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Article

3D Geothermal Modelling of the Mount Amiata Hydrothermal System in Italy

by
Paolo Fulignati
1,*,†,
Paola Marianelli
1,†,
Alessandro Sbrana
1,† and
Valentina Ciani
2,†
1
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
2
Terra Energy Srl, Spin-off of the University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Energies 2014, 7(11), 7434-7453; https://doi.org/10.3390/en7117434
Submission received: 29 May 2014 / Revised: 6 October 2014 / Accepted: 6 November 2014 / Published: 17 November 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geothermal Energy: Delivering on the Global Potential)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
In this paper we build a subsurface model that helps in visualizing and understanding the structural framework, geology and their interactions with the Mt. Amiata geothermal system. Modelling in 3D provides the possibility to interpolate the geometry of structures and is an effective way of understanding geological features. The 3D modelling approach appears to be crucial for further progress in the reconstruction of the assessment of the geothermal model of Mt. Amiata. Furthermore, this model is used as the basis of a 3D numerical thermo-fluid-dynamic model of the existing reservoir(s). The integration between borehole data and numerical modelling results allows reconstructing the temperature distribution in the subsoil of the Mt. Amiata area.

1. Introduction

The Mt. Amiata volcano-geothermal area, located in Southern Tuscany (Figure 1), is characterized by very high heat flux (up to 600 mW/m2) and hosts two high-temperature geothermal fields (Bagnore and Piancastagnaio) that, together with Larderello-Travale, are the only economically exploited fields in Italy for power production.
Mt. Amiata is the largest Tuscan volcano, consisting of dacitic, rhyodacitic and minor olivine-latitic lavas that erupted in a period ranging from 300 to 190 ka [1,2]. It is located on a structural high delimitated to the East by the normal (border) faults of the western side of Siena-Radicofani Neogene basin. Mt. Amiata volcanic products are mainly effusive and of silicic composition. Volcanics cover an area of about 90 km2 (Figure 1) lying on “Tuscan” units (metamorphic rocks of Palaeozoic age forming the basement, Triassic-Jurassic carbonate evaporitic successions and Cretaceous-Oligocene terrigenous formations), Oligocene-Mesozoic Ligurian units (shale, sandstones and marles), Palaeogene Subligurian units and Neogene sediments [3,4,5,6,7,8]. The volcanic activity was triggered by the activation of regional transcurrent faults following the Mio-Pliocene extensional phase that induce an important crustal thinning. This latter and the associated tectonic favoured the emplacement of a magma body at 6–7 km depth [9,10,11]. The relatively shallow intrusion of low-density magma was at the beginning of the uplift (up to 1000 m) of this area during the Quaternary [6,11]. The main fault system in the Mt. Amiata volcanic complex has an ENE-WSW direction. This direction represents the main fissure system along which magma raised from the shallow magma chamber. Nearly all the lava domes are aligned along this axial fissure system [1] known as the Mt. Amiata fault (see the partly coinciding location of faults and eruptive centres in Figure 1). Other transcurrent fault systems occur North and South of the volcano. The active geothermal fields as well as Hg-(Sb) mineralization of Mt. Amiata area are linked to these fractured systems and to the thermal anomaly induced by the shallow intrusion (Figure 1).
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Figure 1. Geological sketch map of the area of Mt. Amiata and its surroundings [8]. The whole area coincides with the X-Y extents of the 3D geological model; the rectangle in red coincides with the X-Y extents of the numerical model.
Figure 1. Geological sketch map of the area of Mt. Amiata and its surroundings [8]. The whole area coincides with the X-Y extents of the 3D geological model; the rectangle in red coincides with the X-Y extents of the numerical model.
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Geothermal exploration of the Mt. Amiata area started at the beginning of the 50s, and the first overview of the geothermal system was carried out in 1970 [3]. Previous studies were developed for mining activities linked to cinnabar production [12]. All available data (more than 100 drillings from 500 to about 4000 m depth, as well as many geophysical, geological, structural, geochemical and hydrogeological studies), derived from the exploration and exploitation activities mainly carried out for geothermal purposes, allow developing a well-constrained geothermal model.
The goal of this paper is to build a fit-for-purpose 3D geological model of Mt. Amiata geothermal system. Modelling in 3D provides the possibility to interpolate the geometry of geological structures and is an effective way of understanding the subsoil geology. As a consequence, a 3D modelling approach appears to be crucial to make further progress in the understanding of the geothermal-geological system of Mt. Amiata. Furthermore, this geological model is used as the basis of a 3D numerical thermo-fluid-dynamic simulation of the volcanic geothermal system that led to an integrated geothermal model of the area.

