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The Vallès Basin Geothermal system in the frame of the GEO-URBAN project

Poster · February 2021

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29292.28804

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Gemma Mitjanas
University of Barcelona
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 The Vallès Basin Geothermal system in the frame of the GEO-URBAN project
Gemma Mitjanas
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
gmitjanas@ub.edu

1. INTRODUCTION PR

The GEO-URBAN project aims to explore the potential for low enthalpy geothermal resources in urban
environments. In the frame of GEO-URBAN project, two low-enthalpy deep geothermal reservoirs, Dublin basin VB
(Ireland) and Valles Basin (Spain), will be evaluated using geophysical exploration techniques.
La Garriga-Samalús geothermal system is located in the Catalan Coastal Ranges (CCR) (NE Spain). The CCR is a
NE-SW horst and graben system with two lifted mountain chains, the Pre-coastal (PR) and Coastal ranges (CR),
separated by the Vallès basin (VB). Towards the north in the PR, a highly fractured Hercynian granodiorite thrusts the
metamorphic Paleozoic units. Towards the south, the intrusive unit is in contact with the Miocene rocks of the Vallès CR
basin by a major Neogene fault, the Vallès normal fault.
This study presents a combined methodology by the use of different geophysical techniques and a multiscale
fracture analysis of the granodiorite unit, which has resulted in the proposal of a new conceptual model that
explains La Garriga-Samalús geothermal system. Fig. 1. Geological map 1:50.000 with the studied area and the
2D profile . Modified from [1] .

2. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS

Three complementary geophysical methods, H/V spectral ratio of seismic ambient noise (HVSR), magnetotellurics (MT) and gravity, have been used to characterize the subsurface structural geology of
the geothermal system of La Garriga-Samalús. Gravity stations cover an area of 110 km2, and both MT and HVSR stations are located along a NNW-SSE profile of approximately 6 km length, from the PR and
across the VB (Fig. 1).
Each of these geophysical methods deals with different physical properties (acoustic impedance, electrical resistivity, and density), what allow us high detection capacities of different system elements.
Although the geophysical study makes up most of the study, we are also improving the geological map of the area complemented by a fractures study at different scales. We are working with DEM alignments
analysis, and fractures study from outcrops, thin sections, and digital models of borehole samples.

2.1. Geophysical study 2.2. Fractures study

Ÿ Gravity method was used to identify density anomalies This study presents a multiscale fracture analysis of the granodiorite from both outcrops
mGal
between the VB and the PR. We used 354 gravity and boreholes samples, which combines satellite pictures, field studies and laboratory
measurements [2], 214 of which were newly acquired. ALPINE U LT measurements (Fig. 4).
THRUS FA
T È S
L L
The final residual anomaly map (Fig. 2) illustrates a large VA The field fracture data collection together with the lineation analysis (Fig. 5) has allowed
negative anomaly with an ENE-WSW direction. the identification of 3 major fracture sets (N-S, NE-SW, NW-SE), in addition to other 7
minor fracture groups.
Ÿ The HVSR method allows to identify large impedance
contrasts between sediments and underlying bedrock.
Along a 2D profile, 25 sites of seismic noise were recorded
between 10 and 70 minutes, and a sampling frequency of
200 Hz.
The soil fundamental frequency values across the study
profile, evidence a clear distribution, with minimum values
(0.21 Hz) in the south-east of the profile, close to the center
of the basin; and an increasing values towards the Vallès
fault (max. value of 4.4 Hz). These results show that the
deepest basement would be in the center of the basin, and Fig. 4. 3D point cloud of a borehole Fig. 5. Example of a DEM image used for the lineation analysis
Fig. 2. Residual anomaly map with gravity stations and the MT-
the shallowest, near the Vallès fault. HVSR profile.
sample (S1) [3]. with the Rose Diagram of the main orientations.

