Unveiling geothermal potential sites along Gulf of Suez (Egypt) using an integrated geoscience approach

Abstract The appraisal of geothermal sites along Gulf of Suez, is important to develop the renewable energy resources in Egypt. An integrated approach based on remote sensing, Geographic Information System and geophysical methods were used to predict the ubication of promising geothermal sites. Multi‐source datasets were selected, analysed and integrated to develop a Geothermal Potential Model. Information‐Value and Weight‐of‐Evidence analyses were adopted to derive ranks and weights to spatial factors and their classes. The spatial factors were summarized in eight thematic maps indicating the possible sites of geothermal reservoirs. The developed geothermal potential model defines the promising sites, which are distributed in Ras‐Badran, Ras‐Matarma, Abu‐Durba, El‐Tur and some other locations in southwestern Gulf of Suez. Seismic interpretation is a fundamental tool for depicting subsurface major faults controlling the geothermal reservoir in the promising sites. The holistic integrated approach provides a powerful technique to design development plans in the study area.