Analysis of the geothermal regime in the karst zone of Luxi area: insights from geological data and numerical simulation

Abstract

Hydrothermal geothermal resources are abundant and widely distributed across China, with karst thermal water emerging as a key geothermal medium. The Luxi area, situated within the North China Craton karst belt, is a critical area for hydrothermal resource. However, its geothermal regime and controlling factors remain poorly understood. This study analyzed data from 26 newly drilled geothermal wells and thermal conductivity measurements from 46 Ordovician carbonate rocks to characterize the geothermal regime within different structural units and guide future exploration. Findings revealed significant spatial variations in geothermal characteristics: the QH field, near recharge zones, is dominated by thermal convection, with a mean temperature of 47.4°C, geothermal gradient of 23.55°C·km⁻¹, and heat flow of 60.3 mW·m⁻². Conversely, the FX field, influenced by deep faults, exhibits higher values (mean temperature: 62.8°C, gradient: 25.20°C·km⁻¹, heat flow: 66.9 mW·m⁻²). The JC field, located in the central Heze uplift, presents intermediate values. Fault zones play a pivotal role in heat accumulation, particularly in shallow layers (< 3000 m), while deeper layers show exponential temperature variations along fault margins. Groundwater facilitates vertical heat convection, strongly correlating with the thickness of overlying clastic rock layers (R² = 0.772, P = < 0.0001). Tight clastic rocks, such as Upper Paleozoic mudstone, act as effective seals for Ordovician karst reservoirs. This study enhances understanding of geothermal characteristics in Luxi area, providing theoretical guidance for resource exploration.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

geothermal regime / heat flow / controlling factors / numerical simulation / karst belt in Luxi area

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