Formation Conditions and Geothermal Resources of the Paratunka Geothermal Fields
摘要
The Paratunka and Verkhny Paratunsky deposits (Kamchatka, Russia) are examples of worldwide widespread low-temperature nitrogen (LT N2) geothermal systems. The Paratunka geothermal fields are located 15 km apart, composed of the Eocene–Quaternary volcanic rocks, and characterized by shallow permeable reservoirs with deep conductive roots inherited from extinct volcanoes with circulating SO4–Na nitrogen thermal waters of 60‒90°C. The Paratunka reservoir has a 60-year history of intense exploitation (150‒250 kg/s), whereas the Verkhny Paratunsky reservoir is just being commissioned. A 3D numerical thermohydrodynamic model is developed for the Verkhny Paratunsky and Paratunka LT N2 geothermal system (Kiryukhin et al., 2025), which suggests that the top of the pre-Cretaceous basement is permeable, whereas the roots of extinct volcanoes are the channels for thermal fluid upflows and thermal spring discharge. This numerical model also includes a water recharge area from adjacent highlands. The feasibility of exploiting a potential deep reservoir confined to the structural surface of the pre-Cretaceous basement top (an area of 270 km2) for heat supply and using the binary technologies for electric power generation is confirmed. According to numerical modeling results, the possible initial power generation is estimated at 32.3 MWe.