GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

in

RUSSIA & UKRAINE

November 22, 1996

Prepared by:

Bojan Stoyanov

Anthony Taylor

Bob Lawrence & Associates, Inc.

424 N. Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction ......................................................... . 1

II. Structure of the Russian Geothermal Industry, Contacts and Partners, Nomenclature of

Tables ............................................................. . 2

III. Region A, the Caucasus ................................................ . 5

IV. Region B, the Coastal Far East ........................................... . 6

V. Region C ........................................................... . 9

VI. Ukraine ........................................................... . 11

VII. Outlook for Development ............................................. . 15

Appendix ................................................................ . 17

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4

Table 5

Table 6

Bibliography
 

1 According to the Constitution of Dec. 12, 1992, the Russian Federation is composed of the

following entities: republics, Krai (regions), Oblast (provinces), Avtonomnaia Oblast

(autonomous provinces), and Avtonomnii Okrug (autonomous districts) -- all of which have

equal rights in the Federation.

 

2 At the time of preparation of this report, the process of separation of the Chechen-Ingushet

Republic into Chechen Republic and Ingushet Republic had not been concluded. The legal

border between the two republics had not been established. Thus it is impossible to determine

the location of certain geothermal prospecting sites between the two countries. Therefore, for

practical purposes, in the body of this report, where necessary, we will be referring to the

territory of the former Chechen-Ingushet Republic, which includes the territory of the Chechen

Republic and the territory of the Ingushet Republic.

Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 1

INTRODUCTION

This report describes the geothermal resources of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The name

Russian Federation will be used interchangeably with Russia. The term geothermal resources, in

this report, is limited to underground/subsurface water fields or hydro-geothermal resources. No

reference to hot dry rock (HDR) is made in this report, because the team found no practical use

or experimental development of HDR in Russia and Ukraine. Limited theoretical study of HDR is

part of the activity of the Earth Science Institute of the Russian Academy of Science and other

affiliated institutes.

The currently known geothermal resources of Russia are concentrated in the following two areas

(please see map):

A- the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding territory, and

B- the far-eastern part of the Russian Federation.

Considerations of general geological character supported by extensive drilling for crude oil

prospecting and extraction along with natural discharge of thermal waters, suggest that the

region of Western and Middle Siberia and the Sayano-Baikal mountain range might be also rich in

geothermal resources. In the body of this report we will refer to this large territory as Region C. 

The currently known geothermal resources of Ukraine are believed to be concentrated in two

separate areas (please see map): the territory of the Crimea Peninsula and in the Transcarpathian

trough -- in the eastern provinces of the country, bordering Romania and the Republic of

Slovakia.

Region A is composed of Krasnodarskii Krai1, Stavropolskii Krai, the Republic of Adigea, the

Karachaevo-Cherkeskaia Republic, the Republic of Kabardino-Balkariia, the Republic of Northern

Osetiia-Alaniia, the Chechen-Ingushet Republic2 and the Republic of Dagestan. 

Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 2

Region B includes Kamchatskaia Oblast, Sahalinskaia Oblast, Magadanskaia Oblast and the

Chukotskii Avtonomnii Okrug.

Region C includes Tiumenskaia Oblast (including the Hanti-Mansiiskii Avtonomnii Okrug and

the Iamalo-Nenetskii Avtonomnii Okrug), Tomskaia Oblast, Omskaia Oblast, Novosibirskaia

Oblast, Altaiskii Krai, the Republic of Gornii Altai, Kemerovskaia Oblast, Republic Tuva,

Republic Hakasiia, Krasnoiarskii Krai (including Taimirskii Avtonomnii Okrug and Evenkiiskii

Avtonomnii Okrug), Irkutskaia Oblast (including Ust-Ordinskii Buriatskii Avtonomnii Okrug),

Republic of Buriatia and the eastern territories of the Republic of Saha (Yakutia).

Regions A, B and C differ dramatically from each other in their climatic conditions and levels of

socio-economic development. 

STRUCTURE OF THE RUSSIAN GEOTHERMAL INDUSTRY, CONTACTS AND

PARTNERS, NOMENCLATURE OF TABLES

Administrative Structure of the Industry

The Russian geothermal industry is administratively subordinated to two government bodies of

ministerial or department level -- The Ministry of Oil and Gas of the Russian Federation and the

Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s Crust of the Russian Federation. This dual

subordination has historic reasons dating back over 30 years, which are beyond the scope of this

report. An exception occurs when a power plant is involved. Power plants are subordinated to

the Energy Ministry.

The major efforts of drilling, prospecting and developing geothermal resources have been

performed under the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Research, prospecting and accounting for

geothermal resources have been performed under the Committee of Geology.

 

Contacts and Partners

Among the numerous companies and research centers under the two ministries (one ministry and

one committee), the team found contacts with the following institutions most fruitful and

beneficial (not ranked in order of preference):

1. All Russian Institute for Hydro-Geology and Engineering Geology,

2. BurGazGeoTerm State Limited Company,

3. Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s Crust of the Russian Federation,
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 3

4. SevKavBurGeotermiia,

5. Institute of Geophysics, The Ukrainian Academy of Science.

The All Russian Institute for Hydro-Geology and Engineering Geology is a leading R & D center

on the practical problems and aspects of the utilization of the geothermal energy.

