GEOTHERMAL WATER in ROMANIA - a Smart Investment
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GEOTHERMAL WATER IN ROMANIA - a smart investment - In a world in which global resources are becoming more scarce, the world has turned its eyes to finding new ways of providing at least the same amount of energy, with less costs involved and with far less impact on the surrounding environment – the most competitive of all is beyond doubt the green energy. Nowadays, the World Energy Council expects a raise in the short term of 30-80% in the use of unconventional energy, especially that of geothermal resources. Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible source of energy, the use of which provides a number of advantages such as: it has a minimal impact on the environment, it requires small space for development, it is available 24 hours a day and it can be used as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Besides unconventional energy, our research has had another important purpose – the health concept. Upon starting our project, we have used as fundamental basis the concept of health, regarding it as a state of well-being, also taking into account the constantly growing orientation of modern medicine in favour of the elements that define health as a fundamental human right, and the possibility of obtaining this by combining the two areas of big importance - energy and medicine. Viewed from a geological point of view, the development of geothermal fields in Pannonia Basin is the result of the presence of high heat flux areas. Surplus heat originates in the sub-crustal magmatic processes and it manifests due to regional characteristics related to the structure of the lithosphere. Our area of interest is the Stei-Lunca perimeter, Bihor county. This is located in north-western Romania, North Apuseni Mountains, in the south-eastern part of the basin Beiuş, with the west and southwest Codru Moma Mountains reaching heights up to 1.112 m, east and south east Pădurea Craiului with heights up to 1.847 m. The town of Stei, with a population of 8.798 inhabitants, is situated on the right bank of the river Crisul Negru. It is located 69 km from Oradea Airport, on the national road DN-76 which connects Oradea and Deva, and also on the European road E79. The average altitude above sea level is 285 m. Stei is linked to the capital city of Bihor County, Oradea, through the railway line number 316 – approximately 80 km part the 2 cities. Covering an area of 657 hectares, Stei lies about 10 km from the towns of Nucet and Vascau and 20 km from the town of Beiuş . The region is influenced by a continental climate, characteristic of depression areas, with oceanic influences and an average annual temperature of approx. 9 ° C. The average annual rainfall varies between 700 and 800 mm. The Stei - Lunca perimeter is part of the hydro-geothermal system Aleşd - Oradea - Sanandrei - Orchard - Bors, it is of Mesozoic age and it is located in the Pannonia Basin foundation level, in fissured limestone deposits of Triassic age, Jurassic, belonging to Bihor Unit. This system is part of 1 the Mesozoic regional hydro-structure from the central part of Padurea Craiului Mountains (North Apuseni Mountains). In the area researched through the 3010H drilling (drilling which is part of the company's assets) the thermometry indicated, at the depth of 1700 m, a temperature of 57° C (5° C higher than what would correspond to the earth's natural geothermal gradient). Given the density of the drilling fluid, the real temperature can actually be about 5-6 ° C higher. Based on all the above, we have developed the idea of a spa and therapeutic resort, where numerous properties of the geothermal water and local environment can be exploited. What can be done? - Use of geothermal water for heating of the resort during the cold season - Use of geothermal water for therapeutic purposes in order to treat certain conditions including: o inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic conditions o central and peripheral neurological conditions o post-traumatic conditions o gynaecological conditions o conditions associated with metabolic and poor nutrition distress o etc. - Use of geothermal water to heat up the greenhouses within the premises, greenhouses built in order to give tourists the best quality food, in both therapeutic and preventive purposes - Combining the properties of geothermal water with alternative medicine, exercise, relaxation and meditation - Vegetarian cooking classes - Gardening Classes - Geo-thermal water baths outdoors, be it rain or sun – the climate with mild winters and moderate summers gives an ideal atmosphere in every season, favourable for relaxation and treatment, so that the rain or cold are never an impediment for a bath, outdoors To all this, add the variety of local area attractions, including: - Historic centre of Oradea that offers the chance to admire the unique buildings with specific architecture - The water lilies lake - natural reserve in the town of Baile 1 Mai, where you can admire the 3 protected species - The Earth Castle of Biharia; - 2 intermittent streams of water flow on the periphery of the plateau Vaşcău: one in Brihenilor valley and another at the border of Călugări village. - Cave Bear from Chişcău, Cave from Fanate, caves made by the river Crișul Negru and Porțile Bihorului springs, Cave from Bihor Sighiştelului Valley, Cave of Câmpeneasa (intermittent streams of water flow). - Fishing can be practiced on Crisul Repede river, or at a few kilometers from Oradea, on the lakes: Santion, Şauaieiu, Paleu, Les. Located near the forest, these lakes offer great relaxation moments. 2 With a view to reaching these objectives, our company has started the procedures for the exploration phase of geothermal water, in order to successfully: - analyse, in time, the physical-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, redox potential, indicating manganese), the content of dissolved major ions, the organic substances content (humic acids, phenolic compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons), and the activity of radionuclides (222Rn şi 226Ra), etc., - determine the optimal exploitation flow or optimal reserve for energy deposits conservation, - monitor parameters such as the dynamic level, flow, temperature, - obtain the most accurate data for sizing future geothermal water exploitation works. Nevertheless, there is another area which shows great potential in developing such a geothermal resort – Bucharest, capital of Romania. Considering the large number of people both in the capital (~ 1.6 million inhabitants) and the surrounding counties (~3 million) to which we can add the number of visitors (over 600 000 visitors annually only in Bucharest), the absence of such a resort in the area, compared to the high level of interest, calls for a proper investigation of this opportunity, considering the following aspects: - high flow (100 m³ / hour / well) - water temperature of 41-82 ° C, depending on the area, - constant reservoir pressure over time, - outstanding physicochemical qualities and high therapeutic value The curative qualities of these waters have been tested by the National Institute of Physical Medicine, Spa, Climatology and Medical Rehabilitation and by the Methodological Centre for Rheumatology Bucharest. This has been possible through numerous geothermal researches undertaken in northern Bucharest, in Afumaţi, Baloteşti, Moara Vlăsiei, Căldăruşani and Snagov. On a South – North axis, the temperature of the geothermal water starts from 40°C, around “Piata Presei Libere” (“Free Press Square” – in Bucharest), rises to 63°C in Otopeni city and reaches up to 90°C in Snagov. The location we have chosen as having the most advantages is situated at 9 km from the Otopeni International airport and 23 km from Bucharest centre, offering multiple connection options. That is why we have invested in purchasing these premises, which are now part of the company’s assets. Such projects are within reach in the near future, taking into consideration that: - we have started the procedures of the exploration phase Stei-Lunca area (the drilling is part of the company’s assets) - the premises in the north of the capital is available (owned by Company), passing over stages of land acquisition required. All of the data provided above encourages the possibility of business ideas on a win-win model: on one hand, for smart investors and on the other, for Romania as a country, viewed from all aspects: economy, tourism, medicine, and so many more. 3 .