Although the Adriatic side of Italy shows a low heat flow, due to a fast recent sedimentary deposition and meteoric water infiltration, that depresses the geothermal gradient (Della Vedova et al., 2001), some interesting areas are present along this side, and one of these is Acquasanta thermal area (Central Italy, Fig. 1). Here, thermal springs rise along the Tronto river valley and their temperatures range between 27° and 44°C (Galdenzi et al., 2010). Because the geothermal energy is one of the most promising resources for the forthcoming future, with low environmental impact and excellent sustainability, also from an economic point of view, it is important to perform geological and geochemical preliminary studies to evaluate the potential and sustainability of area such as Acquasanta for the development of the geothermal resource for low and medium enthalpy plants. In this frame, a quantitative structural analysis (i.e. Dezayes et al., 2010, Agosta et al., 2010) is important for the identification of preferential infiltration or rising paths of fluids and to assess the reservoir and the cap rock characteristics. In addition, chemical and isotopic analysis of water are important to define the origin and types of water (i.e. Minissale et al., 2002; Armannsson and Fridriksson, 2009) and its deep circulation. Finally, hydrogeological studies are useful to reconstruct a correct water balance. The aim of our work concern a possible modelling of water circulation at depth, in order to evaluate the geothermal potential in this part of the foredeep basin and its relations to important structural elements. So our preliminary studies regard water chemical and stable isotopes analyses (Fusari et al., 2013) and qualitative and semi-quantitative fracture analyses finalized to understand the hydrogeological pattern and the hot waters ascent path, and to produce a model of the possible thermal reservoir.
Fracture influence on thermal water circulation in foredeep basin: preliminary data from the southern Marche foothills, Italy
FUSARI, ALESSANDRO;INVERNIZZI, Maria Chiara
2013-01-01
Abstract
Although the Adriatic side of Italy shows a low heat flow, due to a fast recent sedimentary deposition and meteoric water infiltration, that depresses the geothermal gradient (Della Vedova et al., 2001), some interesting areas are present along this side, and one of these is Acquasanta thermal area (Central Italy, Fig. 1). Here, thermal springs rise along the Tronto river valley and their temperatures range between 27° and 44°C (Galdenzi et al., 2010). Because the geothermal energy is one of the most promising resources for the forthcoming future, with low environmental impact and excellent sustainability, also from an economic point of view, it is important to perform geological and geochemical preliminary studies to evaluate the potential and sustainability of area such as Acquasanta for the development of the geothermal resource for low and medium enthalpy plants. In this frame, a quantitative structural analysis (i.e. Dezayes et al., 2010, Agosta et al., 2010) is important for the identification of preferential infiltration or rising paths of fluids and to assess the reservoir and the cap rock characteristics. In addition, chemical and isotopic analysis of water are important to define the origin and types of water (i.e. Minissale et al., 2002; Armannsson and Fridriksson, 2009) and its deep circulation. Finally, hydrogeological studies are useful to reconstruct a correct water balance. The aim of our work concern a possible modelling of water circulation at depth, in order to evaluate the geothermal potential in this part of the foredeep basin and its relations to important structural elements. So our preliminary studies regard water chemical and stable isotopes analyses (Fusari et al., 2013) and qualitative and semi-quantitative fracture analyses finalized to understand the hydrogeological pattern and the hot waters ascent path, and to produce a model of the possible thermal reservoir.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