BurGazGeoTerm State Limited Company is by far the largest drilling and prospecting company in

Russia. The company was solely responsible for oil and gas drilling on the territory of the entire

former Soviet Union. It is an integral part of Gazprom, the largest liquid petroleum gas developer,

producer and distributor in the world, with revenues that rank it among the Fortune Top 10 (not

100), according to Fortune magazine itself. BurGazGeoTerm enjoys the cash windfalls from

Gazprom and seems the least affected, among the geological and geothermal entities, by the

stagnation in the Russian economy. In addition the company has international drilling activity and 

develops geothermal resources internationally as well (for example in Latin America).

BurGazGeoTerm maintains its own database of the wells, drill sites and geothermal fields it has

under development and exploitation. The database includes very detailed information on the

geology, the lythology and the energy potential of the sites. We are obliged to the company for

sharing a part of that information with us. This information is organized in Tables 2, 4 and 5. 

The Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s Crust of the Russian Federation is

broadly responsible for the exploration, development and utilization of all natural resources on the

territory of Russia except oil and gas. These broadly defined responsibilities encompass policy

making as well as purely commercial activities, including business plan preparation, joint venture

establishment and operation, granting of concessions, etc.

SevKavBurGeotermiia, a spin-off of BurGAzGeoTerm and now an independent state owned

company, has been involved in the prospecting, development and exploitation of geothermal

resources on the territory of Caucasus for more than thirty years. The company, and its

management are demonstrating an extremely high level of entrepreneurship and initiative. The

management of the company is actively searching for partners and possibilities to increase the

output of the current resources and the efficiency of their use. According to the company,

approximately 35 % to 50% of the available geothermal resources on the territory of Region A

are currently being utilized. 

Institute of Geophysics, The Ukrainian Academy of Science, is one of the few entities left on the

territory of Ukraine that deal with geothermal energy. It is one of the very few usable contacts on

geothermal issues in Ukraine.
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 4

Nomenclature of Tables

The information contained in Tables 1 and 3 has been provided by the Committee of Geology and

Utilization of the Earth’s Crust of the Russian Federation. Table 1 contains the official opinion of

the Committee with respect to the geothermal energy potential of the different parts of the

Russian Federation, broken down by major geothermal water fields and by the kind of the

resource, i.e. hot water or geothermal steam (steam-water mixture). The shaded part of the table

contains sites in Region A, the un-shaded, Region B. The information in Tables 1,2 and 4 may be

combined to give the most comprehensive understanding of the capacity and geology of any

geothermal site.

Table 3 provides important aggregate information along with important time perspective. Table 3

is the latest word of the Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s Crust of the Russian

Federation on the geothermal energy potential of the country. It contains sites being certified by

the GKZ -- the State Commission on Resources, the government body authorized to standardize,

approve and classify information on natural resources in Russia. Translation of the working

definitions applicable to geothermal resources adopted by GKZ are provided in the Appendix.

The information contained in Tables 2, 4 and 5 has been provided by BurGazGeoTerm. Table 2

provides detailed information on the sites in the Russian Caucasus -- defined as Region A in this

report. The sites that are located in Region A but are not accounted for in Table 2 are listed in the

footnotes of the table. 

The information in Table 4 has also been provided by the Geological Department of

BurGazGeoTerm. This table covers in detail the geothermal sites in Region B -- the Russian Far

North-East. The information in this table is a an integral part of an aggregate body of information

known as “The Balance of Natural Recourses of the Russian Federation”. Therefore, this table

provides a comprehensive and exhaustive list of all geothermal water fields in Region B, including

those that are no longer under the developmental responsibility of BurGazGeoTerm. However,

the information in Table 4 is a lot richer in detail and therefore more valuable in its own way than

the aggregate numbers provided in, for example, Table 1 and 3.

Table 5 provides information on the two sites that were under exploitation by BurGazGeoTerm

on the territory of Ukraine. Other geothermal sites do exist on the territory of Ukraine, but no

systematic information, approved by the Ukrainian equivalent of the GKZ, on those sites is

available. The information provided in Table 6, although reliable, does not carry a seal of state

approval. 
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 5

REGION A, THE CAUCASUS

Geomorphologically, the Caucasus region is divided into the Precaucasian Platform, the Greater

Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Lesser Caucasus. Only the Precaucasian Platform and the eastern

slopes of the Greater Caucasus remained in the territory of the Russian federation after the

disintegration of the former Soviet Union (USSR). 

The Precaucasian Platform and the eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus are administratively

divided among the following republics and krai -- regions:

1. Krasnodarskii Krai

2. Stavropolskii Krai

3. Republic Adigeia

4. Karachaevo-Cherkeskaia Republic

5. Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

6. Republic of Northern Osetiia-Alaniia

7. Chechen-Ingushet Republic

8. Republic of Dagestan

all of which are members with equal rights in the Russian Federation. Currently there are no

known geothermal resources or geological prospecting operations in the of the Republic of

Northern Osetiia-Alaniia. 

The Precaucasian Platform hosts two artesian water basins that cover a total area of 150,000

square kilometers: the Azov - Kubanskii basin to the north and the Tersko - Kumskii basin to the

south. These two artesian basins are separated by the Stavropole dome. The two basins are

piedmont type and have external water recharging pressure forming sources of piedmont type in

the eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus.

