Unravelling the terrestrial heat flow of a young orogen: The example of the northern Apennines

Verdoya, Massimo; Chiozzi, P.; Gola, Gianluca

doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101993

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This sector of the Apennine chain is characterized by thrust anticlines involving a Mesozoic-Tertiary sedimentary succession [26], mainly consisting of pelagic carbonates of the Umbria-Marche domain, deposited since the Late Triassic in the subsiding northern sector of the Adriatic Promontory [27]. This side of the Apennine chain is characterised by an estimated surface conductive heat flux ranging between 30 and 50 mW m −2 [28][29][30] (Figure 1b). However, it has been suggested that a much higher advective heat flux is transported from depth by CO 2 rich fluids, which enter the carbonate aquifers of the inner part of the mountain chain and mix with meteoric waters, producing an amount of geothermal heat transported by the central Apennine cold groundwaters up to 2.1 × 10 3 MW [31].…”

Section: Study Area and Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining the Shallow Geothermal Heat-Exchange Potential for a Lower Fluvial Plain of the Central Apennines: The Metauro Valley (Marche Region, Italy)

Taussi

Borghi²,

Gliaschera³

et al. 2021

Energies

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In this work we assessed the shallow geothermal heat-exchange potential of a fluvial plain of the Central Apennines, the lower Metauro Valley, where about 90,000 people live. Publicly available geognostic drilling data from the Italian Seismic Microzonation studies have been exploited together with hydrogeological and thermophysical properties of the main geological formations of the area. These data have been averaged over the firsts 100 m of subsoil to define the thermal conductivity, the specific heat extraction rates of the ground and to establish the geothermal potential of the area (expressed in MWh y−1). The investigation revealed that the heat-exchange potential is mainly controlled by the bedrock lithotypes and the saturated conditions of the sedimentary infill. A general increase in thermal conductivity, specific heat extraction and geothermal potential have been mapped moving from the coast, where higher sedimentary infill thicknesses have been found, towards the inland where the carbonate bedrock approaches the surface. The geothermal potential of the investigated lower Metauro Valley is mostly between ~9.0 and ~10 MWh y−1 and the average depth to be drilled to supply a standard domestic power demand of 4.0 kW is ~96 m (ranging from 82 to 125 m all over the valley). This investigation emphasizes that the Seismic Microzonation studies represent a huge database to be exploited for the best assessment of the shallow geothermal potential throughout the Italian regions, which can be addressed by the implementation of heating and cooling through vertical closed-loop borehole heat exchanger systems coupled with geothermal heat pumps.

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Section: Study Area and Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining the Shallow Geothermal Heat-Exchange Potential for a Lower Fluvial Plain of the Central Apennines: The Metauro Valley (Marche Region, Italy)

Taussi

Borghi²,

Gliaschera³

et al. 2021

Energies

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“…To obtain a better understanding of the thermal structure of the study area, our results were compared with previous studies [8,10,82]. Pauselli et al [10] produced a surface heat flow map of central Italy constrained by available thermal and petrophysical logs from wells drilled for geothermal and hydrocarbon exploration purposes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controls of Radiogenic Heat and Moho Geometry on the Thermal Setting of the Marche Region (Central Italy): An Analytical 3D Geothermal Model

et al. 2021

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Using published cross-sections and a series of geological constraints, a 3D geological model of an important area of the Adriatic sector of peninsular Italy—i.e., the Marche region—was developed. Then, an analytical procedure, taking into account the heat rising from the mantle and the radiogenic heat produced by the crust, was applied on the pre-built structural model, in order to obtain the 3D geothermal setting of the entire region. The results highlighted the key role played by the Moho geometry, particularly as a step of ~10 km occurs between the Adriatic Moho of the subducting plate to the west and the new Tyrrhenian Moho characterizing the back-arc area to the west. The comparison between our results and available borehole data suggests a good fit between the applied analytical methodology and published datasets. A visible anomaly is located at a specific site (i.e., the coastal town of Senigallia), where it may be envisaged that fluid circulation produced a local surface heat flow increase; this makes the Senigallia area a promising feature for the possible exploitation of geothermal systems.

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“…They completed this analysis for both geothermal power production and heat extraction: for the latter, they forecasted a magnitude of 880-1050 TWh•yr −1 by 2050, mainly to provide heat in residential and commercial sectors. Likewise, recent investigations attempted to estimate the geothermal potentials, modelling heat by analysing deep geothermal resources in various Italian regions and reconstructing heat-flow maps for different Italian regions [26][27][28][29][30]. Some of this research was carried out as part of the VIGOR project.…”

Section: Shallow Geothermal Energy Systems: European and Italian Fram...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Groundwater Heat Pump Systems in the Italian Framework: Technological Potential and Environmental Limits

et al. 2023

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For new buildings in densely urbanised cities, groundwater heat pump systems (GWHPs) represent a concrete, effective solution for decarbonising existing energy systems. Environmental factors must be considered to limit the GWHP system’s impact on the subsurface. Particular attention must be given to the long-term sustainability of groundwater abstraction modalities and the development of a thermally affected zone around re-injection wells. Simplified solutions and numerical models have been applied to predict subsurface heat transport mechanisms; these simulations allow researchers to consider site-specific geological conditions, transient heat and groundwater flow regimes, and anisotropies in the subsurface media. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the current research on GWHPs and discusses the benefits and limitations of their diffusion in Italy. The sources used provide information on and examples of the correct methodological approaches for depicting the induced variations while avoiding the overestimation or underestimation of the impact that GWHPs have on exploited aquifers.

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Unravelling the terrestrial heat flow of a young orogen: The example of the northern Apennines

Cited by 11 publications

References 46 publications

Defining the Shallow Geothermal Heat-Exchange Potential for a Lower Fluvial Plain of the Central Apennines: The Metauro Valley (Marche Region, Italy)

Defining the Shallow Geothermal Heat-Exchange Potential for a Lower Fluvial Plain of the Central Apennines: The Metauro Valley (Marche Region, Italy)

Controls of Radiogenic Heat and Moho Geometry on the Thermal Setting of the Marche Region (Central Italy): An Analytical 3D Geothermal Model

A Review of Groundwater Heat Pump Systems in the Italian Framework: Technological Potential and Environmental Limits

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