Drone-enabled Geothermal Energy Exploration

该项目的目标是应用严格的地球科学方法和基于无人机的地理空间技术，充分描述不列颠哥伦比亚省库特奈中部地区现有的温泉发生的特点。不列颠哥伦比亚省克劳福德海湾周围的研究区位于两个区域深部正断层之间，研究区可能代表一个跨越断裂带。对开源激光雷达数据的初步审查表明，该地区的这种结构配置、靠近附近的温泉以及普遍存在的断层证据表明，该地区是一个引人注目的试点项目，以测试为可持续清洁能源开发地热热源的可行性。其目标是进行多方面的岩土调查，重点是断层和相关断裂系统的位置和构造方向。实地收集的数据将帮助研究人员开发地质和地热模型，了解不同裂缝组的相对时间，以及它们如何连接到能够使加热的地热流体更接近地表的更区域性、更深层次的断层系统。在加拿大，开展这种协调一致的努力以确定当地弹簧系统的特征只进行了几次，而这一特别努力利用了新技术(无人机)。无人机作为描述局部地热系统特征的工具最有用，原因如下：-激光雷达数据可以识别断层和断裂线条，这可以与野外测绘相提并论；-无人机激光雷达比传统机载激光雷达分辨率更高，成本更低，填补了研究地区现有的数据空白；-红外图像可以确定春天是否沿着线性特征发生，这可能与激光雷达和实地断层测绘相关；-红外图像可以潜在地估计泉水的能量含量(体积x热量)，有助于估计地热系统的规模。第二阶段的最终预期结果将是现场特定的数据，高评级的预期目标，希望有足够的确凿证据来支持钻探至少一口未来测试井的理由。该项目应被视为评估地热作为一种可持续、零排放商业发展的潜力的测试案例，以支持偏远和农村社区的经济生存能力，并补充农业多样化。

The goal of this project is to apply rigorous geoscience methodologies and drone-based geospatial technologies to fully characterize an existing hot spring occurrence in the Central Kootenay region of BC. The study area surrounding Crawford Bay, BC is situated between two regional, deep seated normal faults, with the research area of interest potentially representing a step-over fault zone. This structural configuration, the proximity to nearby hot springs and the pervasive evidence of faulting apparent on a preliminary review of open source lidar data suggest the area makes for a compelling pilot project to test the feasibility of developing a geothermal heat source for sustainable clean energy. The objective is to conduct a multifaceted geotechnical survey, focusing on the position and structural orientation of faults and related fracture systems. Data gathered in the field will help researchers develop a geological and geothermal model and understand the relative timing of different fracture sets and how they may connect to more regional, deep-rooted fault systems capable of bringing heated geothermal fluids in closer proximity to the surface. Conducting such a concerted effort to characterize a local spring system has only been done a few times in Canada and this particular effort makes use of new technology (drones). A drone is most useful as a tool to characterize a localized geothermal system for the following reasons:- Lidar data can identify fault and fracture lineaments, which can be compared to field mapping;- Drone lidar is higher resolution and less expensive than traditional airborne lidar, and fills an existing data gap in the study area; - Infrared imagery can determine if spring discharge occurs along a linear feature, which may be correlated to the lidar and field-based fault mapping; - Infrared imagery could potentially estimate energy content (volume x heat) of the spring, helpful in estimating geothermal system size. The ultimate expected outcome of Phase 2 will be site-specific data, high grading a prospective target, hopefully with enough confirmatory evidence to support a case for drilling at least one future test well. This project should be regarded as a test case evaluating the potential for geothermal as a sustainable, emissions-free commercial development to support the economic viability of a remote and rural community and supplement agricultural diversification.