Extensive drilling in the region for crude oil prospecting and exploitation has provided ample data

on the water-bearing horizons. Generally these are the sedimentary deposits of the Lower

Cretaceous and the Neogene deposits. The Apsheron Neogene water-bearing formation is one of

the largest in the eastern Precaucasia. It almost reaches the coastal line of Caspian sea, where it

produces geothermal waters with temperatures of 46 to 1000 C at the Kizliarskoe site and

Chervlennie Buruni near the town of Uzno-Suhokumsk . The deposit strata at this site reach a

depth of over 1000 meters and are up to 700 meters thick. 

The Chokrakian water-bearing formation is a Neogene deposit with industrial significance as a

source of geothermal water. It is situated in the eastern collar of the Caucasus range transcending

into Precaucasia. Water-charging occurs on the eastern slopes of the Caucasus though

Chokrakian monoclinals. Reaching significant depths through highly permeable sandstone

interlayered with clay, the water acquires high pressure and temperatures of over 1000 C . 
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 6

Another major Neogene deposit with industrial significance is the Karaganian water-bearing

formation. It extends as a band, 50 kilometers wide, along the slopes of Caucasus mountain.

These slopes, especially to the north charge the water-bearing strata of the formation in the

eastern and the southern parts of Precaucasia in the Azov - Kubanskii basin. The sedimentary

sandstone is of very high water permeability, reaching a depth of four kilometers and a thickness

of 400 meters. Water temperatures vary with depth, with maximum levels of over 1000 C and

mineralization in the range of 10 to 20 g/l.

Several of the most significant geothermal water fields in Region A are connected to Chokrakian

and the Karaganian Neogene deposit levels: Hankalskoe and Goitinskoe, respectively south and

south-east of the town of Grozni, Mahachkalinskoe and Mahachkala-Ternair, Kizliarskoe and

Izberbashskoe, just to name a few (for details, please refer to Table 1 and Table 2).

The Pontian-Meotian Neogene deposit horizons of sand, poorly cemented sandstone and siltstone

are of very high permeability. These deposit horizons stretch north of the Stavropol dome and

into the Azov-Kubanskii sag as well as into the Tersko-Kumskii basin sag. The geothermal water

in these strata is of low mineralization. The highest temperatures are 700 C .

The Cretaceous, especially the Lower Cretaceous (Albian, Aptian, Barremian and Cenomanian)

formations in southern Precaucasia provide favorable conditions for the formation of geothermal

water fields. Although the Lower Cretaceous strata form a belt 10 to 20 kilometers wide along

the foothills of the Caucasus range, it is only at the southern end, where thermal water has been

associated with them. At Tersko-Galiugaevsoe, in Stavropol Region, at depths of 2600 to 2700

well temperatures of 1600 to 2200 C have been measured.

Details of all of the geothermal water fields and sites in the territory of Caucasus region can be

found in Table 1 and Table 2. 

REGION B, THE COASTAL FAR EAST

1. Kamchatskaia Oblast

The Kamchatka Peninsula is a part of the Asian Alaska sector of the Circum-Pacific Cenozoic

volcanic belt. The geothermal resources in Kamchatka are of volcanic origin. Tectonic activity on

the peninsula is determined by the northeastern dislocations. These dislocations are the reason for

the volcanic activity and the associated geothermal phenomena. Most of the significant

geothermal systems on the territory of the peninsula are located along the Eastern Kamchatka

volcanic zone. The formation of this zone is related to the formation of graben-synclinal structures

-- large faults in the northeastern plate. These graben-synclinal structures are limited by the

regional fractures of very large amplitudes ( up to 1000 to 1500 meters) or by a series of
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 7

scalariform faults of medium amplitude, filled with Quaternary volcanic and volcanic-sedimentary

rocks (Erlich et al.). 

The following paragraphs provide a brief geomorphological description of the most important

geothermal complexes on the territory of the Kamchatka peninsula. The text should be reviewed

along with Table 4 which provides detailed numerical information on all commercially viable

geothermal sites in Kamchatka as per the Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s

Crust of the Russian Federation.

Paratunskoe is one of the most important geothermal water fields in Kamchatka. It includes the

Paratunskoe, Bolshe-Bannoe, Karimchinskoe, Nachikinskoe and some other sites. The

Paratunskoe region is part of the south-eastern outskirts of the inner volcanic arc of the

Kamchatka Peninsula. The region includes the basins of the Plotnikov, Karimchini, Bannoi and

Paratunka rivers. The most important geological-tectonic structures are the metamorphic zone of

the Ganalskii ridge, Nachikinskaia block folding zone, the Verhnekarimchinskaia volcanic zone,

the Nizhnekarimchinskaia volcanic zone, the Tolmachevski area of regional basalt vocalism, the

northern collar of the Gorelogo volcano, the Paratunka trough and the Nachikinskaia trough.

Without doubt the Pauzhetka geothermal complex is the best known geothermal water field in the

territory of the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union in general. A water/steam mixture

of geothermal origin has been sufficient to power the first Russian Experimental Geothermal

Power Plant with a capacity of 5MW continuously for thirty years now. It is important to point

out however that the installed capacity of the plant is 11 MW. The Pauzhetka geothermal

complex is located in the boundary between two structure-facies zones: the West Kamchatka and

the Central Kamchatka, as defined by G. M. Vlasov and V. A. Iarmiuliuk. The Pauzhetka

geothermal complex is also an integral part of the following volcanoes as a part of the southern

end of the Eastern-Kamchatka volcanic range: the Zheltovskii, the Ilinskii, the Kambalnii,

Koshelevskii and Mashkovtsov volcanoes. 

