ELECTROMAGNETIC STUDIES IN GEOTHERMAL REGIONS

During the past 25 yr, nearly all available electromagnetic and geoelectric techniques have been tested for their usefulness in geothermal exploration and exploitation. Dipole-dipole profiling, audiomagnetotellurics and controlled source electromagnetic methods are examples of those which have proven to be rather efficient for geothermal exploration. From the hundreds of field surveys which have been performed in many geothermal regions of the world, a large variety of geothermal regions and local geothermal systems, with different geological, hydrological and heat transfer characteristics, has been found to exist. Depending on the combination of these different characteristics each geothermal region or system presents a new problem which may need a different field technique or group of field techniques for optimal exploration. Despite these problems, new geothermal regions have been detected and structures and processes in geothermal systems are now much better understood. For example, advances have been made in the study of (a) the characteristics of porous/permeable hot water/vapor reservoirs and of fractioned zones for hot water/vapor circulation and production (b) the distribution and movement of cold meteoric and of hot water (c) the thermal insulation of reservoirs by cap-rocks (d) convective and/or conductive heat transfer and (e) the thermal influence of magma intrusions to high crustal levels.