• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.485-494
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• 2006

This paper summarizes the history of geothermal research in Korea since 1920s and also describes the present status of research on heat flow, origin of thermal waters and geothermal exploitation and utilization. Geothermal research in Korea has been mainly related with hot spring investigation until 1970s. 1t was not until 1980s before heat flow study became continuous by research institute and academia and first nation-scale geothermal gradient map and heat flow map were published in 1996. Also in 1990s, geochemical isotope analysis of Korean hot spring waters and measurements of heat production rate of some granite bodies were made. Attempts to develop and utilize the deep geothermal water has been tried from early 1990s but field scale exploitations for geothermal water was activated in 2000s. Considering recent increase of demands on both deep and shallow geothermal energy utilization, outlook on future goethermal research and development is encouraging.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.277-290
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• 2016

Deep geological cross-sectional data is generally not common nor easy to construct, because it is expensive and requires a great deal of time. As a result, geological interpretations at depth are limited. Many scientists attempt to construct geological cross-sections at depth using geological surface data and geophysical data. In this paper, we suggest a method for constructing cross-sections from limited geological surface data in a target area. The reason for this study is to construct and interpret geological cros-sections at depth to evaluate heat flow anomaly along the Yangsan fault. The Yangsan Fault passes through the south-eastern part of the Korean Peninsula. The cross-section is constructed from Sangbukmyeon to Unchonmyeon passing perpendicularly through the Yangsan Fault System trending NW-SE direction. The geological cross-section is constructed using the following data: (1) Lithologic distributions and main structural elements. (2) Extensity of sedimentary rock and igneous rock, from field mapping. (3) Fault dimension calculated based on geometry of exposed surface rupture, and (4) Seismic and core logging data. The Yangsan Fault System is composed of the Jain fault, Milyang fault, Moryang fault, Yangsan fault, Dongnae fault, and Ingwang fault which strike NNE-SSW. According to field observation, the western section of the Yangsan fault bounded by igneous rocks and in the eastern section sedimentary rocks are dominant. Using surface fault length we infer that the Yangsan Fault System has developed to a depth of kilometers beneath the surface. According to seismic data, sedimentary rocks that are adjacent to the Yangsan fault are thin and getting thicker towards the east of the section. In this study we also suggest a new method to recognize faults using core loggings. This analysis could be used to estimate fault locations at different scales.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2014

In order to generate electricity from geothermal energy for non-volcanic region, the concept of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) is introduced which forms an artificial reservoir by injecting high pressure fluid to 5 km deep and circulating geothermal fluid through the reservoir. Demonstration studies have been conducted in various countries and regions for determining the feasibility of EGS. In this technical note, experiences, errors, and implications of EGS demonstration projects in UK Rosemanowes and Australia Cooper Basin which have been carried out since 2002 are introduced to be used for the EGS demonstration project in Korea.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2011

Attention has been focused on geothermal energy as an alternative energy because it is continuously operable without external supply. Most of geothermal anomalies in Korea are related to deep circulation of groundwater through a fracture system in granite area. Therefore it is very important to understand the distribution of the fracture system which is the main channel of ground water. In this research, we constructed the velocity models with a fracture system and the layered sediments, respectively, and generated synthetic data sets with them to verify the presented vertical seismic profiling (VSP) preprocessing scheme. We compared the results from conventional VSP preprocessing flow to those from VSP preprocessing flow considering fracture system. We noticed that the preprocessing flow considering fracture system retains more sufficient signal including down-going wave than conventional preprocessing. In addition, we applied 3D VSP prestack phase screen migration to the preprocessed reversed VSP (RVSP) data from Seokmo Island so that we were able to image fracture structure of the geothermal site in Seokmo Island.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.8-17
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• 2016

While greenhouses have been utilized as a sustainable alternative to traditional soil farming, they are often powered by diesel boilers that necessitate vast amounts of non-renewable energy and emit toxic fumes. Thus, geothermal heat pumps have been proposed as a more energy-efficient substitution for diesel boilers. Currently, most horticultural facilities in the United States use shallow geothermal systems, and are often equipped with horizontal underground heat exchangers as well as heat pump equipment. These shallow geothermal systems require a large drilling site and heat pump to function, which results in high maintenance costs. The heat pump itself consumes a large amount of power, which degrades system performance. Conversely, high temperatures can be attained within a single borehole in deep geothermal vertical closing systems without using a heat pump. This setup can dramatically reduce the power consumption and improve system performance. In this study, we have modeled a circulation simulator after the circulation systems in deep geothermal facilities to analyze a 2000-meter borehole in Naju-Sanpo-myeon. The simulator is operated by manipulating various putative parameters affecting system performance to analyze the system's coefficient of performance.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.434-437
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• 2006

