Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China

The escalating issues of worldwide energy scarcity and environmental contamination have brought geothermal resources into the spotlight as a sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternative. The circum-Wugongshan geothermal belt has abundant geothermal resources at a medium-low temperature, offering...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luyao Wang, Kai Liu, Shouchuan Zhang, Yaoyao Zhang, Wuhui Jia, Tingxi Yu, Junhan Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1226074/full
_version_ 1797744947266322432
author Luyao Wang
Kai Liu
Kai Liu
Shouchuan Zhang
Yaoyao Zhang
Wuhui Jia
Tingxi Yu
Tingxi Yu
Junhan Guo
author_facet Luyao Wang
Kai Liu
Kai Liu
Shouchuan Zhang
Yaoyao Zhang
Wuhui Jia
Tingxi Yu
Tingxi Yu
Junhan Guo
author_sort Luyao Wang
collection DOAJ
description The escalating issues of worldwide energy scarcity and environmental contamination have brought geothermal resources into the spotlight as a sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternative. The circum-Wugongshan geothermal belt has abundant geothermal resources at a medium-low temperature, offering significant potential for development and utilization. In this study, samples of geothermal groundwater, cold spring water, and surface water were collected from the western Wugongshan area. Hydrochemical and thermodynamic methods were used to estimate the reservoir temperature and analyze its mechanism of origin. The results of these analyses indicated that, in terms of hydrochemical characteristics, most geothermal groundwater samples were Na-HCO3 and Na-SO4, while cold spring and surface water samples were Na-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3, respectively. Quartz and multicomponent geothermometers provided the most reliable estimations of reservoir temperatures, ranging from 64.8°C to 93.4°C. The circulation depth of geothermal water was found to range from 1729.3 m to 2,292.5 m. A mixing model indicated that shallow cold water was blended at a rate of 62.1%–78.8%. The δD and δ18O values validated the conclusion that the geothermal water originates from atmospheric precipitation, with recharge elevations varying between 503.1 m and 1,375.6 m. Based on the above analysis, a conceptual model is proposed to illustrate the mechanism of geothermal groundwater genesis.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T15:16:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e7cc736e14b3464fae2c1828c3fc2e52
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-6463
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T15:16:27Z
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Earth Science
spelling doaj.art-e7cc736e14b3464fae2c1828c3fc2e522023-08-11T12:25:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632023-08-011110.3389/feart.2023.12260741226074Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast ChinaLuyao Wang0Kai Liu1Kai Liu2Shouchuan Zhang3Yaoyao Zhang4Wuhui Jia5Tingxi Yu6Tingxi Yu7Junhan Guo8Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geoscience (Beijing), Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geoscience (Beijing), Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaThe escalating issues of worldwide energy scarcity and environmental contamination have brought geothermal resources into the spotlight as a sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternative. The circum-Wugongshan geothermal belt has abundant geothermal resources at a medium-low temperature, offering significant potential for development and utilization. In this study, samples of geothermal groundwater, cold spring water, and surface water were collected from the western Wugongshan area. Hydrochemical and thermodynamic methods were used to estimate the reservoir temperature and analyze its mechanism of origin. The results of these analyses indicated that, in terms of hydrochemical characteristics, most geothermal groundwater samples were Na-HCO3 and Na-SO4, while cold spring and surface water samples were Na-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3, respectively. Quartz and multicomponent geothermometers provided the most reliable estimations of reservoir temperatures, ranging from 64.8°C to 93.4°C. The circulation depth of geothermal water was found to range from 1729.3 m to 2,292.5 m. A mixing model indicated that shallow cold water was blended at a rate of 62.1%–78.8%. The δD and δ18O values validated the conclusion that the geothermal water originates from atmospheric precipitation, with recharge elevations varying between 503.1 m and 1,375.6 m. Based on the above analysis, a conceptual model is proposed to illustrate the mechanism of geothermal groundwater genesis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1226074/fullgeothermal resourcesreservoir temperaturegeothermometersmechanism of originWugongshan area
spellingShingle Luyao Wang
Kai Liu
Kai Liu
Shouchuan Zhang
Yaoyao Zhang
Wuhui Jia
Tingxi Yu
Tingxi Yu
Junhan Guo
Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
Frontiers in Earth Science
geothermal resources
reservoir temperature
geothermometers
mechanism of origin
Wugongshan area
title Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
title_full Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
title_fullStr Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
title_short Estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome-controlled geothermal system in the western Wugongshan area, southeast China
title_sort estimation of reservoir temperature and analysis of the mechanism of origin of a granite dome controlled geothermal system in the western wugongshan area southeast china
topic geothermal resources
reservoir temperature
geothermometers
mechanism of origin
Wugongshan area
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1226074/full
work_keys_str_mv AT luyaowang estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT kailiu estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT kailiu estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT shouchuanzhang estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT yaoyaozhang estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT wuhuijia estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT tingxiyu estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT tingxiyu estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina
AT junhanguo estimationofreservoirtemperatureandanalysisofthemechanismoforiginofagranitedomecontrolledgeothermalsysteminthewesternwugongshanareasoutheastchina