Calculated heat flow for the Ensenada region, Baja California, Mexico

Abaunza, José María Beltrán; Montoya, Ana Luz Quintanilla

doi:10.7773/cm.v27i4.497

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Chemical and isotopic analyses of water and gas discharges from some of these geothermal systems have confirmed their meteoric origin and have revealed no evidence of a magmatic heat source. This observation aligns with the absence of post-Miocene magmatic rocks in the area (Arango-Galván et al, 2011;Barry et al, 2020;Beltrán-Abaunza & Quintanilla-Montoya, 2001;Gastil & Bertine, 1986;Polyak et al, 1991;Vidal et al, 1981).…”

Section: Geology and Geothermal Manifestations Of The Study Areasupporting

confidence: 87%

Behavior of Amagmatic Orogenic Geothermal Systems: Insights From the Agua Blanca Fault, Baja California, Mexico

Carbajal‐Martínez,

Wanner,

Diamond

et al. 2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Amagmatic geothermal systems within regional‐scale orogenic faults are promising renewable resources for heat and possibly electricity production. However, their behavior needs to be better understood to improve their exploration and assessment of energy potential. To provide more insight, we report geochemical, geological, and geophysical studies from seven hot spring sites strung along a 90 km segment of the Agua Blanca Fault, which traverses a mountainous region of northern Baja California, Mexico. Our results show that topographic heads drive infiltration of meteoric water deep into basement rocks, where it is heated according to the local geothermal gradients. Long paths lead to long water residence times and high 3He/Hetotal fractions. The hot water ascends along preferentially permeable zones within the ABF, discharging at temperatures from 37°C in inland springs to 102°C on the Pacific coast. Higher discharge temperatures correlate positively with the degree of extensional fault displacement (a proxy for fault permeability). Correlations between hydraulic head gradients, residence times, and 3He/Hetotal of the thermal waters show that the hydraulic head gradient controls the length and depth of the flow paths, whereas the magnitudes and locations of the discharge sites are controlled by fault permeability. Optimal conditions at the coast allow the 120°C temperature threshold for electricity production to be reached at relatively shallow depths (<2 km), demonstrating the potential of orogenic geothermal systems not only for exploitation of hot discharging water but also for EGS exploitation of the hot rocks that surround the water upflow zones.

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Section: Geology and Geothermal Manifestations Of The Study Areasupporting

confidence: 87%

Behavior of Amagmatic Orogenic Geothermal Systems: Insights From the Agua Blanca Fault, Baja California, Mexico

Carbajal‐Martínez,

Wanner,

Diamond

et al. 2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…Heat flow measurements are scarce in Mexico, despite being one of the ten countries with the highest electricity production from geothermal energy. Published heat flow maps of the region included data calculated with temperature measurements in wells (Blackwell & Richards, 2004) but most of the heat flow reports were based on estimations, using diverse methods (Marvin, 1984;Prol-Ledesma & Juárez, 1986;Campos-Enriquez et al, 1990;Prol-Ledesma, 1990, 1991bBeltrán-Abaunza & Quintanilla-Montoya, 2001;Prol-Ledesma & Torres-Vera, 2007;Espinosa-Cardeña & Campos-Enríquez, 2008;Manea & Manea, 2010). Heat flow estimations are generally based on silica geothermometer, Curie Temperature Depth, and Helium isotopic ratio ( 3 He/ 4 He) (Swanberg & Morgan, 1978;Okubo, 1985;Polyak, 2005).…”

Section: Heat Flow Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat flow map and geothermal resources in Mexico

Prol‐Ledesma

Cruz

Torres-Vera

et al. 2018

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Heat flow maps are a powerful tool for regional exploration of geothermal resources. Mexico is one of the main producers ofgeothermal energy and the search for undiscovered resources at a regional level should be based on heat flow values. Here, we present a heat flow map at 1:4,000,000 scale, produced with heat flow data compiled from open data bases and previously unpub-lished data. The compiled heat flow data includes bottom hole temperature, temperature logs, transient temperature measurements and measured temperature logs. The new data were calculated from temperature gradient information and estimating a mean con-ductivity value characteristic for the type of rock present in the stratigraphic column or assigning the mean conductivity value for the crust. Geothermal gradient and the thermal resistivity (inverse thermal conductivity) were plotted and heat flow was calculatedusing the Bullard method. The map covers the whole continental territory of Mexico and shows that most of the country has valueshigher than the world average. The highest heat flow values are concentrated in two provinces: the Gulf of California extensionalprovince and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

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