Mutnovskoe geothermal complex is another commercial source of water/steam mixture with

electricity generation potential at the current level of technology. Mutnovskoe geothermal

complex is located 70 kilometers south of the town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii, in a region of

rather intensive and diverse volcanic activity. The complex is named after the complex massif of

the Mutnovskii volcano, developed through several different geologic periods. This massif

provides for the most powerful fumarole fields in the Kamchatka peninsula. Two separate

characteristic formations of the Mutnovskoe complex are the Gorelii volcano with an active

strata-volcano within the caldera at the top of the cone, and the disintegrated Zhirovskii volcano

with thermal activity within the eroded crater. A specific, narrow depression, 3 to 10 kilometers

wide, extends in the sub-meridianal direction, overlapping the peripheries of the above described

volcanic structures from the Mutnovskii to the Viliuchinskii volcanoes. The depression is overlaid

with a dense set of tectonic faults with multiple demonstrations of aerial volcanic activity such as

scoria cones, dykes and extrusions of different age and composition. This graben-like structure is
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 8

referred to as the Northern Mutnovskii volcanic zone ( E. A. Vakin, et al.) Morphologically, this

area is a plateau, tilted eastwards and down-cutted by the beds of the Zhirovaia, Falshivaia and

Mutnovskaia rivers. The volcano formations rise high, more than one kilometer above the plateau

with latitude of 700 to 800 meters.

2. Sakhalinskaia Oblast

Sakhalinskaia Oblast consists strictly of island territory -- that of the large Sahalin island and the

group of the Kurile islands that stretches from the southern tip of Kamchatka peninsula to the

northern end of the Hokkaido island of Japan.

2.1. Sakhalin Island

Several artesian basins have been discovered on the territory of Sahalin island during crude oil

prospecting. The most significant include Severo-Shalinskoe, Tatarskii and Susuniskii artesian

basins. The best studied is the Severo-Sahalinskii artesian basin covering some 22,000 square

kilometers. The water bearing strata are Neogene sand, sandstone and siltstones. Water

temperatures range from 600 to 970 C at Tungur at a depth of 3300 meters. Mineralization ranges

from 3 g/l to 20 g/l. 

The Tatarskii artesian basin covers some 8,000 square kilometers. Although Neocene and

Paleocene deposits form the largest part of the basin, the highest water temperature, 1280 C, has

been measured at the Krasnogorskaia site in Upper Miocene deposits at a depth of 2.9 kilometers. 

The Susunaiskii basin covers some 1,500 square kilometers. It is formed in Neogene sedimentary

environment with a thickness of three kilometers. Water temperatures in the range of 700 C have

been measured at a depth of 1800 meters, again during crude oil prospecting.

2.2. The Kurile Islands

The Kurile Islands include the following larger islands from north to south: Paramushir, Simushir,

Urtup, Irtup and Kunashir. They are part of the same chain of eastern Pacific dislocations as Japan

and Kamchatka. Consequently, the same tectonic and volcanic forces cause the geothermal

phenomena on these islands. The islands are formed from Neogene volcanic sedimentary deposits

broken by a number of major dislocations that focus the thermal activity. 

Regardless of the favorable conditions for the existence of geothermal water and steam, due to

the small size and the remote location of the islands, very few sites have been explored and rated

of commercial significance.

One of them is Goriachii Pliazh. The site is located on the eastern shore of Kunashir island, the

one closest to Japan. The geothermal field is located in a narrow coastal stretch, about one
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 9

kilometer long and a quarter of a kilometer wide. It is in immediate proximity to the Mendeleev

volcano. The geothermal water system is bedded in a fissured Neogene layer of tuffs, sandstone,

conglomerates and redeposited volcanic rocks and has total thickness of 570 meters. 

Another site with a very promising commercial potential, due to the high enthalpy of the watersteam mixture is Okeanskoe (Kipiashtii), located on the Ohotsk Sea coast of Irtup Island. It is

also in close proximity (eight kilometers) to the Town of Kurilsk.

3. Chukotskii Avtonomnii Okrug and Magadanskaia Oblast

Chukotskii Avtonomnii Okrug and Magadanskaia Oblast are part of the vast Russian North-East

permafrost area. The entire region covers more than 4,000,000 square kilometers and geologically

is a Mesozoic fold belt. Both Chukotskii Avtonomnii Okrug and Magadanskaia Oblast are part of

the Ohotsko-Chukotskii volcanic belt, which is one of the five major geologic structures of the

Russian North-East: the Kolima fold zone, the Iano-Kolima fold zone, the Chukotka fold zone,

the Ohotsk fold zone and the Ohotsko-Chukotskii volcanic belt. The two geothermal sites known

in the area are both located in the Ohotsko-Chukotskii volcanic belt. These are the Tavatumskoe

site in Magadanskaia Oblast and the Lorinskoe site (Kukinskie outflows) in the Chukotka

peninsula. Due to the severe climatic conditions, the region is poorly studied.

