[S-EM12] Electric, magnetic and electromagnetic survey technologies and scientific achievements

[SEM12-11] An investigation of a thermal field in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, using a Broadband Magnetotelluric survey

★Invited Papers

*Hakim Saibi¹、Biruk Abera Cherkose¹、Mohammed Y. Ali²、Ahmed Abdelmaksoud² (1.United Arab Emirates University、2.Khalifa University of Science and Technology)

キーワード：Magnetotelluric, Abu Dhabi, Thermal Anomaly, United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) seeks to diversify its energy mix in accordance with its long-term strategic plan. Geothermal energy provides a sustainable and reliable alternative to fossil fuels. High heat flow zones associated with subsurface salt intrusions (salt domes) in sedimentary basins are promising places for the exploitation of geothermal energy. Salt formations can cause anomalous temperature distributions in sedimentary basins as a result of the high thermal conductivity of salt rocks. In the UAE, results from previous research show a high heat flow and high geothermal gradients, measuring more than 100 mW/m² and 55 ^oC/km, respectively, near the Madinat Zayed and Liwa regions in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. The high heat flow observed in these regions could be associated with the salt formations (salt domes) underlying the thick sediment sequence in the area. This study is intended to map salt intrusions that cause thermal anomalies in Abu Dhabi Emirate, using broadband magnetotelluric (BBMT) surveying. We acquired BBMT data along a 100 km profile to map subsurface geologic structures related to the zone of high heat flow. The preliminary 2D and 3D inversions of the BBMT data shows an electrically conductive Cenozoic sediment sequence and a deeper high resistivity structure that indicates salt intrusion beneath the high heat flow region. Furthermore, the study examines UAE salt deposits, which possess substantial industrial implications including energy storage (carbon and hydrogen storage) and nuclear waste disposal.