Geotherm
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The Virtual Geophysics Laboratory (VGL) is an environment that was developed as a data discovery and delivery facility with software and computing facilities. This design enables geoscientists to store, discover, retrieve and process datasets. Recent developments are expanding the VGL to incorporate the functionality of the Underworld software. Underworld is open source, parallel software capable of calculating the 3D temperature distribution in the crust. Numerical modelling of temperature is a tool that can be used to predict the temperature distribution at depth between and beneath measurement points based on a 3D geological map. Computing models on a regional scale tends to be computationally intensive, and high-performance computing (HPC) facilities are often required to run computations at full resolution. In order to assess uncertainty quantitatively, HPC facilities are almost always a requirement. The new developments to VGL will facilitate the discovery and access to 3D geological maps. It will also provide easier access to the Underworld software, and will provide the high performance and cloud computing facilities (hosted at the National Computing Infrastructure and elsewhere) required to run large models. The metadata associated with each run performed using VGL is automatically stored, and therefore runs completed on VGL will be repeatable and testable.
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To be technically viable, a geothermal energy prospect has two requirements: sufficiently high temperatures at economically-accessible depths; and a viable reservoir from which to extract the heat by flowing fluid at a suitable rate. In recent years, Geoscience Australia (GA) has applied conductive thermal modelling to 3D geological maps to improve predictive targeting of elevated temperatures in the Australian crust. GA is developing capability to improve targeting of favourable reservoir characteristics, using a combination of geothermal modelling techniques, and the use of geophysical and other geoscience data. GA's assessments of crustal temperature potential have incorporated temperature measurements, heat flow data, thermal conductivity measurements and heat production estimates based on geochemistry data. They have also incorporated other datasets such as outcrop geology, drillhole intersections, seismic and gravity data. GA's initial assessment of North Queensland was qualitative and based on a 2D GIS approach. Subsequent assessments were quantitative and based on 3D thermal models, however, due to computational restrictions; uncertainty in the temperature predictions was assessed only qualitatively. More recently, thermal modelling was conducted on a 3D geological map of the Cooper Basin region in South Australia and Queensland (Meixner et al., 2012) using the SHEMAT software (Clauser, 2003). Uncertainty in the temperature predictions was estimated via a Monte-Carlo based approach using the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) at the Australian National University. The second requirement for a viable geothermal energy prospect is reservoir potential. GA is developing capability to identify reservoir potential using two related approaches. The first involves use of the TOUGH2-MP reservoir modelling code on the NCI. This code will be used to simulate fluid-flow in synthetic geothermal reservoirs with varying geometries and permeability structures, to identify the most desirable characteristics. The second approach involves application of geophysical methods to improve predictive targeting of geothermal reservoirs. GA has used numerical modelling techniques to improve predictive targeting of elevated crustal temperatures and is now building capability to assist predictive targeting of favourable reservoir characteristics. This will allow new geothermal targets to be identified based on the two geological requirements for a successful geothermal prospect. By applying this approach on a national scale, GA will be able to provide an integrated, Australia-wide assessment of geothermal potential. Clauser, C. (ed.), 2003. Numerical Simulation of Reactive Flow in Hot Aquifers: SHEMAT and Processing SHEMAT. Springer-Verlag: Berlin Heidelberg. Meixner, A.J., Kirkby, A.L., Lescinsky, D.T., and Horspool, N., 2012b. The Cooper Basin 3D Map Version 2: Thermal modelling and temperature uncertainty. Record 2012/60. Geoscience Australia: Canberra.
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A new approach for developing a 3D temperature map of the Australian continent is currently being developed that relies on combining available proxy data using high-performance computing and large continental-scale datasets. The new modelling approach brings together the current national-scale knowledge of datasets collected by Geoscience Australia and others, including AusMoho, OZTemp, OzSeebase, OZCHEM, surface temperature, the Surface Geology of Australia, sedimentary basins' thermal conductivity and the National Gravity Map of Australia. Bringing together such a range of datasets provides a geoscientific basis by which to estimate temperature in regions where direct observations are not available. Furthermore, the performance of computing facilities, such as the National Computational Infrastructure, is enabling insights into the nature of Australia's geothermal resources which had not been previously available. This should include developing an understanding of the errors involved in such a study through the quantification of uncertainties. Currently the new approach is being run as a pilot study however, initial results are encouraging. The pilot study has been able to reproduce the temperature trends observed in areas that have been heavily constrained by bore-hole observations. Furthermore, a number of areas have now been identified, due to the difference in their estimated temperature from previous methods, which warrant further study.
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A new approach for developing a 3D temperature map of the Australian continent has been trialled that combines available proxy data using high-performance computing and large continental-scale datasets. The Thermal Map from Assessed Proxies (TherMAP) is a new 3D modelling approach that brings together up-to-date national-scale datasets. Bringing together such a range of datasets provides a geoscientific basis by which to estimate temperature in regions where direct observations are not available. Furthermore, the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) is enabling insights into the nature of Australia's geothermal resources that had not been previously available.
