Geothermal Potential of the Eastern Part of the Polish Carpathians in the Light of Computer Modelling

The paper presents results of modelling of petrophysical-volumetric, hydrogeological and thermal parameters which enabled assessment of geothermal energy resources accumulated in rocks and waters in the area of the eastern part of the Polish Carpathians and indication of zones prospective for utilization of the resources for heating purposes, balneotherapy and/or recreation. The assessment of geothermal energy resources was carried out for the following twelve groundwater aquifers: flysch (Skole, Silesian, and Dukla-Magura), Miocene, Upper Cretaceous (without Cenomanian), Cenomanian-Lower Cretaceous, Upper Jurassic, Middle Jurassic, Middle Triassic, Lower Triassic, Carboniferous (clastic), and Devonian-Carboniferous (carbonate). Analysis of the modelling results shows relatively poor reservoir parameters of the flysch rocks in the study area; it especially refers to permeability that for potential reservoir horizons amounts, on the average, to a few mD. In the basement of the Carpathians, locally very good reservoir and hydrothermal potentials are characteristic of the thick Miocene complex, particularly beneath the Carpathian overthrust.