2. Mt. Amiata Geothermal System

Mt. Amiata is a classic volcanic-intrusive geothermal system. This is characterized by clay-rich sedimentary units (Ligurian alloctonous nappes and Neogene units) that represent a very efficient impermeable cover. Two confined water-dominated geothermal reservoirs occur. The shallower one (500–1500 m of depth) is hosted in carbonate-evaporitic rocks belonging to the Tuscan Nappe, in particular in the “Calcare Cavernoso” formation and locally in fractured carbonate units. Calcare Cavernoso is a vacuolar carbonate breccia characterized by dolostone porphyroclasts (often dissolved) cemented by carbonate cement resulting from alteration of gypsum evaporite layers. This formation is often very permeable due to fracturing and porosity. The mean temperatures found in this reservoir range from 150 to 220 °C. The reservoir hosts a two-phase water dominated aquifer. In correspondence of structural highs (traps) this reservoir presents pressurized gaseous caps in which gas and steam accumulate [13]. The gaseous phase is mainly constituted by CO2, in accordance with the very high CO2 degassing that characterizes the whole Mt. Amiata area [14,15]. Shallow reservoir outcrops in two different areas (North East and South of Mt. Amiata). These probably represent the main recharge areas of the geothermal fields.
The deeper reservoir (below 2500–3000 m of depth) is hosted in thermometamorphic fractured phyllites and metasandstones of the Tuscan Metamorphic Complex, modified by thermometamorphic processes [16]. These belong to the termometamorphic aureole of the recent silicic intrusion. In the deeper reservoir temperatures up to 300–350 °C are actually measured. The fluid in this reservoir is a two-phase too [3,10]. This represents the main reservoir industrially exploited at present [13] with a total power production of 88 MWe.
Below the deeper reservoir, reflection seismic profiles reveal the occurrence of a geopressurized system evidenced by discontinuous “bright spot”-type reflections, named K-horizon [17,18,19,20,21], at depth between 4 and 7 km. This is assumed to be the root of the hydrothermal systems in the Mt. Amiata area. The temperatures estimated for the K-horizon are considered to be above 400 °C [17,22]. This horizon is present also outside the geothermal region but at much greater depth [18]. The interpretation of K horizon is still debated: some authors [18,21] suggested, basing on the earthquake hypocentres distribution, that the K-horizon corresponds to a ductile-brittle boundary; others [22] suggested that this ductile-brittle transition occurs in coincidence with high fluid pressure; others [23] explain the K-horizon as the roof of over-pressurized reservoirs on the basis of the interpretation of deep crustal seismic lines.
The Mt. Amiata intrusion, present at about 6 km of depth, represents the heat source of the hydrothermal system described above.

