Abstract
In the present work, the geothermal resources of the Gulf of Suez (GOS) were investigated using category of integrated datasets (i.e., well logs, earthquake events, geochemical and biological indicators). The earthquake data show that the focal depth range of 5–50 km is strongly consistent with the distribution of geothermal anomalies. The temperature profiles show low-to-regular geothermal regimes in many places, ranging from 17.0 to 30.0 °C/Km; meanwhile a higher temperature gradient (>42.30 °C/Km) was recorded in geothermally active areas. The estimated heat generation values from the gamma ray and density logs are as low as 1.50 mW/m3, indicating minor contribution of radioactive decay to the geothermal potentiality. The physicochemical and biological parameters clarified that the thermal water conditions were selective. The subsurface conditions in terms of reservoir temperature and heat flow were determined using geo-thermometers, and found to be 96.33, 81.71 and 85.57 °C and 123.86, 102.12 and 107.83 mW/m2 for Hammam Faroun, Hammam Musa and Ain Sukhna, respectively. The geothermal reserve results show that the geothermal potential of GOS can be used for low-scale energy production to partially fill the energy gap and meet the future requirements of Egypt.
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•The geological, geochemical and geophysical data are integrated to assess the potentiality of geothermal energy at GOS.•Three geothermal active sites were indicated, i.e. Hammam Faroun, Hammam Musa and Ain Sukhna.•The physicochemical and biological parameters clarified a selective thermal water conditions.•A geothermal energy production of 19.68 MWt can be obtained from Hammam Faroun site for 40 years.•The geothermal potential of GOS is viable for low-scale energy production in Egypt.