Date of Award

6-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Hakim Saibi

Second Advisor

Dalal Al Shamasi

Third Advisor

Dr. Maxim Smirnov

Abstract

Magnetotelluric (MT) is a geophysical technique that utilizes the naturally existing electromagnetic fields to study the electrical substructure of the Earth. The key role of MT in geothermal exploration is to detect and delineate geothermal resources and to locate the exploitable reservoirs through which hot fluids at depth can be extracted. A well-known hot spring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the Al-Mubazzarah area, Al Ain city. The MT method is used to study the electrical conductivity distribution beneath the Al-Mubazzarah area. This study focuses on the characterization of the subsurface electrical features and the geological structures (faults) that control the geothermal fluids in the Al-Mubazzarah area. Eight MT sites were deployed in the Al-Mubazzarah area. A remote reference site was installed about 17 km far from the study area for a better data quality. Dimensionality and strike analysis of the Al-Mubazzarah area are carried out using the phase tensor ellipse approach. The data shows that the 2D inversion is appropriate for the subsurface resistivity interpretation. The results from 2D inversion of the MT data demonstrate the 2D distribution of electrical resistivities beneath Al-Mubazzarah area to the depth of 5 km below the Earth surface. This model estimates three electrical layers, from top to bottom of the study area. Firstly, a layer with relatively low resistivity of quaternary deposits (1 to 10 ohm.m) from the ground surface to 0.3 km; secondly, a layer with high resistivity (50 to 500 ohm.m) composed of limestone (0.3 km to 2 km-3.3 km), and thirdly a deep layer (2 km-3.3 km to 4 km) of low resistivity (10 to 30 ohm.m) which may represent the top of geothermal reservoir beneath the Al-Mubazzarah area.

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