GPH 410 — GEOPHYSICS AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

About this course

GPH 410 GEOPHYSICS AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY is a 400 Level course in the Geophysics department, taught in the Second Semester. On La-Net Hub you can watch all 30 recorded lectures for free, grouped into 10 series, read the course lecture note online or download it as a PDF, and test yourself with practice questions.

Economic and geological factors play a decisive role in the development of geothermal energy projects. From an economic perspective, the feasibility of harnessing geothermal resources depends on the high upfront costs of exploration, drilling, and infrastructure, balanced against the long-term benefits of low operating expenses and stable energy supply. Regions with supportive policies, investment incentives, and access to financing are more likely to succeed in geothermal development. On the geological side, the availability of accessible geothermal reservoirs, high heat flow, and permeable rock formations are critical for efficient energy extraction. Areas located near tectonic plate boundaries, volcanic zones, or hot springs often provide the most favorable conditions. Together, these economic and geological considerations determine whether geothermal energy can be a viable, sustainable, and competitive source of power in a given region.

Geophysical methods are essential tools in both geothermal and hydrocarbon exploration, as they allow scientists to investigate subsurface structures without direct drilling. These techniques rely on measuring physical properties of the Earth, such as seismic waves, gravity, magnetism, and electrical conductivity, to infer the presence of heat reservoirs or hydrocarbon deposits. In geothermal exploration, methods like magnetotellurics and resistivity surveys help identify zones of high temperature and fluid content, while seismic imaging reveals fractures and permeability pathways crucial for energy extraction. For hydrocarbons, seismic reflection and refraction are widely used to map sedimentary layers and detect potential oil and gas traps. Gravity and magnetic surveys complement these approaches by highlighting variations in rock density and composition. Together, these geophysical methods provide a cost-effective and scientifically robust means of reducing exploration risks, guiding drilling operations, and maximizing resource recovery.

Lectures in this course

Series 1: ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT SERIES 3 · Part 1

1. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 1 9 minutes 28 seconds
2. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 2 8 minutes 31 seconds
3. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 3 9 minutes 27 seconds

Series 2: ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT SERIES 3 · Part 2

1. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 1 10 minutes 15 seconds
2. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 2 9 minutes 8 seconds
3. ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL FACTOR IN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 3 10 minutes 14 seconds

Series 3: GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION SERIES 4 · Part 1

1. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 1 9 minutes 23 seconds
2. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 2 8 minutes 56 seconds
3. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 3 10 minutes 17 seconds

Series 4: GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION SERIES 4 · Part 2

1. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 1 10 minutes 9 seconds
2. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 2 9 minutes 40 seconds
3. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS FOR GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION 3 11 minutes 8 seconds

Series 5: GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION SERIES 5 · Part 1

1. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 1 8 minutes 15 seconds
2. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 2 9 minutes 1 second
3. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 3 9 minutes 43 seconds

Series 6: GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION SERIES 5 · Part 2

1. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 1 8 minutes 55 seconds
2. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 2 9 minutes 47 seconds
3. GEOTHERMAL FIELDS, EXPLORATION CASE STUDIES AND FIELDS BASED INVESTIGATION 3 10 minutes 34 seconds

Series 7: INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT SERIES 1 · Part 1

1. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 1 8 minutes 38 seconds
2. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 2 7 minutes 36 seconds
3. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 3 7 minutes 49 seconds

Series 8: INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT SERIES 1 · Part 2

1. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 1 9 minutes 15 seconds
2. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 2 8 minutes 10 seconds
3. INTRODUCTION TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND EARTH's INTERNAL HEAT 3 8 minutes 24 seconds

Series 9: ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH SERIES 2 · Part 1

1. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 1 8 minutes 37 seconds
2. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 2 8 minutes 44 seconds
3. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 3 9 minutes 10 seconds

Series 10: ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH SERIES 2 · Part 2

1. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 1 9 minutes 18 seconds
2. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 2 9 minutes 32 seconds
3. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HEAT FLOW FROM THE EARTH 3 9 minutes 53 seconds

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