Geothermal Exploration in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Geothermal energy is keenly sought as a sustainable, low emissions energy source for Victoria. Exploration companies have been active since 2006 looking for geothermal systems where temperatures of greater than 150 C would allow electricity generation. Initial exploration was largely guided by legacy temperature data in groundwater and petroleum bores but lots of dedicated heat flow data is now being acquired, including a State-wide program by the government. Active volcanic systems are not present but there is good potential for hot sedimentary aquifers already known from the legacy data. Other heat sources such as Palaeozoic radioactive granites or residual magmatic heat from recent basaltic volcanism are possible but data is very limited. As exploration progresses, a number of different geothermal play types across the various heat sources are being investigated. A number of inferred resources have already been declared, in preparation for deep appraisal drilling.