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This map presents radiogenic crustal heat production values calculated from available geochemical data from basement rock exposures from across the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT). Heat production is derived from the radiogenic decay of the radioactive elements, primarily, U, Th and K. This map, along with the companion GA record (2012/63), highlights the magnitude and heterogeneity of crustal heat production across the AAT, and provides earth scientists with the first crustal heat production assessment across much of East Antarctica. Crustal heat production values across the AAT show a wide range from negligible to as much as 65 'Wm-3. Generally, elevated heat production values are characteristic of Cambrian felsic intrusives, with intermediate values from Proterozoic intrusive and metasediments (2-8 Wm-3), and low values (<2 'Wm-3) from Archean rocks. A good illustration of the correlation of geological age with heat production is from Prydz Bay (map 5), where the Vestfold Hills (mostly ~2500 Ma in age) exhibits uniformly low heat production (average ~0.8 'Wm-3), whereas Proterozoic rocks south of the Vestfold Hills have intermediate values (average ~2.6 'Wm-3). Cambrian intrusives, in contrast, have significantly elevated values (average ~15 'Wm-3). We anticipate that this simple compilation of crustal heat production may form a basis for future studies on the thermal structure of the East Antarctic crust, in particular, sub-glacial heat flow, which remains a critical, yet poorly characterised, boundary parameter controlling the dynamic behaviour of the vast Antarctic ice sheet. For further information and data tables, the reader is referred to 'A reconnaissance crustal heat production assessment of the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT)' by C. J. Carson and M. Pittard, GA record 2012/063 (pp 57), Geocat 74073.
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The Australian Geothermal Association compiled data on the installed capacity of direct-use geothermal and geoexchange systems in Australia, including large-scale ground source heat pumps and hot sedimentary applications through to December 2018. Large-scale direct-use hot sedimentary aquifer systems includes systems to heat swimming pools or provide hydronic heating systems. In geoexchange systems, the Earth acts as a heat source or a heat sink, exploiting the temperature difference between the surface (atmosphere) and at depth. The temperature of the Earth just a few metres below the surface is much more consistent than atmospheric temperature, especially in seasonal climates. These resources do not require the addition of geothermal heat.
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The Australian Geothermal Association compiled data on the installed capacity of direct-use geothermal and geoexchange systems in Australia, including large-scale ground source heat pumps and hot sedimentary applications through to December 2018. Large-scale direct-use hot sedimentary aquifer systems includes systems to heat swimming pools or provide hydronic heating systems. In geoexchange systems, the Earth acts as a heat source or a heat sink, exploiting the temperature difference between the surface (atmosphere) and at depth. The temperature of the Earth just a few metres below the surface is much more consistent than atmospheric temperature, especially in seasonal climates. These resources do not require the addition of geothermal heat.
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<p>The Geological Survey of South Australia commissioned the Gawler Craton Airborne Survey (GCAS) as part of the PACE Copper initiative. The airborne geophysical survey was flown over parts of the Gawler Craton in South Australia. The program was designed to capture new baseline geoscientific data to provide further information on the geological context and setting of the area for mineral systems (http://energymining.sa.gov.au/minerals/geoscience/pace_copper/gawler_craton_airborne_survey). <p>The survey design of 200 m spaced lines at a ground clearance of 60 m can be compared with the design of previous regional surveys which generally employed 400 m line spacing and a ground clearance of 80 m. The new survey design results in ~2 x the data coverage and ~25% closer to the ground when compared to previous standards for regional surveys in South Australia. <p>Survey blocks available for download include: <p>Streaky Bay, block 5 <p>Gairdner, block 6A <p>Spencer, block 7 <p>Kingoonya, block 9B <p>The following grids are available in this download: <p>• Laser-derived digital elevation model grids (m). Height relative to the Australian Height Datum. <p>• Radar-derived digital elevation model grids (m). Height relative to the Australian Height Datum. <p>• Total magnetic intensity grid (nT). <p>• Total magnetic intensity grid with variable reduction to the pole applied (nT). <p>• Total magnetic intensity grid with variable reduction to the pole and first vertical derivative applied (nT/m). <p>• Dose rate concentration grid (nGy/hr). <p>• Potassium concentration grid (%). <p>• Thorium concentration grid (ppm). <p>• Uranium concentration grid (ppm). <p>• NASVD processed dose rate concentration grid (nGy/hr). <p>• NASVD processed potassium concentration grid (%). <p>• NASVD processed thorium concentration grid (ppm). <p>• NASVD processed uranium concentration grid (ppm). <p>The following point located data are available in this download: <p>• Elevation. Height relative to the Australian Height Datum. Datum: GDA94 <p>• Total Magnetic Intensity. Datum: GDA94 <p>• Radiometrics. Datum: GDA94
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The collection includes 17,247 measurements of temperature and temperature gradients collected down 5513 individual wells. This information formed the basis for the 'OZTemp Interpreted Temperature at 5km Depth' image of Australia <b>Value: </b>These observations are used to assess heat flow which can be used to infer deep geologic structure, which is valuable for exploration and reconstructions of Australia's evolution <b>Scope: </b>Nationwide collection corresponding to accessible boreholes and published measurements
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<div>Lithospheric structure and composition have direct relevance for our understanding of mineral prospectivity. Aspects of the lithosphere can be imaged using geophysical inversion or analysed from exhumed samples at the surface of the Earth, but it is a challenge to ensure consistency between competing models and datasets. The LitMod platform provides a probabilistic inversion framework that uses geology as the fabric to unify multiple geophysical techniques and incorporates a priori geochemical information. Here, we present results from the application of LitMod to the Australian continent. The rasters summarise the results and performance of a Markov-chain Monte Carlo sampling from the posterior model space. Release FR23 is developed using primary-mode Rayleigh phase velocity grids adapted from Fishwick & Rawlinson (2012).</div><div><br></div><div>Geoscience Australia's Exploring for the Future program provides precompetitive information to inform decision-making by government, community and industry on the sustainable development of Australia's mineral, energy and groundwater resources. By gathering, analysing and interpreting new and existing precompetitive geoscience data and knowledge, we are building a national picture of Australia's geology and resource potential. This leads to a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians. This includes supporting Australia's transition to a low emissions economy, strong resources and agriculture sectors, and economic opportunities and social benefits for Australia's regional and remote communities. The Exploring for the Future program, which commenced in 2016, is an eight year, $225m investment by the Australian Government.</div>