There are 4 basic requirements for a hydrothermal resource. 1st, a heat source or an area with an anomalously high geothermal gradient. 2nd, the rocks need to be permeable so water can flow through them, fracturing of rocks often produces the necessary porosity. 3rd, the rocks need to be saturated with water. Most often this is rain water that has percolated down through the rocks. 4th, an impermeable cap rock is necessary to trap the heated water.
In some hydrothermal systems such as the Geysers Plant in California dry steam can be tapped directly and used to turn turbines and generate electricity.
Geothermal 5
Back to Lecture Topics