Fault Intersection
From Open Energy Information
Fault Intersection:
Fault intersections are junctions between normal faults and either transversely oriented strike-slip or oblique-slip faults. Subsurface fluid flow in these areas is enhanced by multiple minor faults that connect the major intersecting structures, forming highly fractured zones or dilational quadrants with increased permeability.
Controlling Structures
List of controlling structures typically associated with geothermal systems:
There are numerous configurations fault intersections can make, this figure illustrates a simplified fault intersection with an initial fault that get crossed by a later fault at a 90 degree angle. http://homepage.ufp.pt/biblioteca/WebBasPrinTectonics/BasPrincTectonics/Page5.htm
Faulds uses these terms (fault intersection and a subset classification - displacement transfer zone) as structural controls found in the Basin and Range province of the US.
Fault intersections between normal faults and transversely oriented strike-slip or oblique-slip faults account for 22% of the Basin & Range structures known to host geothermal systems as of 2011. Multiple minor faults in these areas create connections between major structures, allowing fluids to flow through highly fractured dilational quadrants.[1]
Examples
Want to add an example to this list? Select a Geothermal Resource Area to edit its "Controlling Structures" property using the "Edit with Form" option.
CSV| Geothermal Resource Area | Geothermal Region | Tectonic Setting | Host Rock Age | Host Rock Lithology | Mean Capacity | Mean Reservoir Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bac-Man Laguna Geothermal Area | Philippine Island Arc | Subduction Zone | Volcanic | 150 MW 150,000 kW 150,000,000 W 150,000,000,000 mW 0.15 GW 1.5e-4 TW | 543.15 K 270 °C 518 °F 977.67 °R | |
| Blue Mountain Geothermal Area | Northwest Basin and Range Geothermal Region | Extensional Tectonics | Triassic | Metasedimentary | 49.5 MW 49,500 kW 49,500,000 W 49,500,000,000 mW 0.0495 GW 4.95e-5 TW | 470.15 K 197 °C 386.6 °F 846.27 °R |
| Bouillante Geothermal Area | Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc | Subduction Zone | Chlorite | 15 MW 15,000 kW 15,000,000 W 15,000,000,000 mW 0.015 GW 1.5e-5 TW | 528.15 K 255 °C 491 °F 950.67 °R | |
| Chena Geothermal Area | Alaska Geothermal Region | Non-Tectonic | 90 Ma | Granitic Pluton | 0.4 MW 400 kW 400,000 W 400,000,000 mW 4.0e-4 GW 4.0e-7 TW | 371.15 K 98 °C 208.4 °F 668.07 °R |
| Germencik Geothermal Area | Aegean-West Anatolian Extensional Region | Extensional Tectonics | Marble | 73.4 MW 73,400 kW 73,400,000 W 73,400,000,000 mW 0.0734 GW 7.34e-5 TW | 491.15 K 218 °C 424.4 °F 884.07 °R | |
| Gumuskoy Geothermal Area | Aegean-West Anatolian Extensional Region | Extensional Tectonics Strike-Slip | Paleozic | Marble | 13.2 MW 13,200 kW 13,200,000 W 13,200,000,000 mW 0.0132 GW 1.32e-5 TW | 413.15 K 140 °C 284 °F 743.67 °R |
| Kagoshima Geothermal Area | Ryuku Arc | Subduction Zone | Neogene to recent | Volcanic Rocks, Andesite | 0.1 MW 100 kW 100,000 W 100,000,000 mW 1.0e-4 GW 1.0e-7 TW | 512.15 K 239 °C 462.2 °F 921.87 °R |
| Kawerau Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Extensional Tectonics Subduction Zone | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic; Sandstone; Mudstone | 115 MW 115,000 kW 115,000,000 W 115,000,000,000 mW 0.115 GW 1.15e-4 TW | 543.15 K 270 °C 518 °F 977.67 °R |
| Kizildere Geothermal Area | Aegean-West Anatolian Extensional Region | Extensional Tectonics | Miocene | Limestone | 102 MW 102,000 kW 102,000,000 W 102,000,000,000 mW 0.102 GW 1.02e-4 TW | 459.15 K 186 °C 366.8 °F 826.47 °R |
| Lahendong Geothermal Area | Minahasa Volcanic Zone | Subduction Zone | Miocene | Andesite | 80 MW 80,000 kW 80,000,000 W 80,000,000,000 mW 0.08 GW 8.0e-5 TW | 578.15 K 305 °C 581 °F 1,040.67 °R |
| Lightning Dock Geothermal Area | Southern Basin and Range Geothermal Region | Extensional Tectonics | Paleozoic carbonate rocks and late Tertiary volcanic rocks | 4.4 MW 4,400 kW 4,400,000 W 4,400,000,000 mW 0.0044 GW 4.4e-6 TW | 443.15 K 170 °C 338 °F 797.67 °R | |
