Imaging a Geothermal System Using Controlled-Source Electromagnetics
- Key words
- Exploration; electromagnetics, CSAMT, electrical conductivity, inversion, imaging, geothermal
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2006
- Session
- Exploration; electromagnetics; CSAMT; electrical conductivit
- Language
- English
Abstract
Geothermal reservoir fluids are electrically conductive and thus provide a suitable target for imaging with electromagnetic techniques. In this study, controlled source audio frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) data were collected above a geothermal site. These CSAMT data were subsequently inverted in 1D and 3D. The results of these inversions provide us with an electrical conductivity image of the subsurface, which is useful in understanding the geothermal fluid flow paths. Although there are differences in the models obtained from the 1D and 3D inversions due to limitations of 1D inversion algorithms, the major features in the subsurface model are similar i.e. the conductive zones. This reinforces confidence in our results about the presence of conductive bodies that are suggestive of possible geothermal targets.
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