Geothermal Prospection Using Existing Groundwater Geochemical and Thermal Datasets: Identifying Regions of Interest in Queensland from Government Well and Bore Data

Abstract

Geochemical analysis of well and bore waters has the potential to provide valuable clues in identifying regions of high geothermal potential. Chemical and isotopic markers indicative of the presence of high heat producing granites or other heat producing bodies may be mobilized by flowing groundwater and may make their way to deep wells and bores. Though likely highly diluted, these markers may also be detectable in shallow wells and bores in some regions depending on local geological and hydrological conditions. A significant quantity of data of this type already exists in publicly available government databases. These data are often coarse and of frequently unknown quality, but may prove to be a useful tool in first-order large-scale geothermal prospection. We have obtained such a dataset from the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, and have extensively analysed the data with the aim of identifying potential areas of interest in geothermal prospection. This research represents the first stage of a large multi-stage project in groundwater geochemistry aimed at geothermal prospection.