| Mokai Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Extensional Tectonics Subduction Zone | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 112 MW 112,000 kW 112,000,000 W 112,000,000,000 mW 0.112 GW 1.12e-4 TW | 568.15 K 295 °C 563 °F 1,022.67 °R |
| Mutnovskaya Geothermal Area | Kuril-Kamchatka Arc | Subduction Zone | Oligocene | 62 MW 62,000 kW 62,000,000 W 62,000,000,000 mW 0.062 GW 6.2e-5 TW | 507.15 K 234 °C 453.2 °F 912.87 °R | |
| North Brawley Geothermal Area | Gulf of California Rift Zone | Strike-Slip | Arkosic and quartz dominated sandstones | 50 MW 50,000 kW 50,000,000 W 50,000,000,000 mW 0.05 GW 5.0e-5 TW | 539.15 K 266 °C 510.8 °F 970.47 °R | |
| Ohaaki Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Extensional Tectonics Subduction Zone | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 122 MW 122,000 kW 122,000,000 W 122,000,000,000 mW 0.122 GW 1.22e-4 TW | 538.15 K 265 °C 509 °F 968.67 °R |
| Raft River Geothermal Area | Northern Basin and Range Geothermal Region | Extensional Tectonics | 1- Archean; 2-Proterozoic | 1- quartz monzonite; 2-schist; quartzite | 13 MW 13,000 kW 13,000,000 W 13,000,000,000 mW 0.013 GW 1.3e-5 TW | 468.15 K 195 °C 383 °F 842.67 °R |
| Rotokawa Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Extensional Tectonics Subduction Zone | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 167 MW 167,000 kW 167,000,000 W 167,000,000,000 mW 0.167 GW 1.67e-4 TW | 573.15 K 300 °C 572 °F 1,031.67 °R |
| Steamboat Springs Geothermal Area | Walker-Lane Transition Zone | Extensional Tectonics | 1- Cretaceous; 2- Pliocene-Pleistocene | 1- granodiorite; 2- basaltic andesite | 147 MW 147,000 kW 147,000,000 W 147,000,000,000 mW 0.147 GW 1.47e-4 TW | 483.15 K 210 °C 410 °F 869.67 °R |
| Sumatra-Sibayak Geothermal Area | Sunda Volcanic Arc - Great Sumatra Fault Zone | Subduction Zone | Tertiary | Sandstone; Limestone | 12 MW 12,000 kW 12,000,000 W 12,000,000,000 mW 0.012 GW 1.2e-5 TW | 543.15 K 270 °C 518 °F 977.67 °R |
| Svartsengi Geothermal Area | Mid Atlantic Ridge | Rift Zone | Basalt | 76 MW 76,000 kW 76,000,000 W 76,000,000,000 mW 0.076 GW 7.6e-5 TW | 513.15 K 240 °C 464 °F 923.67 °R | |
| Tuzla Geothermal Area | Aegean-West Anatolian Extensional Region | Extensional Tectonics | 8 MW 8,000 kW 8,000,000 W 8,000,000,000 mW 0.008 GW 8.0e-6 TW | 405.15 K 132 °C 269.6 °F 729.27 °R | ||
| Valles Caldera - Redondo Geothermal Area | Rio Grande Rift | Extensional Tectonics Rift Zone | Mississippian-Pennsylvanian; Pleistocene, 1.6 to 1.25 Ma | Limestone-Madera Formation “MIPu”; Rhyolitic tuff-Intracaldera Bandelier Tuff (upper Tshirege “Qbt” and lower Otowi “Qbo” members); Caldera Fill Rhyolite (shallow) | ||
| Valles Caldera - Sulphur Springs Geothermal Area | Rio Grande Rift | Extensional Tectonics Rift Zone | Precambrian; Mississippian-Pennsylvanian; Pleistocene, 1.6 to 1.25 Ma; Pliocene; Miocene | Crystalline basement “pCu”; Limestone-Madera Formation “MIPu”; Rhyolitic tuff-Bandelier Tuff (upper Tshirege “Qbt” and lower Otowi “Qbo” members); Caldera Fill Rhyolite (shallow); Dacitic/Andesitic to Rhyolitic lavas and tuffs-Keres Group Volcanics (shallow); Santa Fe Group volcaniclastics “Tsf” | ||
| Wairakei-Poihipi Geothermal Area | Taupo Volcanic Zone | Extensional Tectonics Subduction Zone | Quaternary | Volcaniclastic | 352 MW 352,000 kW 352,000,000 W 352,000,000,000 mW 0.352 GW 3.52e-4 TW | 483.15 K 210 °C 410 °F 869.67 °R |
| Yangbajain Geothermal Area | Himalayan Mountain Range | 24 MW 24,000 kW 24,000,000 W 24,000,000,000 mW 0.024 GW 2.4e-5 TW | 478.15 K 205 °C 401 °F 860.67 °R |
References
- ↑ James E. Faulds,Nicholas H. Hinz,Mark F. Coolbaugh,Patricia H. Cashman,Christopher Kratt,Gregory Dering,Joel Edwards,Brett Mayhew,Holly McLachlan. 2011. Assessment of Favorable Structural Settings of Geothermal Systems in the Great Basin, Western USA. In: Transactions. GRC Anual Meeting; 2011/10/23; San Diego, CA. Davis, CA: Geothermal Resources Council; p. 777–783