In the heart of Inner Mongolia, a groundbreaking discovery is set to redefine the geothermal energy landscape. Researchers from the Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Magmatic Mineralization and Ore-Prospecting have uncovered a high-yield geothermal well in the Baimiaozi sag of the Huhe depression, promising significant advancements for the energy sector. Led by Zhanxiong Ma, the team’s findings, published in ‘Shuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi’ (translated as ‘Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology’), reveal a deep Neogene geothermal reservoir with unprecedented potential.
The Baimiaozi sag has long been known for its geothermal prospects, but previous explorations focused on shallower, less substantial reservoirs. Ma and his team shifted their gaze to the southwest of the sag, where they drilled borehole TD1, uncovering a thick, high-yield geothermal reservoir. “The deep Neogene geothermal reservoir in borehole TD1 is composed of a considerable thickness of conglomeratic sandstone,” Ma explained. “This makes it a prime target for geothermal exploration and development.”
The borehole TD1 tapped into a reservoir with a total thickness of 299.5 meters, with 14 distinct geothermal reservoir layers spanning from 2030.9 meters to 2282.5 meters deep. These layers boast an impressive average porosity of 26.27%, indicating excellent water-yielding potential. The wellhead temperature clocks in at 75.0°C, with a maximum bottom temperature of 80.7°C, suggesting the presence of deep heat convection.
But the true game-changer is the reservoir’s water yield. Pumping tests demonstrated a stable well flow rate of 233.12 cubic meters per hour, with a single-well heating potential estimated at 330,000 square meters. This makes TD1 the highest-yielding geothermal well discovered in the Huhe depression to date.
The implications for the energy sector are substantial. High-yield geothermal wells like TD1 could significantly boost geothermal power generation, providing a reliable, renewable energy source. Moreover, the heating potential of such wells could revolutionize district heating systems, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.
This discovery is not just about one well; it’s about the potential for many more. The characteristics of the Neogene geothermal reservoir in the southwest of Baimiaozi sag suggest that similar high-yield reservoirs could be found in the region. This opens up new avenues for geothermal exploration and development, with the potential to transform the energy landscape of Inner Mongolia and beyond.
As Ma and his team continue their work, published in ‘Shuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi’, the energy sector watches with bated breath. The future of geothermal energy in the region looks hotter than ever, and it’s all thanks to a deep dive into the Baimiaozi sag. The question now is not if geothermal energy will play a significant role in the region’s energy mix, but how quickly we can harness its full potential. The race is on, and the stakes have never been higher.