3. 3D Geological and Geothermal Model

3.1. Available Data

Geological models in three dimensions integrate different kinds of data (i.e., geological maps, cross-sections, seismic profiles, gravity profiles, logs of deep wells etc.) much more easily than traditional techniques and allow the three-dimensional (3D) structure to be represented more coherently and exhaustively [24,25,26]. The available data implemented in this work are reported as follow:
-
Geological maps and cross-sections
-
Data from boreholes
-
Data from geophysical investigation
The geological maps used in this work derive from the recent 1:10,000 maps of the CARG (CARtografia Geologica) project [27]. The cross sections are taken from CARG project and from literature [3,4,6,8,27,28,29].
More than 100 deep geothermal boreholes (from 153 to 4836 m of depth) occur (UNMIG, Ufficio Nazionale Minerario per gli Idrocarburi e le Georisorse geothermal database) in the Mt. Amiata area. Geothermal wells (Figure 1 and Figure 2) are mostly located in correspondence with the active geothermal fields of Bagnore and Piancastagnaio. Well data concern stratigraphy, temperatures, pressure of the fluid phase, flow rates, technical drilling profiles, depth of the water table. Unfortunately no geophysical borehole logs are available, with exception of temperature logs, because in some cases they were not carried out and in others the data were not published by the owner companies. Many other shallower wells (from 100 to 750 m of depth) were drilled in the past for mining activities. All data concerning these wells were also used in this work.
Data from geophysical investigation, derived from past geothermal and hydrocarbon (this latter in the Radicofani graben) exploration, are available (Figure 3). The geophysical data used in this work are: the map of the resistive substratum [3] and seismic profiles [4,20,29,30]. Regional gravity data were also incorporated in the study [31,32,33].