REGION C 

Region C covers the territory between the rivers Lena and Ob, and includes:

Tiumenskaia Oblast (incl. the Hanti-Mansiiskii Avtonomnii Okrug and the IamaloNenetskii Avtonomnii Okrug), 

Tomskaia Oblast, 

Omskaia Oblast, 

Novosibirskaia Oblast, 

Altaiskii Krai, 

the Republic of Gornii Altai, 

Kemerovskaia Oblast, 

Republic Tuva, 

Republic Hakasiia, 

Krasnoiarskii Krai (incl. Taimirskii Avtonomnii Okrug and Evenkiiskii Avtonomnii

Okrug), 

Irkutskaia Oblast (incl. Ust-Ordinskii Buriatskii Avtonomnii Okrug), 

Republic of Buriatia, and

the eastern territories of the Republic of Saha (Yakutia).
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 10

From a geophysical viewpoint, Region C includes the West Siberian Plain, the Middle Siberian

Highland and the Sayano-Baykal fold range.

1. West Siberian Plain

The Western Siberian Plain hosts one of the world’s largest artesian complexes. The complex was

very well studied during extensive exploration and development of crude oil fields. Geothermal

waters have been encountered in the Aptian, Albian, Cenomian and Neocomian formations. 

The water bearing strata of the Aptian, the Albian and the Cenomian formations consist of sand,

sandstone, siltstone and clay with aggregate thickness of about one kilometer. The waters reach

600 C and contain methane and nitrogen gases. Mineralization varies in content and composition

from 1 to 75 g/l, sometimes including iodine and bromine. Some examples of drill sites to the

south are Koplashevo, Kupino and Ipatovskaia and to the north are Vikulovo and Tara.

The water bearing strata of the Neocomian formations consist of interlayered sandstone, siltstone,

clay and argillite, reaching depths of 200 to 1800 meters. The highest water temperatures of 700

to 950 C at bedding were recorded in the Middle Ob River Valley and Toblosk sites where Irtish

river merges with the Ob river. At the Tobolsk site, near the town of Tobolsk, the water has

sodium chloride mineralization of about 17 g/l and methane gas contamination.

2. Middle Siberian Highland

The Angara-Lena artesian basin is situated in the Irkutsk amphitheater, which itself is a result of

the interaction of the wedge-shaped anticlinal nose of the Middle Siberian Highland platform with

the Sayano-Baykal fold region. Heavily mineralized brine waters, with up to 500 g/l of dried

compound and temperatures of up to 770 C were confined to Ordovician and Cambrian

formations. 

3. Sayano-Baykal fold range. 

The Sayano-Baykal fold range is a result of volcanic activity during tertiary Neogene. The result

is a system of consecutive grabens and mountain ranges, the grabens actually replicating large

faults in the strata. Lake Baykal occupies the deepest of these grabens. Natural outflows of hot

water indicate the existence of geothermal water systems. Two types of such systems are found in

the Sayano-Baykal fold range: waters in sedimentary environment and waters in fissures in the

fault zones. 

No resources with commercial significance have been identified in Region C for the following

three reasons:
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 11

• although extensive geological prospecting work has been performed in the region,

it was primarily focused on the investigation and exploration for crude oil reserves,

not geothermal water reserves;

• none of the known geothermal sites offers high temperature resources suitable for

electricity production; and

• the region is very sparcely populated and most of the known geothermal water

fields are away from urban areas, which limits the usefulness of these geothermal

resources.

UKRAINE

The usable hydro-geothermal potential of Ukraine is estimated to be 10,000,000 metric tons crude

oil equivalent per year.

The Transcarpathian and the Ciscarpathian depressions, along with the Skifskaia (Scythian)

platform, the Dneprovsko-Donetskaia trough and the Donetskoe folding system are considered to

be the most promising for geological prospecting operations for geothermal water (V.V.

Baibakov, et al). This conclusion is based on the study of thermal flow and the depth of the 1500

C isotermic strata by geophysical methods. The recommendation does not consider the geological 

prerequisites for existence of subsurface waters.

1. Crimea Peninsula

In the relatively small territory of the Crimea Peninsula, interaction of tectonic regions of

completely different structure and time of development has been observed. Almost all major

structures of the Earth’s crust are represented here: the southern slope of the ancient East

European Platform, part of the Epipaleozoic Scythian plate, a part of the Alpo-Himalayan folding

system, represented by the Crimean mega-anticline bordered by the Hindolo-Kubanskii edge sag

and a region of the bathipelagic depression of the Black sea, characterized by the typical structure

of a pelagic depression.

According to E.A Babinets, from hydro-geological point of view, the Crimea Peninsula, which is

a part of the Prichernomoskii (the Black Sea) artesian basin, is subdivided into the following

three basins, due to their differences in tectonic structure and hydro-geological characteristics:

• Prisivashskii artesian basin,

• Alminskii artesian basin, and 

• Indolskii artesian basin.

Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 12

1.1. Prisivashskii (Sivashkii) Artesian Basin

The Prisivashskii (Sivashkii) artesian basin is located between the Ukrainian crystalline massif and

the Evpatoria block rise. The northern and the eastern marts of the basin are located in the

Ukrainian crystalline massif, while the southern part of the basin is in the area of the

Prichernomoskii (the Black Sea) bathipelagic depression.

1.2. Alminskii Artesian Basin

The Alminskii artesian basin is a part of the Alminskii trough.

1.3. Indolskii Artesian Basin

The Indolskii artesian basin is a part of the Indolskii trough.

Characteristics of the water bearing horizons in the sedimentary mantel of the Crimea Peninsula

follows. Please, refer to Table 5. 

