Reservoir Development

ResCharacter

 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


2016
2015
2014
2013