Geothermal Exploration on the Island of Montserrat, Caribbean

Abstract

Montserrat is located in the Caribbean and, as with many of the islands of the Caribbean Lesser Antilles, is volcanic in origin. As a result, many of the islands have a potential for geothermal electrical power generation. EGS, Inc. (EGS) was contracted by the Government of Montserrat to conduct a scoping survey on geothermal activity on the island, and to develop a conceptual resource model based on existing and new exploration data. The exploration work completed by EGS included geologic, geophysical and geochemical surveys; lithologic correlation and structural interpretation constitute the geologic part of the work; the geophysical work included Magnetotelluric, Time-Domain Electromagnetic Induction techniques as well as a microseismicity study. Fluid geochemistry analyses consist of both a set of data from previous surveys and a new set of samples. All the data compiled led to a high probability for the occurrence of a geothermal system in the southwestern portion on the island. Priority areas for exploratory drilling were defined in a zone protected from volcanic hazard and corresponding to the intersection of faults and where a clay cap has been defined by the geophysical survey.