The speed of water penetration of the Paleozoic deposits represented by marbly limestone schists

with intercalation of effusive rock ranges from 6 cubic meters per day at the Novoselovskoe site,

consisting of three parts: Ilinka, Trudovoe and Sizovka, to 860 cubic meters per day at the Saki

site. The chlorine-sodium mineralization ranges from 2 g/l to at the Goncharovka site to 70 g/l at

the Krilovskaia site. 

Water bearing horizons from the Jurassic period occur at depths of 400 to 3000 meters and are

characterized by low holding and filtration capacity. The flow rates of the wells reaching into such

horizons range from 0.11 cubic meters per day, at Oktiabrskoi site to 18.4 cubic meters per day at

Krasnovskoi site. The chlorine-sodium mineralization ranges from 2.4 g/l to 63.5 g/l.

The water bearing strata from the Cretaceous period are basal sandstone, aeurolites, gritstones

and conglomerates. The best water trapping capacity is demonstrated by the basal aleurolitesandstone bench reaching open porosity of 3% to 29% and perviousness of 987 f/m2

 at the

Novoselovskoe uplift and the Simferopolskii protrusion. The flow rate of the gushing wells is

sometimes higher than 1200 cubic meters per day.

The Upper Cretaceous water-bearing horizons found in limestone-clay formations are

characterized by low open porosity of 1-2% to 10-20%, fissure porosity of not more than 1%

and fissure perviousness from zero to 183 f/m2. The flow rates range from 0.2 to 532 cubic meters

per day at the Kuibishev area to 2600 cubic meters per day at the intensively fissured series of the

Krilovskoi area. The mineralization of the Upper Cretaceous water-bearing horizons is 20 to 30

g/l.
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 13

The Paleocene water-bearing strata are mostly sandstones, often poorly cemented, and

characterized by high open porosity. Such formations are spread throughout the Tarhankut and

the Kerchen Peninsulas and in the Sivash area. The flow-rate of the wells sometime reaches very

high values -- 2240 cubic meters per day at a gushing well at Medvedovskoi site. The chlorinesodium mineralization is in the range of 16.7 g/l to 60.8 g/l.

The water trapping properties of the Middle Eocene deposits at the Prisivashe site were

thoroughly studied. The average open porosity ranges from 22% to 26% producing a flow-rate at

the well of 870 cubic meters per day. The water has chlorine-sodium mineralization of 30 to 50

g/l.

The water bearing horizons in the Maikop series turn out to be the aleurolite and the fine-grained

sandstone interlayers. They have low water-trapping capacity of 65 cubic meters per day.

Chlorine-sodium mineralization with values of 10 to 65 g/l is typical.

The Severo-Sivashkoe prospecting site is located north-east of the town of Djankoi, near the

coastal line of the Asov See.

Novoselskoe geothermal water bed is located opposite from the Severo-Sivashkoe, across the

territory of the Crimea Peninsula, near the Black See coast, north of the town of Evpatoria. It

consists of three prospecting sites: Ilinka, Trudovoe and Sizovka. The largest and most intensive

temperature anomaly has been observed at this geothermal water bed. Its proximity to urban areas

enhances its ranking as the most commercially viable geothermal resource of the Crimea

Peninsula.

2. Ciscarpathia

2.1. The Ciscarpathian Depression

From a hydro-geological point of view, the Ciscarpathian Depression is a first class, pressurized

water-bearing basin. It is sub-divided into two second class water-bearing basins: the ChopMukachevskii and Solotvinskii pressurized water-bearing basins. The hydro-geological

environment in the Ciscarpathian water-bearing basin is not homogenous. It is not uniform even

within the two sub-basins. The mineralization of the geothermal waters of the Chop-Mukachevskii

basin vary in quantity and kind from 10 g/l to 300-350 g/l. 

2.1.1.

Significant flow-rates (see Table 6) of waters from Paleozoic, Early Miocene and Sarmat deposits

have been observed during prospective drillings in the area of the town of Uzgorod, situated in the

north-western part of the Ciscarpathian Depression, close to the borders with Romania and the

Republic of Slovakia.
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 14

The Uzgorod site is characterized, as is the territory of the entire depression, by a block structure

of pre-Neogene folding base. Multi-directional tectonic movements of the blocks have resulted in

significant variations in the depth of the base. The highest part is the Uzgorod transversal uplift.

The roof of the base is located at a depth of less than 1000 meters. Uneven, but sometimes up to

hundreds of meters thick, the sedimentary mantle of lower Miocene is a significant structural

element of the hydro-geothermal environment of this site. The most productive area proved to be

the sandstone water bearing horizon of the adjacent Russko-Komarovskii uplift. The name of the

drill-site is Uzgorod - 2T (see Table 6). The mineralization of the water is 16 - 30 g/l. The

formation pressure at 1700 m is 167.9 Atm. and at 1300 m, 134.64 Atm. A maximum water

temperature of 1080 C was measured at a depth of 1940 m. The discovered hydro-geothermal

resources have been determined to have no commercial value and are currently in conservation.

The geological and hydro-geological investigation carried out at the site is however considered

insufficient to a large extent. 

2.1.2.

Some of the drillings in the region of the town of Irshava also demonstrated significant freeflowing hot water. At that site, an anticlinal crypto-diapir fold is to be found under the Neogene

mantel. Most promising are the waters in Cretaceous sedimentary environments. Such waters and

environments have been discovered by the drillings at Irshava - 2, located in the area of the

Danilovo-Nevitskovo abyssal fracture (see Table 6). The water-bearing rock is of fissured type,

probably due to the fracture zone. Mineralization is about 189 g/l. 

