GIS Services and Geothermal Exploration

One part of Mannvit's geothermal services is geothermal exploration and site location for geothermal wells. In this work, a Geographical Information System (GIS) turns out to be very powerful tool in various kinds of decision making. The ability to compare and overlay geological and geophysical data from various datasets is a great asset for Mannvit's Geologists and Geophysicists.

When choosing well locations for possible geothermal fields, three parameters are most important:

• Suitable type of bedrock is needed and proven by existing well data
• Areas with fractured bedrock found by seismic interpretations
• Possible geothermal areas with high porosity and high permeability at a favorable depth found by AMT/MT and gravity measurements.

Positive areas based on these three parameters are outlined in GIS. Well sites are then located where positive areas from each parameter intersect. There we can expect to find the most suitable reservoirs for geothermal development.

When well sites are located, Mannvit uses ArcGIS extensions and 3D analysis to create a 3D model to illustrate the layered and fractured crust beneath the outlined well site. The main purpose of this modeling is to help with the well design and determining the exact location, route and depth of the well.