Reservoir Development
The optimal exploitation of geothermal resources through sustainable use strategies is an important goal of our geothermal research activities. The basis for this is a comprehensive description and a profound understanding of the reservoirs as geothermal deposits. This includes above all the characterization of the thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and chemical (THMC) properties and their interactions in the reservoir. An extensive understanding of the coupling of these system parameters on different scales, from the pore space to the sedimentary basin, is the focus of our scientific activities. Basic research, such as the description of fluid movements along rough fracture surfaces, as well as practical questions, such as geothermal potential estimation or hydro-test evaluation, are equally in focus. Some research and activities of our team are:
- Evaluation and interpretation of seismic sections
- Geological and tectonic location analyzes
- Construction of 3D structural and reservoir models
- Geomechanical and sediment-geological case studies in the rock laboratory and analogue outcrops of reservoir rocks
- Hydraulic characterization of disturbance and fracture zones
- Planning and evaluation of hydraulic test and marking tests
- Drill core studies
- Further development of borehole geophysical log analyzes
- Microseismicity-based reservoir characterization
A special focus of our team is the characterization of local and regional areas of tension, geomechanical analysis of disturbance and fracture systems and their effects on fluid movement in the subsurface.
Numerical modeling of coupled water, heat and mass transfer processes are used, e.g., to qualitatively and quantitatively describe processes and mechanisms in reservoir stimulations or to predict utilization strategies in the long-term operation of geothermal power plants.
Both hydrothermal and petrothermal reservoirs in the Upper Rhine Graben and in the Molasse Basin as well as high enthalpy deposits outside Germany are scientifically supported by our team.
Reservoir Development Recent Publication
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Triaxial testing and hydraulic–mechanical modeling of sandstone reservoir rock in the Upper Rhine Graben
Egert, R.; Seithel, R.; Kohl, T.; Stober, I.
2018. Geothermal Energy, 6 (1), Article no UNSP 23. doi:10.1186/s40517-018-0109-0 -
Comparison of different digital elevation models and satellite imagery for lineament analysis: Implications for identification and spatial arrangement of fault zones in crystalline basement rocks of the southern Black Forest (Germany)
Meixner, J.; Grimmer, J. C.; Becker, A.; Schill, E.; Kohl, T.
2018. Journal of structural geology, 108, 256–268. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2017.11.006
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Hydraulic performance history at the Soultz EGS reservoirs from stimulation and long-term circulation tests
Schill, E.; Genter, A.; Cuenot, N.; Kohl, T.
2017. Geothermics, 70, 110–124. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.06.003
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Structural control of geothermal reservoirs in extensional tectonic settings: An example from the Upper Rhine Graben
Meixner, J.; Schill, E.; Grimmer, J. C.; Gaucher, E.; Kohl, T.; Klingler, P.
2016. Journal of structural geology, 82, 1–15. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2015.11.003
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Local stress anomaly in the Bavarian Molasse Basin
Seithel, R.; Steiner, U.; Müller, B.; Hecht, C.; Kohl, T.
2015. Geothermal Energy, 3 (4), 1–22. doi:10.1186/s40517-014-0023-z
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Change of stress regime during geothermal reservoir stimulation
Schoenball, M.; Dorbath, L.; Gaucher, E.; Wellmann, J. F.; Kohl, T.
2014. Geophysical research letters, 41 (4), 1163–1170. doi:10.1002/2013GL058514 -
Time-dependent brittle creep as mechanism for time-delayed wellbore failure
Schoenball, M.; Sahara, D. P.; Kohl, T.
2014. International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences, 70, 400–406. doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.05.012 -
The significance of hydrothermal alteration zones for the mechanical behavior of a geothermal reservoir
Meller, C.; Kohl, T.
2014. Geothermal Energy, 2 (12), 1–21. doi:10.1186/s40517-014-0012-2
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The Peculiar shut-In behavior of the Well GPK2 at soultz-sous-Forêts
Schoenball, M.; Kohl, T.
2013. Transactions - Geothermal Resources Council, 37 (1), 217–220