3.2. Data Integration Toward a 3D Geological Model

All data were implemented in the 3D modelling Petrel 2011 platform (Schlumberger Limited, Houston, TX, USA). Data include both hard copies (digitalized and georeferenced) and GIS (geographical information system) format data. Geological data were elaborated in the geodatabase. Geological units were grouped on the basis of their “geothermal” characteristics, essentially in terms of cover type and reservoir type formations, taking into account their permeability (Figure 4).
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Figure 2. 3D view of geological map spread on DEM (digital elevation model) of the Mt. Amiata area (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters, X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North. Legend as reported in Figure 1.
Figure 2. 3D view of geological map spread on DEM (digital elevation model) of the Mt. Amiata area (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters, X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North. Legend as reported in Figure 1.
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Figure 3. Map of the Mt. Amiata area with the location of the deep boreholes and the traces of geological, seismic and gravimetric sections.
Figure 3. Map of the Mt. Amiata area with the location of the deep boreholes and the traces of geological, seismic and gravimetric sections.
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Figure 4. Sketch of the geological units used in this work (right) and the complete geological succession taken from literature. Stratigraphic succession in the Monte Amiata area (modified after [34,35]: see the references for further information). Ligurian and Subligurian Units; Ophiolitic Unit; APA: “Argille a Palombini” Fm.; CCL: “Calcari a calpionelle” Fm.; DSA: “Diaspri” Fm.; PRN, GBB, BRG: Ophiolites (serpentinites, gabbros, basalts); “S. Fiora” Unit; MLL: “Monte Morello” Fm.; AVR: “Santa Fiora” Fm.; PTF: “Pietraforte” Fm.; Subligurian Unit; ACC: “Canetolo” Fm.; Tuscan Nappe: MAC: “Macigno” Fm.; STO: “Scaglia Toscana” Fm.; MAI: “Maiolica” Fm.; DSD: “Diaspri” Fm.; POD: “Marne a Posidonia” Fm.; LIM: “Calcare Selcifero” Fm.; RSA: “Calcare Rosso Ammonitico” Fm.; MAS: “Calcare Massiccio” Fm.; RET: “Calcare a Rhaetavicula contorta” Fm.; CCA: “Burano and Calcare cavernoso” Fm.; Tuscan metamorphic units; “Monticiano-Roccastrada” Unit (MRU); MRU3: “Verrucano” Group; MRU2: Palaeozoic Phyllite-Quartzite Group.
Figure 4. Sketch of the geological units used in this work (right) and the complete geological succession taken from literature. Stratigraphic succession in the Monte Amiata area (modified after [34,35]: see the references for further information). Ligurian and Subligurian Units; Ophiolitic Unit; APA: “Argille a Palombini” Fm.; CCL: “Calcari a calpionelle” Fm.; DSA: “Diaspri” Fm.; PRN, GBB, BRG: Ophiolites (serpentinites, gabbros, basalts); “S. Fiora” Unit; MLL: “Monte Morello” Fm.; AVR: “Santa Fiora” Fm.; PTF: “Pietraforte” Fm.; Subligurian Unit; ACC: “Canetolo” Fm.; Tuscan Nappe: MAC: “Macigno” Fm.; STO: “Scaglia Toscana” Fm.; MAI: “Maiolica” Fm.; DSD: “Diaspri” Fm.; POD: “Marne a Posidonia” Fm.; LIM: “Calcare Selcifero” Fm.; RSA: “Calcare Rosso Ammonitico” Fm.; MAS: “Calcare Massiccio” Fm.; RET: “Calcare a Rhaetavicula contorta” Fm.; CCA: “Burano and Calcare cavernoso” Fm.; Tuscan metamorphic units; “Monticiano-Roccastrada” Unit (MRU); MRU3: “Verrucano” Group; MRU2: Palaeozoic Phyllite-Quartzite Group.
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Six units were derived as follow: (1) the volcanic complex: fractured and permeable lavas; (2) the Neogene and Quaternary mainly impermeable sedimentary deposits: clay, sands and minor conglomerate; (3) the Ligurian units mainly impermeable: shale, sandstones and marls; (4–5) the Tuscan Nappe, subdivided into two sub-units: (4) an upper sub-unit denoted as TN 2, represented by the mainly impermeable terrigenous successions and (5) a lower sub-unit that is denoted as TN 1 and represented by the fractured and permeable carbonate-evaporitic successions (shallow geothermal reservoir); (6) the Palaeozoic basement, formed by the Tuscan Metamorphic Complex constituted by low permeability phyllites and permeable thermometamorphosed fractured phyllites (this latter is the deep geothermal reservoir). The geological map of the area (Figure 1 and Figure 2) and the geological cross sections (Figure 5) [3,4] were elaborated on the basis of the above reported criteria, digitalized and uploaded in the model.
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Figure 5. Fence diagram built from geological cross sections (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters; X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North.
Figure 5. Fence diagram built from geological cross sections (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters; X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North.
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Also the well stratigraphy was generalized on the basis of the simplified stratigraphy described above (see Figure 4 right). As regard the data from geophysical investigations, they were implemented in the geodatabase as follows:
