Estimate of the Aquifer Temperature of Assammaqieh Well in Akkar by Geothermometric Equations

Abstract

This research aims at estimating the temperature of the aquifer that supplies Assammaqieh well at the depth of 550 m, on the basis of chemical analyses and geothermometric techniques which are one of the methods used for searching for the renewable geothermal energy and conserving the environment. In this study, about twenty-two geothermometric indicators have been used. For verifying the results, these results have been compared with data and estimates of temperature of fluids of deep typical wells in New Zealand, and it has been noticed that the theoretical and actual results approach the limits of 95% in many indicators. The study has been restricted to the relations of Cations because they are the most reliable, and the least affected by dissolution and evaporation. Most of the indicators that are based on the four chemical elements: Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), have been adopted. The laboratory analysis data of Assammaqieh well confirmed that it was hot sulphurous water that acquired its chemical properties from complicated geochemical conditions, underground thermal conditions and volcanic rock nature. It also turned out that the underground heating process was basically due to thermal conductivity and rock adjacency, and that Assammaqieh well was supplied with water from adjacent groundwater tables whose source was the penetration of surface water. It also appeared that most of the equations used in the search for geothermal energy revealed the presence of an aquifer of hot and very hot water, and they were compatible with the high thermal gradient in volcanic rocks. It also tuned out that 86% of the used geothermometric equations estimated the aquifer temperature of Assammaqieh well as being hot and very hot with around 135.5 Celsius (±20). The study concluded with the hypothesis that Akkar possessed a huge geothermal energy, and benefiting from this energy might put an end to the chronic problem of electricity in Lebanon, and opened up many prospects and uses that could participate in a sustainable and comprehensive development of Akkar and Lebanon as a whole.