Estimation of Geothermal Potential of Buyuk Menderes Region in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to estimate the geothermal potential of B¸y¸k Menderes region which is considered the most important geothermal province of Turkey. To achive this objective, a new methodology is proposed to estimate geothermal reserves of the characteristic geothermal regions. The available geological, geophysical, geochemical and drilling data of all geothermal areas and anomalies in B. Menderes region are evaluated. Then, distributions of all the necessary input data such as structure, surface area, depth, rock density and porosity are generated. Utilizing these distributions, accessible stored heat distribution of each anomaly is stochastically computed using Monte Carlo technique. By assigning suitable probability values for low and high enthalpy systems, recoverable heat and electrical power potential are computed. The resulting accessible and convertible energy is reported as the total geothermal potential of the B. Menderes graben.