Analysis for Geoelectric Strike Direction of Magnetotelluric Data from a Geothermal Area

Abstract

Magnetotelluric (MT) method plays an important role in geothermal exploration. For MT data interpretation, 2D modelling is still performed in a routine basis since 3D MT modelling is computationally intensive and needs sigificant computational resources. In 2D modelling, information on geoelectric strike direction is a requirement. In this study, analysis of geoelectric strike was performed on MT data from a geothermal prospect using phase tensor and tipper strike. The results from phase tensor analysis and verified by tipper strike show that the geoelectric strike of the study area is about N300°E that agrees well with the regional structure of the study area. The MT tensor data were rotated to the dominant geoelectric strike and 2D inversion modelling was performed. The subsurface resistivity model reveals the geothermal system of the study area.