Interpreted 2D reflection seismic data were added to geodatabase and used for constraining geometries and characteristics of the subsoil units. In Figure 3 traces of interpreted seismic lines, derived from [4,5,6,10,13,19,20,21,22,29,30], are reported. In particular, seismic lines define the structural setting of the main geological units, evidencing reverse faults (main thrusts) involved in Miocene compressive phase of North Apennine chain formation, normal faults formed during the successive Pliocene-Pleistocene tensional phase.
Geoelectrical data, covering wide areas of the volcano and carried out during the early exploration phase of the Mt Amiata geothermal fields [3], are used to define geometries and thickness of resistive substratum, coinciding with carbonate and evaporite formations (shallow geothermal reservoir).
Gravity data reported in the Bouger anomaly map were elaborated through 2.5 D numerical modelling and implemented in geodatabase to constrain geometries and thickness of subsoil formations, including deep intrusive low-density bodies and thickness of Neogene sedimentary basin. All geophysical interpretations and modelling were carefully calibrated using deep and shallow wells, previously implemented in our geodatabase.
The 3D geological model is 28 km × 20 km wide, with its longer wide oriented EW, and has a vertical extension of approximately 4 km. A 3D grid, which forms the skeleton of the geological model, was then generated and used for the property modelling stage, in which 3D surface (such as lithology, resistivity and temperature) were created.
The main horizons, corresponding to the top of the simplified geological units discussed above, were obtained by using the “convergent interpolation algorithm” built in Petrel platform (i.e., see Figure 6).
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Figure 6. 3D view of geological map spread on DEM and of the horizon corresponding to the top of the first geothermal reservoir in the Mt Amiata area (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters; X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North. Legend as reported in Figure 1 and Figure 4.
Figure 6. 3D view of geological map spread on DEM and of the horizon corresponding to the top of the first geothermal reservoir in the Mt Amiata area (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). Z-axis in meters; X-axis and Y-axis: the coordinate system used is WGS 84/UTM zone 32N (EPSG: 32632). Arrow points to the North. Legend as reported in Figure 1 and Figure 4.
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Shallower horizons are more accurately located and modelled because more wells encounter them. The reconstruction of deeper horizons is more problematic because there are fewer data; obviously, the horizons are more accurately modelled in the areas of Bagnore and Piancastagnaio active geothermal fields where density of deep wells and geophysical data is considerably higher compared to other areas (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 6). The outputs of the 3D model contain information about depths of stratigraphic units and other geological information about faults, erosive surfaces and geothermal information such as reservoir volumes, used for geothermal potential assessment, and to constrain the conceptual model of the geothermal system. In correspondence of the Mt. Amiata volcano, geoelectric survey data were used to reconstruct surfaces between cover and reservoir units. Seismic reflection lines and gravimetric modelling are used to constrain the surface shapes where deep wells are not present. The top surface of Ligurian cover unit is well constrained in correspondence of geothermal fields (Figure 7) where stratigraphy of deep boreholes occurs. Particular attention was also dedicated to the reconstruction of surfaces delimitating the shallow reservoir and the metamorphic basement (Figure 7). The abrupt deepening of all surfaces toward East reflects the occurrence of the normal master fault, delimitating the Western side of Radicofani Pliocene sedimentary basin (Figure 1, Figure 6 and Figure 7). In this particular situation low angle normal fault offset reaches 200–400 m. Radicofani basin (eastward) have about 2400 m of sediments in its depocentre, as indicates by deep wells.
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Figure 7. 3D subsurface horizons of the study area that are incorporated in the model, as reconstructed from available surface and subsurface data (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). In figure three of these modelled horizons are shown: (a) green = top of cover formations (Ligurian units); (b) Blue = top of shallow geothermal reservoir; (c) Purple = top of metamorphic basement (see Figure 4 for details).
Figure 7. 3D subsurface horizons of the study area that are incorporated in the model, as reconstructed from available surface and subsurface data (vertical dimension is exaggerated by factor of 2). In figure three of these modelled horizons are shown: (a) green = top of cover formations (Ligurian units); (b) Blue = top of shallow geothermal reservoir; (c) Purple = top of metamorphic basement (see Figure 4 for details).
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4. Numerical Modelling

