Thermal Sources in Georgia



Important geothermal resources of Georgia are represented by numerous thermal sources and vents, few of them have been drilled. Energetic capacity of these drills is calculated to be equal to 2 billion kWh equivalent. Two main basins of thermal sources may be distinguished. In the Kolkheti Basin (Ohurei, Kindgi, Zugdidi, etc.) thermal waters have low mineralization degree, they are overheated (103-105° centigrade at vents) and characterized by high static pressure (13-17 atm). In the Eastern Georgia Basin (Lisi drill near Tbilisi) mineral waters have high sulfur and methane contents and temperature of about 65°C at the vent. The first group of thermal waters may be used for electricity production, hot water supply and civil heating whereas the second group is applicable for civil heating and health cure only.

Table below provides information on technical characteristics of some important Georgian thermal sources.



N° Source Host Rocks Tem-pera-ture,
°C		 Mine-raliza-tion, g/l Main solved compounds Interval of water presence in drills, m Out-put, l/sec
1 Ohurey Upper Cretaceous 106 1.07 Ca 2865-3300 1.07
2 Kingi Upper Cretaceous 107 1.05 Ca 2670-3100 4.30
3 Tsaishi Upper Cretaceous 103 1.20 Ca, Mg 700-1000 18.50
4 Zugdidi Upper Cretaceous 105 0.85 Na, K, Ca, Mg 1800-1880 60.20
5 Samtredia Upper Neogene 50 1.80 Na, K 1269-1280 5.20
6 Mendji Upper Cretaceous 55 2.10 Na, K, Ca, Mg 1816-2057 2.10
7 Lisi Paleogene 64 0.30 Na, K 505-1245 4.0