Authors :
Egwuonwu, Gabriel Ndubuisi; Nnaemeka, Ejike Kingsley; Orji Obinwa
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/43uxUln
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/41xR4Wl
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7858900
Abstract :
This research focuses on using geothermal
parameters of Curie point depth, geothermal gradient
and heat flow from spectral techniques of aeromagnetic
data in finding the possible geothermal hot spots existing
around this region of the Benue Trough Nigeria in order
to help solve the energy-related challenges facing the
country. The study adopted qualitative methods of total
magnetic intensity (TMI), reduction to the magnetic
equator (RTE) as well as quantitative interpretations of
spectral analysis which involved division of the reduction
toequator map into 25 equal overlapping spectral blocks
and the log of spectral energies were plotted against wave
number. The Centroid depth (Z0) and depth to top
boundary (Zt) obtained from the plots, were used to
calculate the Curie point depth ( CPD), which was later
used for computation of geothermal gradient (GG) and
heat flow (HF) of the area. The results computed shows
that, Curie point depth, ranged from 8.61 to 36. 04 km
with an average depth of 14.81 km, the geothermal
gradient ranged between 16.09 to 70.81 °C /km, with an
average value of 45.39 °C /km while the heat flowranged
from 40.23 to 177.03 mWm-2
, with an average value of
113.49 mWm-2
. It observed from the contour maps that,
the deepest Curie point depth is located southwestern
part of the area, while the shallower and moderatedepths
spreads across approximately 65% of the total research
area. The geothermal and heat flow contourmaps
showedgeothermal energy hot spotsaroundSouthwestern,
Eastern and Northernparts areascorresponding to Otobi,
Otukpo, Taraku, Nov, Moi Igbo, Igbor, Wannune, Lafia,
Giringwe, Fiyayiand Eastern parts of Kastina- Ala. Thus,
this hot spot areas is suitable for geothermal energy
exploitation/explorationand harnessing this areas will
address the power challenges across the states of this
study and Nigeria at large.
Keywords :
Airborne Magnetic Data, Curie Point Depth Isotherm, Geothermal Gradient, Heat Flow, and Geothermal Energy Potentiality.
This research focuses on using geothermal
parameters of Curie point depth, geothermal gradient
and heat flow from spectral techniques of aeromagnetic
data in finding the possible geothermal hot spots existing
around this region of the Benue Trough Nigeria in order
to help solve the energy-related challenges facing the
country. The study adopted qualitative methods of total
magnetic intensity (TMI), reduction to the magnetic
equator (RTE) as well as quantitative interpretations of
spectral analysis which involved division of the reduction
toequator map into 25 equal overlapping spectral blocks
and the log of spectral energies were plotted against wave
number. The Centroid depth (Z0) and depth to top
boundary (Zt) obtained from the plots, were used to
calculate the Curie point depth ( CPD), which was later
used for computation of geothermal gradient (GG) and
heat flow (HF) of the area. The results computed shows
that, Curie point depth, ranged from 8.61 to 36. 04 km
with an average depth of 14.81 km, the geothermal
gradient ranged between 16.09 to 70.81 °C /km, with an
average value of 45.39 °C /km while the heat flowranged
from 40.23 to 177.03 mWm-2
, with an average value of
113.49 mWm-2
. It observed from the contour maps that,
the deepest Curie point depth is located southwestern
part of the area, while the shallower and moderatedepths
spreads across approximately 65% of the total research
area. The geothermal and heat flow contourmaps
showedgeothermal energy hot spotsaroundSouthwestern,
Eastern and Northernparts areascorresponding to Otobi,
Otukpo, Taraku, Nov, Moi Igbo, Igbor, Wannune, Lafia,
Giringwe, Fiyayiand Eastern parts of Kastina- Ala. Thus,
this hot spot areas is suitable for geothermal energy
exploitation/explorationand harnessing this areas will
address the power challenges across the states of this
study and Nigeria at large.
Keywords :
Airborne Magnetic Data, Curie Point Depth Isotherm, Geothermal Gradient, Heat Flow, and Geothermal Energy Potentiality.