The output of the 3D geological modelling was used as input data for the numerical simulation of Mt. Amiata hydrothermal system. The geometry of the top of deeper geothermal reservoir, which is hosted within the Palaeozoic phylladic basement (unit 6 of Figure 4), was defined on the basis of the boreholes that encountered it. No data constrain the base of this reservoir; therefore in the numerical model we assumed a thickness of 500 m.
The Mt. Amiata hydrothermal system was simulated using the numerical simulator TOUGH2 (Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, Berkeley, CA, USA), a general-purpose code for modelling multi-dimensional, multiphase/multi-component flow and heat transport in porous and fractured media [36]. The modelling was performed using the “equation of state” module (EOS1) for pure water. Corey curves were adopted for the relative permeability. Capillarity, adsorption, and double porosity were not considered. The simulation domain has an area of 23 km × 17 km (391 km2, Figure 1) and a depth of 5500 m below sea level (i.e., the model height ranges from 7160 to 5750 m, considering local topographic relief). The model is centred on the active geothermal fields where available data allow constraining a reliable physical model. The numerical grid is subdivided into 22 layers and consists of 8228 cells (Figure 8); each horizontal layer consists of 374 (22 × 17) cells with variable sizes. A cell size of 1 km × 1 km is used. Along the domain boundary, where great detail is not necessary, cell size of 2 km × 2 km has been adopted. The layer thickness varies from a maximum of a few thousand meters to only 60 m as a function of the horizons derived from 3D geological modelling.
The physical parameters used in the model (permeability, porosity, density, thermal conductivity under saturated condition, specific heat) are listed in Table 1 and based on literature values [37,38,39,40].
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Figure 8. 3D simulation grid. Cap rock corresponds to units 2, 3, 4 of Figure 4; Shallow reservoir corresponds to unit 5 of Figure 4; Phylladic basement, Deep reservoir and Basement rock correspond to unit 6 of Figure 4.
Figure 8. 3D simulation grid. Cap rock corresponds to units 2, 3, 4 of Figure 4; Shallow reservoir corresponds to unit 5 of Figure 4; Phylladic basement, Deep reservoir and Basement rock correspond to unit 6 of Figure 4.
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Table
Table 1. Petrophysical parameters of main rock types.
Table 1. Petrophysical parameters of main rock types.
Rock typesDensity (Kg/m3)PorosityPermeability (Darcy)Thermal Cond. (W/m * K)Specific Heat (J/kg * K)
Cap rock24000.00550.000012.4883
Shallower reservoir (carbonates)26600.020.12.4836
Phylladic basement25700.010.000054.01000
Deeper reservoir (basement)25700.0130.054.01000
Basement25700.0130.0054.01000
Temperature and pressure are considered time invariant in the cells at the top and bottom of the simulation grid. A fixed temperature of 10 °C and atmospheric pressure were set for cells along the upper boundary. A variable temperature between 400 and 500 °C was assumed for the cells in the bottom layer, in accordance with the temperatures assumed for K-horizon. The lateral boundaries are considered no-flow insulating boundaries. The simulation of the natural state of the geothermal system (steady state) covers a period of 200,000 years but in some simulations the steady state was reached before. During the simulation some parameters (mainly permeability and temperatures at the bottom layer) were tuned to match the temperature distribution at depth. To verify the reliability of the simulated values of temperatures, simulated well temperature profiles were compared with temperature profiles of wells drilled in the area. A good match between simulated and measured temperature in deep wells was obtained (Figure 9), suggesting that a satisfactory simulation was achieved. The shape of the profiles from temperature modelling is linear or stepped. A vertical shape of the profiles indicates the occurrence of a convective heat transfer (reservoir zones), whereas an oblique shape is suggestive of a mainly conductive heat transfer (cover and impermeable units). The simulated temperature profiles of PC 30, BAGN 13 bis and BAGN 3 bis deep boreholes are indicative on the occurrence of both geothermal reservoirs of Mt. Amiata area (deep and shallow) and this is in agreement with the well logs. The simulated temperature profile of Nibbio 8 borehole is in good agreement with the measured temperatures at the level of the deeper reservoir whereas it does not agree at the level of the shallower one. The simulated profile suggests a convective heat transfer whereas the measured temperatures indicate a mainly conductive heat transfer. This disagreement is probably due to scarce permeability of the carbonate units of the Tuscan Nappe in the area of Nibbio 8 well; this would locally prevent the efficient hydrothermal fluid circulation and the consequent convective heat transfer. Capannacce 1 and PC 24 boreholes reach only the shallower geothermal reservoir.
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Figure 9. Simulated and observed temperature vertical profiles along hole for selected deep geothermal wells in Bagnore and Piancastagnaio active geothermal fields of the Mt. Amiata area. On the left of each temperature profile the simplify stratigraphy (see Figure 4) of the well is reported.
Figure 9. Simulated and observed temperature vertical profiles along hole for selected deep geothermal wells in Bagnore and Piancastagnaio active geothermal fields of the Mt. Amiata area. On the left of each temperature profile the simplify stratigraphy (see Figure 4) of the well is reported.
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The main results of numerical modelling are shown in Figure 10. At the level of first geothermal reservoir (0 m sea level), numerical modelling results evidence the occurrence of three high temperature zones centred in the Piancastagnaio (East), Bagnore (West) and Nibbio (South-East) geothermal areas. The higher temperatures observed in the Piancastagnaio area (East) are due to the normal fault system that characterizes the Eastern sector of Mt. Amiata. On the other hand, the highest temperature and highest productivity of the deep boreholes recorded in the area are found in the Piancastagnaio geothermal field. At level of the second and deeper geothermal reservoir (−2000, −3000 m sea level) the only two significant high temperature zones occur in correspondence of the Piancastagnaio and Bagnore geothermal fields (Figure 10). This agrees with the temperature measured in deep geothermal boreholes.
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Figure 10. Thermal state of Mt. Amiata area at 0 m sea level (sl) (a), −1000 m sl (b), −2000 m sl (c), −3000 m sl (d) respectively, as deduced from numerical modelling. Dotted circles indicates the two active industrially exploited geothermal fields of Bagnore (left) and Piancastagnaio (right).
Figure 10. Thermal state of Mt. Amiata area at 0 m sea level (sl) (a), −1000 m sl (b), −2000 m sl (c), −3000 m sl (d) respectively, as deduced from numerical modelling. Dotted circles indicates the two active industrially exploited geothermal fields of Bagnore (left) and Piancastagnaio (right).
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5. Discussion and Conclusions

