Integrating geological, engineering, and economic indexes in geothermal play fairway mapping: A case study from the Vienna pull-apart basin

• GIS-based Play-fairway map for estimating geothermal power generation potential. • Key factors building geothermal play-fairway maps need to be multidisciplinary. • Example area is not suitable for geothermal power generation due to low temperatures. • Czech part of the Vienna basin may be partly suitable for direct geothermal heating. This study develops a GIS-based, categorical geothermal play fairway map for a pull-apart basin and applies it to the Czech sector of the Vienna Basin. It is intended as a quick, easily reproducible basic evaluation of the geothermal potential in pull-apart basins, based on pre-existing data from hydrocarbon exploration in known petroleum province. Six geological, engineering, and economic indexes (e.g. thermoelectric production index, potential for scaling and corrosion, investment return potential) were calculated from data available from the petroleum industry to evaluate electric power-generation potential. Although fluid flow rates are locally favorable, geothermal fluid temperatures are too low for Organic Rankine Cycle operation, resulting in uniformly poor outlet-temperature and cost indexes. The integrated play fairway map, therefore, indicates no viable potential for the power generation. However, temperature and flow-rate patterns suggest that parts of the basin may be suitable for the direct-use geothermal heating.