The Geothermal Potentialities of Southern Algeria

Geothermal energy is interested in the exploitation of hot springs in depth. It constitutes one of the main renewable energy resources in the world. The Southern Algeria is a vast flat geologically stable for almost 600MA (Pan- African orogeny), the geothermal potential of this region is enclosed mostly in the sedimentary basins and specifically in hot aquifers (Albian aquifer) considered as low energy geothermal resources. To identify areas of significant geothermal potential, maps and geothermal gradient and heat flow curves are established. In this study we used the well oil drilling data (BHT, DST) for calculating the average geothermal gradient and the variation of change of the temperature curves with depth through southern Algerian. The interpretation of the observed temperature anomalies takes into account the geological and hydrogeological criteria of the region. Indeed, and according to the used data, two separate geothermal areas are highlighted throughout the study area, one in the eastern part of the Algerian Sahara with a relatively low gradient (Hammam Zelfana, Ouargla and Touggourt) and another in the southwest part hotter than the first(Hammam Ouarka and other hot spots);generally both are low energy geothermal sources.