2.1.3.

The hydro-geothermal complex at the Tereblia site (see Table 6) is also of significant interest.

The formation is located in the central part of the Solotvinskaia depression. The maximum

thickness of the water bearing tuffs is 700 meters. The dip angle of the thrust fault planes of the

Cretaceous blocks of the base is between 5-20 deg. The water bearing suites are enveloped

between these practically water-impermeable blocks and talabor rock which is also water

impermeable. This creates very favorable conditions for the accumulation of geothermal waters.

Well Tereblia -6, drilled in the central part of the syncline, reached pressurized water-bearing

horizon in the interval between 2009 and 2360 meters. The well is a gushing type, with flow-rates

between 500 and 900 cubic meters per day. The pressure at the well head was measured at 1.2

Atm. The pressure at 1767 meters was 217 Atm. Water mineralization is in the range of 138 g/l.

Water temperature measured at 2350 meters was 1050 C, and at the well head was 950 C 

(Tereblia - 6). 

The size of the Tereblia water-bearing complex is 15 by 5 km. Assuming the thickness of the

water-bearing rock is 300 m. and the porosity of the rock is 10% the accumulated reserves are 3

km3. With a temperature of over 1000 C, the accumulated thermal energy is then 1.5x1018 J (A. A.

Andrusenka et.al.).
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 15

Among the different sites of the Chop-Mukachevskii and Solotvinskii pressurized water-bearing

basins, Uzgorod, Mukachevskii, Irshavskii, Vinogradskii and Beregovskii sites were deemed

promising for geologic prospecting for thermal waters. As a result of extensive, but still

incomplete, studies carried out in the ‘80s, the Uzgorod site was determined to be of highest

priority for commercial utilization of the discovered hydro-geothermal resources. The proximity

of the site to the towns of Uzgorod and Chop played a significant role in the estimation of the

resources for commercial utilization. The Tereblia hydro-geothermal site received second highest

priority with respect to the potential of its geothermal resources.

2.2. The Vigorlat-Gutinskoi Volcanic Range

The Vigorlat-Gutinskoi Volcanic Range is an independent geological and hydro-geological

formation. The geothermal waters of the Vigorlat-Gutinskoi Volcanic Range are famous for their

qualities as table spring waters. However, due to the small depth of their bedding they are of low

temperature and have low energy and therefore commercial potential. 

OUTLOOK FOR DEVELOPMENT

Currently the Russian Federation is undergoing uneasy changes on the road to a market economy

and democracy. The process of economic readjustment is resulting in severe shrinkage in

industrial output. The economy is cash strapped. The government is re-defining not only the state

borders but also its own roles and functions within the new Russian society. 

In this reality, it is not surprising that geothermal problems have lost some of their priority.

However, these problems have not lost their importance. 

As indicated to the team by the Director of the North Caucasus Drilling Company, Mr. Boris

Nirko, the utilization of geothermal resources in the Caucasus region is only 35% to 50%. The

North Caucasus Drilling Company, which is solely responsible for the prospecting and

exploitation of all geothermal resources in the territory of the Caucasus region ( Region A),

expressed very strong interest in partnering with US and other international wildcatters in two

areas: increasing the output of geothermal waters and increasing of the efficiency of their use.

Mr. Postnikov the Head of the Geological Department of BurGazGeoTerm -- the largest national

drilling and developing organization -- indicated potential interest in joint efforts with

international partners in the development of a new geothermal field -- on the island of Paramushar

(one of the Kurile islands). The field is so new that it is not yet included in the national balance of

geothermal resources. 
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 16

Another geothermal site that is being packaged for attracting international partners is the

Kusminka site in Stavropolskii Krai. The field offers waters with temperatures of 130 C . The

Committee of Geology and Utilization of the Earth’s Crust has prepared a complete business plan.

Another example is the Mutnovka site. In addition to the existing 50 to 60 MW, an additional

70MW of geothermal resources with potential for electricity generation has been identified. A 70

MW geothermal power plant project will be financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction

and Development (EBRD). However, the project is still open for investors and for equipment

suppliers. 

To conclude, regardless of the general problems of the Russian economic environment, the

Russian geothermal industry sub-sector offers selected possibilities for promising international

cooperation.
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 17

APPENDIX

This appendix provides some of the working definitions used by GKZ -- the Russian State

Commission on Resources -- that are necessary for the correct understanding and interpretation of

the data provided in the body of Tables 1 and 3.

Geothermal reserves are divided into three subtypes:

1. Static reserves are the volume of subsurface water, contained in water-bearing strata

in the natural state, i.e., the overall volume of subterranean water found in pores and

fissures in water-bearing rock. Static reserves may be extracted from the stratum only

when it is drained.

2. Elastic reserves may be extracted from the stratum by reducing hydrostatic pressure

which causes of both the water (when the pressure is reduced water expands) and the

water-bearing rock (rock becomes more dense and the water is squeezed off).

3. Dynamic reserves ( resources) are the waters in natural circulation. Dynamic reserves

are usually exploited simultaneously with elastic reserves when hydrostatic pressure in

the reservoirs drops.

Exploitable reserves of subsurface waters (including geothermal) consist of subsurface water that

can be extracted from wells and other installations in a technically and economically rational

fashion, under the given conditions of exploitation that maintain optimal quality and quantity.

