Assessing the geothermal prospect of the West Coast Geothermal Province, India, through geochemical and geophysical investigations: An integrated approach.
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| Title: | Assessing the geothermal prospect of the West Coast Geothermal Province, India, through geochemical and geophysical investigations: An integrated approach. |
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| Authors: | Dudhate, Amar Prakashrao1 (AUTHOR), Ray, Labani1,2 (AUTHOR) labani.ngri@csir.res.in, Kurakalva, Rama Mohan1,2 (AUTHOR), Chopra, Nishu1,2 (AUTHOR), Maurya, Ved Prakash1,2 (AUTHOR), Podugu, Nagaraju1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Geothermics. May2026, Vol. 137, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. |
| Subjects: | Geothermal resources, Geophysical observations, Hot springs, Interdisciplinary research, Subcontinents, Analytical geochemistry |
| Geographic Terms: | India |
| Abstract: | • The WCGP is a fault-controlled geothermal system in a basaltic terrain as inferred from integrated geophysical studies. • Subsurface conduit pathways, along with a high geothermal gradient, lead to attain elevated temperature at shallow depth. • Deep normal rifting structural disturbance fault, as revealed from MT, facilitates the discharge of geothermal fluids. • Geothermal water is of Na-Cl type, meteoric origin, & reservoir temperatures indicate a low to medium enthalpy system. • Consistency in fluid geochemistry over several decades suggests the WCGP hosts a mature and stable geothermal system. The West Coast Geothermal Province (WCGP) hosts 60 hot springs, with temperatures varying between 33°C and 70°C, distributed along the western margin of the Indian subcontinent over a linear stretch of about 350 km within the Deccan Volcanic Province. These hot springs are clustered into 18 distinct locations and are geographically divided into three sectors as Northern, Central and Southern. The present study utilizes published geochemical and geophysical data to assess the geothermal potential and identify key research gaps for facilitating the development of geothermal resources in the WCGP. Geochemical data indicate that geothermal fluids are predominantly of the Na–Cl type, reflecting a strong marine water influence, whereas mixed Ca–Na–HCO₃ type indicates the influence of rock–water interaction. Geothermal water is of meteoric origin as revealed through the isotopic studies and the estimated reservoir temperature is in the range of 75–143°C by silica geothermometry. In the Northern sector, the springs with elevated calcium levels suggest active cation exchange and the dissolution of carbonate or evaporitic minerals. In the Central sector, springs with high fluoride concentrations imply the presence of basement xenoliths within basalt flows. In contrast, springs in the Southern sector are characterized by elevated barium levels, indicating fluid circulation through radiogenic granites. Geophysical datasets identified subsurface faults and conductive features. Deep conductive zones (∼ 1 km) are identified in the Northern sector through telluric studies. Shallow conductive and resistive features (< 100 m) are mapped in the Central and Southern sectors using ERT surveys. Shallow faults, lineaments, and associated conduit pathways are identified from residual gravity & magnetic investigations in the Southern sector. Additionally, shallow (< 200 m) and deep (< 1.5-2 km) conductive zones, consistent with low densities, are characterized from the regional MT and gravity investigations, which represent the fractures and fault system in the Southern sector. Further, structural disturbance with deep normal rift faulting (1-1.5 km) is observed by MT investigations in the Southern sector (Aravalli and Tural areas), facilitating the discharge of thermal fluids to the surface in the form of hot springs. These anomalous subsurface features, along with reported abnormally high borehole temperature values, compared to the regional background, may be linked to the presence of a geothermal source in the subsurface. Thus, the investigations reveal that tectonic faults and associated fluid circulation govern the geothermal system of the WCGP, which exhibits low to medium enthalpy geothermal potential, underscoring its significance for sustainable geothermal energy development in this region. This study identified a significant knowledge gap in characterization of deep geothermal systems, including the lack of data required for quantitative thermal and reservoir modelling. We have therefore developed an integrated conceptual model to understand the geothermal system and proposed a multidisciplinary framework to guide further geothermal resource exploration in the WCGP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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