Exploration of Thermal Groundwater from Metamorphic Rock Aquifers in Austria

Abstract

During the past 15 years more than twenty geothermal wells were drilled in Austria. In most cases the targets of thermal water exploration were tertiary sediments and above that, Palaeomic and Mesozoic carbonatic rocks. Three of the geothermal wells drilled in Austria (Gabelhofen Thermal 1, kgenfeld Thermal 2 and Sauerbrunn Thermal 1) were planned to explore thermal ground water in Aquifm of metamorphic rocks. Although most metamorphic rocks have to be regarded to be hydraulically low conductive, depending on the geological settings these formations may play the role of aquifers featured by weathering and brittle deformation. A number d hydrogeological features of metamorphic rocks are presented by these three geothermal wells. They represent examples of successful thermal water exploration in metamorphic rocks.