Remote Sensing Applied to Geothermal Exploration of Los Humeros Geothermal Field. Mexico

Abstract

The characterization of areas with a high potential for geothermal exploitation is attempted using Landsat MSS satellite images processing and the analyses of topographic, geologic and tectonic maps. The target area was Los Humeros geothermal field (Mexico), where exploration studies are already in an advanced stage. The location of lineaments was obtained through the application of directional filtering and artificial illumination to images and to a digital terrain model. _ Through the combination of both methods unreported faults related to wells with a good production of geothermal fluid were identified. On the basis of the occurrence of hydrothermal minerals and of fluid inclusion data, a model of the outflows of the reservoir is proposed, and these coincide with the main local recharge areas and the deepest faults and fractures related to the calderas collapse and to regional tectonics.