Analysis of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the North German Basin

POF 3 - Renewable Energy Program - Topic Geothermal Energy Systems

The numerical simulation of the EGS Groß Schönebeck has been conducted in close cooperation with our colleagues from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam.

Numerical Simulation
Numerical Simulation: The numerical model for simulating heat transport (HT) processes in the geothermal reservoir is conducted with OpenGeoSys (www.opengeosys.org). The numerical model is taking into account all structural elements of the reservoir including layers, faults, and artificial hydrofracs as well the injection and production wellbores. The thermal evolution of the geothermal reservoir can be predicted for a time span of 20 years. Recently, OGS has been used for planning of an additional production borehole.
Visualization
Visualization: EGS Groß Schönebeck data and simulation results have been integrated into a scientific visualization study for comprehensive analysis. 3D interactive visualization using a Unity-Engine allows detailed studies of the geothermal reservoir. Different options with multiple production wells have been visually studied (> visualization movie).
Workflows
Workflows: Based on the EGS Groß Schönebeck study a generic workflow for the analysis of engineered geothermal systems has been developed. The workflow includes structural modelling (MeshIT by GFZ) and model preparation for numerical analysis (OGS by UFZ) as well as a variety of visualization pipelines (OGSVR workflow based on VTK and Unity). The results of the workflow analysis are used for geothermal reservoir planning and optimization.

Related publications:

Magri, F., Cacace, M., Fischer, T., Kolditz, O., Wang, W., Watanabe, N., (2017): Thermal convection of viscous fluids in a faulted system: 3D benchmark for numerical codes. Energy Procedia 125 , 310 – 317

Watanabe, N., Blöcher, G., Cacace, M., Held, S., Kohl, T., (2017): Geoenergy modeling III : enhanced geothermal systems. SpringerBriefs in Energy, Springer, Cham, XII, 104 pp.

Jacquey, A.B., Cacace, M., Blöcher, G., Watanabe, N., Huenges, E., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., (2016):
Thermo-poroelastic numerical modelling for enhanced geothermal system performance: Case study of the Groß Schönebeck reservoir. Tectonophysics 684, 119 – 130

Blöcher, G., Cacace, M., Reinsch, T., Watanabe, N., (2015): Evaluation of three exploitation concepts for a deep geothermal system in the North German Basin. Comput. Geosci. 82 , 120 – 129

Jacquey, A.B., Cacace, M., Blöcher, G., Watanabe, N., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., (2015): Hydro-mechanical evolution of transport properties in porous media: constraints for numerical simulations. Transp. Porous Media 110 (3), 409 – 428

Bilke, L., Fischer, T., Helbig, C., Krawczyk, C., Nagel, T., Naumov, D., Paulick, S., Rink, K., Sachse, A., Schelenz, S., Walther, M., Watanabe, N., Zehner, B., Ziesch, J., Kolditz, O., (2014): TESSIN VISLab—laboratory for scientific visualization. Environ. Earth Sci. 72 (10), 3881 – 3899

Cacace, M., Blöcher, G., Watanabe, N., Moeck, I., Börsing, N., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Kolditz, O., Huenges, E., (2013): Modelling of fractured carbonate reservoirs: outline of a novel technique via a case study from the Molasse Basin, southern Bavaria, Germany. Environ. Earth Sci. 70 (8), 3585 - 3602