The Unconventional Geothermal Resources: Features and Current Uses

Abstract

The geotliernml systems can be distinguished as conventional and unconventional resources. The conventional geothermal systems are composed o essential elements, such as a heat source, a reservoi with a geotherrrial fluid and a caprock. The heat source can be a magmatic chamber or volcanic bodies which are both generally located in areas north crustal thinning and mantle uprising phenomena. In the last two decades, non-conventional geothermal systems, such as enhanced geothermal systems, magma systems with supercritical fluids and geopressured systems have been also explored. This chapter provides a description of the above mentioned unconventional geothermal systems. The chapter is divided in three main paragraphs, starting from the enhanced geothermal systems to conclude with the geopressures systems. Geological features, case studies and current uses of each one are highlighted.rth the resumed systems. The final part of the chapter has been dedicated to a special case study relative to production of geothermal energy with co-produced resources.