Auckland Technical Meetings
Please join us for the next Technical Meeting of the New Zealand National Chapter of IAH in Auckland.
Keg Alexander, Senior Associate at Beca, will be presenting on:
“Hydrogeological controls on stratovolcanic geothermal systems in the Western Branch of the East African Rift System”
When: Tuesday 18 February 2020 starting at 5:30 pm for drinks and socilaising with the presentation to start around 6:00 pm.
Where: Beca House, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland 1010.
Parking: Please contact Breda Savoldelli if you require parking. Breda can be contacted via email at breda.savoldelli@beca.com. Access to parking is off Hopetoun St.
Food and drink: Nibbles and drink will be provided (this time we will have gluten free as well!)
Abstract:
High-temperature geothermal systems associated with stratovolcanoes (also known as composite cones) can be found at locations around the world. For example, in Indonesia, most successful geothermal developments have been completed on the lower slopes of (or adjacent to) stratovolcanoes where there are surface manifestations of a hydrothermal system.
In the Western Branch of the East African Rift System, stratovolcanoes are located in two areas: the Virunga Volcanic Province (VVP) in Rwanda/DRC/Uganda, and the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP) in southwestern Tanzania. Extensive geothermal exploration surveys have been performed at the stratovolcano Karisimbi in the VVP (including a 3,000-m deep well), and the former stratovolcano Ngozi (now a caldera) in the RVP, based on the tacit assumption that they host high-temperature reservoirs. The results of the exploration work completed to date suggest that neither site appears to host a high-temperature geothermal system.
Understanding the hydrogeology of a geothermal system provides insight into recharge and possible outflow directions. This paper will compare the data from recent studies at Karisimbi and Ngozi and evaluate the hydrological and geological characteristics similar to both sites including: 
(1) the absence of surface manifestations (hot springs, fumaroles, alteration),
(2) the presence of CO2-rich cold or tepid springs,
(3) the shallow depth to Proterozoic basement rock,
(4) the likely deep source of heat and magmatic volatiles,
(5) the relatively strong topography-driven groundwater flow systems.
Lessons learned from Karisimbi and Ngozi are applicable to possible future geothermal resource assessments at other stratovolcanoes in the Western Branch including, for example, at Kyejo (RVP) or Kinigi (on the SE flanks of Visoke in the VVP).