Though numerous drilling has been performed in Jeju Island for development of ground water, the wells are mostly located along the coast lines or at low altitude area, and can hardly be found on the mid-mountain area. Two-dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) surveys have been carried out to cover the lack of geological Informal ion on the mid-mountain area and to figure out any possible structures or evidences for deep geothermal energy remained. Two-dimensional (2-D) inversion of MT data for four survey lines surrounding the Halla mountain show a thick layer having around 10 ohm-m in the depth of a few hundred meters throughout the survey area, which can be considered as the unconsol idated sedimentary layer. And they also show a conductive anomaly extending to more than 2km depth at the central part of each survey lines, which can possibly be related with old volcanic activities during the formation of Halla Mt.. Further seological/geophysical investigations should be followed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Mongolia has three(3) geothermal zones and eight(8) hydrogeothermal systems/regions that are, fold-fault platform/uplift zone, concave-largest subsidence zone, and mixed intermediate-transitional zone. Average temperature, heat flow, and geothermal gradient of hot springs in Arhangai located to fold-fault platform/uplift zone are $55.8^{\circ}C$, 60~110 mW/m2 and $35{\sim}50^{\circ}C/km$ respectively and those of Khentii situated in same zone are $80.5^{\circ}C$, 40~50 mW/m2, and $35{\sim}50^{\circ}C/km$ separately. Temperature of hydrothermal water at depth of 3,000 m is expected to be about $173{\sim}213^{\circ}C$ based on average geothermal gradient of $35{\sim}50^{\circ}C/km$. Among eight systems, Arhangai and Khentii located in A type hydrothermal system, Khovsgol in B type, Mongol Altai plateau in C type, and Over Arhangai in D type are the most feasible areas to develop geothermal power generation by Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS). Potential electric power generation by EGS is estimated about 2,760 kW at Tsenher, 1,752 kW at Tsagaan Sum, 2,928 kW at Khujir, 2,190 kW at Baga Shargaljuut, and 7,125 kW at Shargaljuut.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.45-55
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• 2005

The geothermal research has been carried out on the Heunghae, Pohang geothermal area know as having geo-heat-flow area in the Korean peninsula. This study results so far indicate that geothermal water in the area is in peripheral waters of hydrothermal area and is not in equilibrium with the reservoir rock. The average oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope values are as follows: deep groundwater $(average:\;{\delta}^{18}O=-10.1\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-65.8\%_{\circ})$, intermediate groundwater (average: $(average:\;{\delta}^{18}O=-8.9\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-59.6\%_{\circ})$, shallow groundwater $(average:\;{\delta}^{18}O=-8.0\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-53.6\%_{\circ})$, surface water $(average:\;{\delta}^{18}O=-7.9\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-53.3\%_{\circ})$ respectively. Deep groundwaters was originated from a local meteoric water recharged from distant, topographically high mountain region and not affected by the sea water. High temperature zone inferred from water geothermometers is around D-1, D-5, D-6, 1-04 well zones. The estimated enthalpy from Silica-enthalpy mixing model is near 410 kJ/kg, which corresponds to the temperature of $98^{\circ}C$, and in consistent with the result of Na-K and K-Mg geothermometer.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.693-696
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• 2005

KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) launched a new project to develop the low-temperature geothermal water in the area showing high geothermal anomaly, north of Pohang city, for large-scale space heating. Surface geologic and geophysical surveys including Landsat 1M image analysis, gravity, magnetic, Magnetotelluric (MT) and controlled-source audio-frequency MT (CSAMT), and self-potential (SP) methods have been conducted and the possible fracture zone was found that would serve as deeply connected geothermal water conduit. In 2004, two test wells of 1.1km and 1.5km depths have been drilled and various kinds of borehole survey including geophysical logging, pumping test, SP monitoring, core logging and sample analysis have followed. Temperature of geothermal water at the bottom of 1.5km borehole reached over $70^{\circ}C$ and the pumping test showed that the reservoir contained huge amount of geothermal water. Drilling for the production well of 2 km depth is on going. After test utilization and the feasibility study, geothermal water developed from the production well is going to be provided to nearby apartments.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

Geothermal energy is believed to be an important source among the renewable energy sources to provide the base load electricity. Although there has been a drastic increase in the use of geothermal heat pump in Korea, there is no geothermal power plant in operation in Korea. Fortunately, the first EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) Project in Korea has started in Dec 2010. This five year project is divided into two stages; two years for exploration and drilling of 3 km depth to confirm the minimum target temperature of 100 degrees, and another three years composed drilling 5 km doublet, hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoir with expected temperature of 180 degrees (40 kg/s) and construction of MW geothermal power plant in the surface. This EGS project would be a landmark effort that invited a consortium of industry, research institutes and university with expertises in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, geomechanics and plant engineering.