Such exploitable reserves may not be limited to elastic and dynamic reserves in the exploited

water-bearing horizons. During extensive withdrawal of subsurface water, changes occur in the

water budget of the water-bearing unit. Due to the fact that a cone of depression forms during the

exploitation of a geothermal water field, conditions are created for drawing additional water

resources into the exploited area that were not taken into account when the natural conditions

were evaluated.

Examples of the additional reserves of geothermal thermal water that can form in a geothermal

water field include leakage from neighboring water-bearing strata, and concentrated

supplementary feeding through high-permeability rock that allows improved recharge -- so called

lythologic windows.
 

3 During exploitation static reserves are not extracted.

Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 18

The exploitable reserves represented by the following equation;

Q e = Q el + Q dyn + Q add

where:

Q e are exploitable reserves; 

Q el + Q dyn , elastic and dynamic reserves; and 

Q add , the reserves that are added during exploitation.3

In the Russian Federation, geothermal water resources are subdivided into four categories – C2 ,

C1, B, and A – ranked by increasing degree of exploration, research on water quantity, quality,

and exploitation conditions. When a regional estimate of the exploitable reserves of geothermal

water is prepared, the so-called hypothetical exploitable resources are also determined. This term

indicates a level of knowledge that is below the C2 category.

In addition, exploitable reserves of thermal water are further subdivided into 2 groups, with

respect to their current economic value:

a. Reserves that can now be exploited economically, and which satisfy both the intended

use and the proposed system of exploitation;

b. Reserves that are presently uneconomical due to the small volume of water for the

intended purpose, or because they require extremely complex methods of exploitation;

viewed as potentially exploitable in the future.

Classification is overseen by GKZ -- the State Commission for Resources, which examines and

approves for development all mineral, oil, gas, and subsurface water resources. The Commission

is under the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Federation.
Geothermal Resources in Russia & Ukraine — BL&A page 19

The following table gives the definitions of the categories used by the GZJ:

Classification of Exploitable Thermal Water Reserves on the Basis of Level of Study

Category of

Reserves

Characterization of Level of Study Type of Reserves

A Reserves have been explored and studied to the degree that the

data assure complete understanding of stratigraphy, structure,

pressure heads, and permeability of water-bearing rock. The

means by which water-bearing formations are replenished and

their potential to add to exploitable reserves have been

ascertained. The volume of subsurface water has been

determined with a certainty that assures the useful life and the

potential for a desired purpose. Exploitable reserves of

subsurface water have been determined at the water supply site

using pump (flowing) tests and/or other means.

Commercial

B

Reserves have been explored and studied in detail. The data

obtained assure determination of basic stratigraphic features,

structure, and recharge sources for replenishing exploitable

resources of subsurface water. Water quality has been studied to

the point where its use may be established. Exploitable reserves

of subsurface water at a site of projected supply have been

determined on the basis of pump (flowing) tests and extrapolated

estimates.

Commercial

C1 Reserves have been explored and studied to the point where the

data assure general determination of the structure, stratigraphy,

and extent of water-bearing formations. Exploitable reserves are

determined by sampling data from single exploratory wells, and

through analogy with well-known fields.

Potential

C2 Reserves have been established on the basis of geologic and

hydrothemal data, and have been confirmed by sampling of

water-bearing formations at specific locations, or by analogy

with other explored areas. 

Potential














 4 As described by Burgazgeoterm of the Russian hydrogeological department (Head of Dept.

Postnikov)

Table 5

Geothermal Resources of Crimea4

Name of Drilling

Site

Location

Water-bearing

horizon depth

in

 m

Mineralization of

water in 

g/l

Stratum

pressure in

MPa

Water

temperature

at bedding

0C

Flow rate at

borehole in

m3/day

Novoselovskoe -

consists of three

parts:

 - Ilinka

 - Trudovoe

 - Sizovka

Crimea 700 - 1500 2-3 to 35 0.3 - 1.22 47 - 75(80) 690 - 2300

Severo-Sivashkoe Crimea 1350 - 1750 26 - 32 0.4 - 0.8 52 - 74 1400

All of the above described resources are in a state of conservation as of the end of 1994.
 5 As per A.A. Andrusenko et al.

Table 6

Some Examples of Geothermal Prospective Drillings in the Ciscarpathian Region5

Location Hydrogeothermal

complex

Depth of

temperature

measurement,

m

Flow-rate

in

m

3

/day

ÄT1

2

in

0C

ÄT2

3

in

0C

Uzgorod - 1T Paleozoic 1900 300 - 500 50.5 88.6

Uzgorod - 2T Early Miocene 1350 46.8 -- 76.15

Uzgorod - 2T Early Miocene 1700 12.4 -- 90.8

Uzgorod - 2T Early Miocene 1940 214 -- 97.6

Uzgorod - 2T Early Miocene 1820 79.3 -- 92.7

Uzgorod - 2T Early Miocene -- 138 - 273 -- --

Uzgorod - 4T Early Sarmat 1300 43 -- 72.2

Uzgorod - 5T Paleozoic 1012 40 - 90 -- 65

Tereblia - 6 Tuffs 2350 500 - 900 86.5 96.5

Irshava -2 Cretaceous 3200 115 -- 136.3

Beregovo 2T Early Sarmat -- 346 - 691 44.5 --