Geophysical survey of geothermal energy potential in the Liaoji Belt, northeastern China

Abstract

Abstract The Liaodong area which lies in the Liaoji Belt of northeastern China is rich in geothermal resources, but locating the resources is challenging. Here non-seismic geophysical data, existing geological data and the physical properties of rocks are examined to locate and characterise potential geothermal resources. High-precision gravity, aeromagnetic and magnetotelluric data are analysed to determine the characteristics of the hidden faults in the region and map the spatial distribution of the subsurface rock mass and its properties. The distribution of hidden faults and the basic characteristics of the rock mass were determined via Euler deconvolution of the gravity and aeromagnetic data. The subsurface extension of concealed faults, the spatial distribution of intrusive rocks, and the specific locations of underground thermal storage structures were determined from magnetotelluric data analysis, thereby enabling geothermal energy targets to be identified. The results highlight four potential sites of geothermal energy development in the study area, which indicate that non-seismic geophysical data can provide reliable clues to the geothermal energy potential in a given region.

Keywords

• Liaoji Belt
• Gravity
• Aeromagnetic
• Magnetotelluric
• Liaodong area
• Geothermal resource