Geothermal energy resources of Jizan, SW Saudi Arabia

Jizan geothermal province has evolved over an oceanic ridge slice which is under plated a thin continental crust. The area is characterized by high heat flow and high geothermal gradient and hosts several thermal and warm springs whose chemistry indicates a high temperature reservoir within the granites. The geophysical data indicated that the thermal fluids are fault controlled. The residence time of the fluids, estimated based on ¹⁴C, is about 33 kilo years. Oxygen isotope shift suggests that the reservoir temperature is around 220ºC. It is estimated that the province can generate electricity of the order of 134 x 10⁶kWh which can be effectively utilized to meet future fresh water demand and save CO₂ emissions by decreasing the domestic oil and gas consumption.