Workflows, Data and Modelling Technologies for Geothermal Heat Exploration
From Industry Standard to State-of-the-Art
L. Janku (Czech Geological Survey)
G. Hampson (Imperial College London)
S. Geiger (TU Delft - Geoscience and Engineering)
Matthew Jackson (Imperial College London)
A. Daniilidis (TU Delft - Reservoir Engineering)
B. Lamy-Chappuis (ETH Zürich)
P. Jimenez Hernandez (Electricité de Strasbourg Géothermie)
T. Driesner (ETH Zürich)
C. Glaas (Electricité de Strasbourg Géothermie)
J. Vlček (Charles University)
P. Bruna (TU Delft - Applied Geology)
H. Guðmundsdóttir (Orkuveita Reykjavíkur)
T. Fischer (Charles University)
G. de Vries (TU Delft - Organisation & Governance)
S. Bakrac (Delft Inversion)
P. Haffinger (Delft Inversion)
V. Nogales (TU Delft - Applied Geology)
L. Tryggvadóttir (Orkuveita Reykjavíkur)
A. Peterhaensel (TRACS International Limited)
H. Claridge (TU Delft - Applied Geology)
F. Dekker (TU Delft - Organisation & Governance)
M. Bentley (TRACS International Limited)
T. Wynn (TRACS International Limited)
A. Babasafari (Delft Inversion)
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Abstract
High technical and economic risks stemming from the lack of detailed knowledge of the subsurface hold back large-scale investments in geothermal energy. In a survey conducted on nine use cases from diverse geological settings across Europe and with different purposes (electricity/heating and cooling) and project objectives (scientific/commercial), we identify the “common practice” and the aspiration for the “state of the art” in geothermal exploration. For each use case, the survey investigates what workflows have been adopted and what data acquired by which methods at different stages of exploration. This provided a benchmark for exploration in a range geothermal play types. The survey shows that this industry-standard base-case can be adapted to improve exploration success and efficiency by (1) applying numerical modelling in early stages of exploration to guide strategic data collection, (2) novel application of innovative technologies and (3) closer integration of software tools for static geological interpretation and dynamic heat flow simulation.