Ÿ MT data was acquired at 15 sites along the profile. Natural electromagnetic field fluctuations were recorded at
each site between 3 and 12 hours, using sampling frequencies of 128 Hz and 4096 Hz.
Fig. 3 shows the 2D final resistivity model with the projected depths of the HVSR results. In this model, four
different geoelectrical units can be identified: a) two high resistive units (R1 & R2) related to the basement rocks
(R1 in the footwall and R2 in the hangingwall); b) a higher conductive unit (C2) associated to the Miocene
sedimentary rocks that increases in thickness towards the SSE; and c) the main feature of this model (C1) in
between the R1 and R2 units which is assumed to be the fault zone related to the Vallès normal fault with higher
resistivity.
NNW-SSE
Through the variation of fracture density in the footwall (Fig.6), we have identified a 10
meters fault core, and an asymmetric damage zone of approximately, 300 m. In the fault
core, the presence of cemented rocks like cataclasites with hydrothermal sealed
fractures, result in low porosity and permeability. Conversely, the damage zone consists
of minor faults and related fractures which may enhance fault permeability with respect
the core and its protolith.
Borehole samples have been digitized via photogrammetry (Fig. 4), which has allowed
the identification and characterization of some of the fractures sets at greater depths,
confirming the permeability differences between the fault core and the damage zone.

Fig. 3. Resisitivity model with the location of the MT and HVSR sites, and the basement depth detected in three exploratory boreholes [3][4][5]. Fig. 6. Density fracture map, made up by the interpolation of 50 outcrop density data. The values of density are
The solid vertical lines correspond to the depths of the basement obtained (HVSR). normalized to values between 0 and 1.

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

PRE-COASTAL RANGE
The final geophysical model have allowed the identification of the four main units which regulate the
geothermal system: the Miocene basin (C2), the Pre-coastal Range unit (R1), the Vallès Faut Zone (C1), and
the indeferenciated Paleozoic basement (R2). The interpretation of our models set the Vallès Fault Zone,
which is characterized by an anomalous low resistivity and low density, as the main path for the hot fluids.
Moreover, the geophysical characterization established a new geometry for the Miocene basin, which
presents a stepwise morphology, with the minor thickness towards the fault and an increasing thickness
COASTAL RANGE
towards the center of the basin. This geometry seems to be related to synthetic normal faults (Fig. 7).
These results have evidenced that, although in some geothermal systems the warm water may create an
insufficient physical contrast, the appropriate use of some techniques can still be useful for the exploration of NNW-SSE
medium and low-temperature geothermal systems.
Fracture results have been also correlated with the 2D resisitivity model, which shows the Vallès fault zone as a
low resistivity unit. The damage zone identified as a highly fractured and permeable unit at surface, may only
give low resistivity values if water-saturated. Therefore, complementing our results with previous exploration
boreholes in the studied area [3][4][5] which detected thermal waters (up to 90ºC at 1000m depth) in the
granodiorite unit; we would identify the damage zone of the Vallès fault as the potential reservoir of La Garriga- Fig. 7. Conceptual model of the La Garriga-Samalús geothermal system, with the new basin geometry. *Not to scale.
Samalús geothermal system.

4. FROM NOW ON... 5. REFERENCES

We are currently completing the fracture characterization in
order to model the reservoir. We are also working on
hydrochemistry and temperature data with the ultimate goal
of creating a flow model which describes La Garriga-
Samalús geothermal system in the Vallès basin.
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[1] ICGC, 2006. Vallès Oriental. Mapa geològic comarcal de Catalunya 1:50.000.
[2] IGC, 2012. Mapa gravimètric de Catalunya 1:250.000.
[3] IGME, 1982. Informe sobre el seguimiento técnico del sondeo SAMALUS-1.
[4] IGME, 1984. Proyecto de investigación geotérmica en el Vallés mediante sondeos de reconocimiento y síntesis hidrogeotérmica. Control
geotermico de los sondeos SAMALUS 2, 3, 4 y 5.
[5] IGME, 1986. Proyecto de seguimiento geológico del sondeo de reconocimiento geotérmico SAMALUS-6 (1000 m) (Vallès - Barcelona)