The use of a 3D subsurface modelling represents an effective aid to better comprehend the geologic framework of the Mt. Amiata geothermal system. After combining the information, we received a 3D geological/stratigraphic model and outlined a conceptual model of the geothermal system of Mt. Amiata area.
The Mt. Amiata geothermal system is formed by two distinct water dominated reservoirs [3,13,41]. The shallower one is hosted in the Mesozoic, carbonate-evaporitic formations of the Tuscan Nappe at depths ranging between 500–1500 m, the second, and deeper one in the Palaeozoic, metamorphic basement at depths below 2500–3000 m. These two reservoirs are characterized by different temperatures (150–220 °C for the shallower one, 300–350 °C for the deeper one) and, although they are in hydrostatic equilibrium, they are separated by a low permeable layer as evidenced by the temperature profiles of deep wells (Figure 9).
3D integrated modelling allows the reconstruction of the shallow geothermal reservoir geometries (Figure 7). Figure 7a evidences the irregular shape of the top surface of Ligurian cover units and highlights the sharp deepening of this surface that occurs in correspondence of the western master fault of the Radicofani basin. In Figure 7b the top surface of carbonate fractured shallow reservoir is shown. This has a complex geometry due to the tectonic framework of the area, particularly characterized by an important uplift caused by the emplacement (between 130 and 300 ka) of the low-density intrusion that constituted the volcano feeding system. In the northern side of Mt Amiata, the reservoir outcrops in Bagni S. Filippo area (Figure 1), this represents one of the recharge zones of the geothermal fields. The carbonate units deepen abruptly (more than 30° dip westward) reaching about 1000 m of deepening westward (Figure 11). Shallow reservoir outcrops also in Selvena-Castell’Azzara hills and deep northward toward the volcano edifice (Figure 7b and Figure 11). This represents another probable recharge area of the geothermal systems. The top surface of the reservoir shows structural highs in correspondence with the Piancastagnaio, Bagnore and Poggio Nibbio geothermal fields and Bagni S. Filippo low-temperature hydrothermal system, where thermal and gas pools are widespread. These highs correspond to highs either in the Palaeozoic basement and intrusive body and K-horizon. The 3D geological model takes in evidence that the thickness of the shallow geothermal reservoir is strongly variable (150–1000 m) with the thinner portions that often correspond to the structural highs (Figure 7b). In Figure 7c the top surface of the metamorphic basement is represented. The dome shape of the metamorphic basement influences the thickness of the carbonate-evaporitic shallow reservoir that is laminated in correspondence of the metamorphic basement highs. This is due to the displacement of the ductile carbonate-evaporitic units of the Tuscan Nappe as a consequence of the emplacement and uplift of the low-density intrusion below Mt. Amiata volcano.
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Figure 11. Isobaths (m sl) of the top of the shallow geothermal reservoir in the Mt. Amiata area.
Figure 11. Isobaths (m sl) of the top of the shallow geothermal reservoir in the Mt. Amiata area.
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It is impossible to reconstruct with the same accuracy the top of the deeper geothermal reservoir. This is due not only to the paucity of borehole data that encountered this horizon but also because the top of the deeper reservoir does not correspond with a specific geologic unit but it depends on the occurrence of thermometamorphic and metasomatic processes that affected the phylladic basement in the past, modifying its rheology. This is analogous to what observed in the similar Larderello-Travale geothermal system [16].
The occurrence of the active geothermal systems in the south-central portion of the Mt. Amiata may suggest that the intrusion (the heat source of the geothermal systems) is probably asymmetric with respect to the Mt. Amiata volcano. Further evidence supporting this is represented by the occurrence of considerable mercury mineralization [12,42] that is linked to the hydrothermal activity of the area and mainly distributed in the central-southern part of Mt. Amiata (Figure 1).
