features of the geothermal areas. Reconstruction of the conceptual models in the geothermal fields. Geophysical, hydrogeological and geochemical prospection. Hydrothermal alteration. Geothermobarometry of water, gas and solid phases. Fluid inclusions. Gas and water geochemistry in geothermal environment. Geothermics in active volcanic areas. 2D and 3D seismic tomography. Electromagnetic methods. Exploration and productive wells. Environmental impact. Induced seismicity by the exploitation of the geothermal resource.