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，以充分描述BC中部Kootenay地区现有温泉的特征。不列颠哥伦比亚省克劳福德湾周围的研究区域位于两个区域性的深层正断层之间，研究区域可能代表一个跨断层带。这种结构配置，靠近附近的温泉，以及对开源激光雷达数据进行初步审查时明显的断层证据表明，该地区是一个引人注目的试点项目，以测试开发地热热源用于可持续清洁能源的可行性。目的是进行多方面的地质技术调查，重点是断层和相关断裂系统的位置和结构方向。在现场收集的数据将帮助研究人员开发地质和地热模型，并了解不同断裂组的相对时间，以及它们如何连接到更多区域性的深层断层系统，这些断层系统能够将加热的地热流体更接近地表。在加拿大，进行这种协调一致的努力来描述当地的泉水系统只做过几次，这种特殊的努力利用了新技术（无人机）。无人驾驶飞机是最有用的工具，以表征一个局部地热系统的原因如下：-激光雷达数据可以识别断层和裂缝线性构造，这可以与实地测绘相比;-无人驾驶飞机激光雷达比传统的机载激光雷达分辨率更高，成本更低，并填补了研究区域现有的数据空白;- 红外成像可以确定泉水是否沿着线性特征发生，这可以与激光雷达和基于实地的断层测绘相关联;- 红外图像可以估计泉水的能量含量（体积x热量），有助于估计地热系统的大小。第二阶段的最终预期成果将是特定地点的数据，高等级的预期目标，希望有足够的确证性证据来支持钻探至少一个未来测试井的情况。该项目应被视为一个测试案例，评估地热作为一种可持续、无排放的商业开发的潜力，以支持偏远农村社区的经济可行性，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.