The subsequent combination of borehole data and numerical modelling results (in the areas where borehole data of temperature are not present), implemented in the Petrel geological model platform, allows reconstructing the temperature behaviour at the top of the shallower geothermal reservoir that is an industrial target for geothermoelectric power production (Figure 12). This is an important issue accomplished thank to this approach. In previous studies on Mt. Amiata geothermal system [13], numerical modelling experiments reconstructed the isotherms along horizontal slices in the subsoil of the geothermal system, as we also carried out in Figure 10. This of course does not take into account the 3D behaviour of geological units that are cut by horizontal slices (Figure 10). The isotherms reported in Figure 12 show the highest values in correspondence of Piancastagnaio area, where they reach temperatures in excess of 230 °C, and Bagnore area where temperatures up to 180 °C are shown. These very high temperatures could be related to highs of the intrusive body and, particularly in the Piancastagnaio area, to the fractured gauge zone of the normal master fault delimiting the western side of the Radicofani basin, which favours the rise of hot fluids from depth toward the shallow geothermal system.
Figure 12 shows that, in the northern and southern portion of the area, the temperatures sharply decrease. This occurs in correspondence with the outcropping of the evaporite-carbonatic units of the Tuscan Nappe (Figure 1 and Figure 11) that form the shallow geothermal reservoir. This is in agreement with the fact that these outcrops are assumed as the main hydrogeological recharge areas of the Mt. Amiata geothermal system.
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Figure 12. Map of the isotherms at the top of the shallower geothermal reservoir as elaborated by the combining of 3D geological and numerical modelling (up). Map of the isobaths of the top of the shallower geothermal reservoir from 3D geological model (down).
Figure 12. Map of the isotherms at the top of the shallower geothermal reservoir as elaborated by the combining of 3D geological and numerical modelling (up). Map of the isobaths of the top of the shallower geothermal reservoir from 3D geological model (down).
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The obtained 3D geothermal model of Mt. Amiata area can be used for a first theoretical evaluation of the geothermal potential of the shallow reservoir (where we have more data for constraining its volume) [43]. As an output of the 3D model, a volume of 293 km3 has been estimated for the shallow geothermal reservoir, considering the area of the numerical modelling simulation (23 km × 17 km), and an average temperature of the reservoir of 148 °C. The estimate of geothermal energy stored underground above the mean annual temperature (15 °C), obtained by the volume method [43], is 2840 GWy (thermal). Assuming a mean value of the recovery factor of 10%, the exploitable energy of the first reservoir can be quantified in 284 GWy.
The quality of the elaborated model and the possibility of using it for prediction purposes will be improved when data from new deep wells will be available. An integrated approach with 3D tools makes geologic information more accessible to a wider audience of non-geologic specialists and decision-makers. The model is also suitable for the planning of new boreholes and further exploration and exploitation steps to proceeds with the usage of geothermal energy in Mt. Amiata area.

Acknowledgments

We thank SORGENIA GEOTHERMAL Srl (Milan, Italy) for access to the data and for permission to publish them and Matteo Ceroti and Sefano Scazzola for encouraging this work. We are in debt with two anonymous referees whose comments and suggestions significantly contribute to improve the quality of this work.

Author Contributions

Alessandro Sbrana had the original idea for the study and, with all co-authors contributed to the conceptualization and writing of the paper.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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MDPI and ACS Style

Fulignati, P.; Marianelli, P.; Sbrana, A.; Ciani, V. 3D Geothermal Modelling of the Mount Amiata Hydrothermal System in Italy. Energies 2014, 7, 7434-7453. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7117434

AMA Style

Fulignati P, Marianelli P, Sbrana A, Ciani V. 3D Geothermal Modelling of the Mount Amiata Hydrothermal System in Italy. Energies. 2014; 7(11):7434-7453. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7117434

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fulignati, Paolo, Paola Marianelli, Alessandro Sbrana, and Valentina Ciani. 2014. "3D Geothermal Modelling of the Mount Amiata Hydrothermal System in Italy" Energies 7, no. 11: 7434-7453. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7117434

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