Geothermal Resources of Azerbaijan: A Comprehensive GIS-Based Remapping and Temperature Assessment Review

Abstract

Azerbaijan has considerable geothermal energy potential. The resources are concentrated in regions such as the Absheron Peninsula, the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the Kur Basin, and the Pre-Caspian-Guba region. Although the country does not have active volcanoes and geysers, geothermal energy can be extracted from deep wells, abandoned hydrocarbon fields, and natural hot springs. This study analyzes and maps Azerbaijan's geothermal resources using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess their potential for power generation and direct use. The main results show that wells such as Jarly-3 field thermal fluids with temperatures of up to 96 degrees C. Other promising sites include Daridagh in Nakhchivan and the Shikh field in Absheron, where geothermal water with a temperature of 68 degrees C. GIS-based interpolation techniques, including Kriging and Empirical Bayesian Kriging were applied to model the subsurface temperature distributions and identify regions with the highest geothermal potential. The study analyzed data from over 500 hot springs and geothermal wells to determine temperature variations at different depths. The results indicate that Azerbaijan's geothermal resources could support applications ranging from electricity generation to heating, agriculture, and industrial processes. Developing these resources could diversify Azerbaijan's energy sector and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This study highlights the need for further exploration, improved drilling technologies, and investment in geothermal infrastructure to unlock the full potential of Azerbaijan's geothermal reserves.