Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon 14 April
12:00 - 13:00
Location
CO304, Cotton Building, VUW
Numerical models of deep geothermal reservoirs in the Rhine Graben have been developed over the last few decades to study the natural hydrothermal circulation and the effects of industrial exploitation. Nevertheless, numerical methods incorporating multiple multi-physical and multi-scale measurements are not sufficiently represented. In the first presented research, a natural large-scale hydrothermal circulation is examined through the utilisation of a simplified thermo-hydro-mechanical model. The inversion of key rock physical properties from observed temperature and stress depth profiles provides new insights into the extension of hydrothermal convection cells at depth and the upscaling of rock physical properties from laboratory to field scale. The second part focuses on the development of mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of induced seismicity from distant faults. In order to do so, the propagation of far-field pore pressure perturbations resulting from fluid injection into the reservoir is simulated. The simulations of pressure disturbances are combined with the criterion of minimising induced seismicity from distant faults for any tested set pumping strategy. The following pumping methods were tested: (i) controlled injection with constant injected flow rate; (ii) injection/production system with constant injected/produced flow rate; (iii) alternative injection with oscillating flow rate. This oscillating pumping strategy has the potential to reduce induced seismicity on distant faults while simultaneously enhancing permeability in the near-well region.
Please join Te Kura Tātai Aro Whenua/ School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences in person or online via Zoom
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