Geoenergy Modeling III (eBook)

This book focuses on numerical modeling of deep hydrothermal and petrothermal systems in fractured georeservoirs for utilization in Geothermal Energy applications. The authors explain the particular challenges and approaches to modeling heat transport and high-throughput flow in multiply fractured porous rock formations. In order to help readers gain a system-level understanding of the necessary analysis, the authors include detailed examples of growing complexity as the techniques explained in the text are introduced. The coverage culminates with the fully-coupled analysis of real deep geothermal test-sites located in Germany and France.

Dr.-Ing. Norihiro Watanabe is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Informatics at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. He studied civil engineering and environmental science at Okayama University in Japan for his bachelor and master degrees and received his doctoral degree in engineering from Dresden University of Technology in Germany. His research interest is in developing numerical models for coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical processes in fractured rocks for various
geotechnical applications such as deep geothermal systems and underground waste disposals.

Dr. Guido Blöcher is currently working as a scientist at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany. After his graduation in hydrogeology and engineering, he was employed as a project leader in hydrogeology by Geotec Consult GbR, Bochum, until 2004. In November 2004, he started his Ph.D. at the GFZ. He received his Ph.D. for improved understanding of hydraulic and mechanical interactions in porous media, identification of mechanical and hydraulic properties depending on pore space geometry, and reconstruction of pore space geometry within the context of geothermal energy. Since 2008, he is employed as a postdoc at the GFZ within the content of geothermal energy and aquifer thermal energy storage. During his Ph.D. and as a postdoc, Dr. Blöcher had lectured at the Faculty VI Planning, Construction and Environment at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

Dr. Mauro Cacace is a senior associate scientist at the GFZ in Potsdam, Germany. After graduating in physics at the University of Milan, Italy, he obtained his doctoral degree in earth sciences at the Free University of Berlin by developing numerical methods to simulate viscous-plastic lithospheric deformation mechanisms at plate boundaries and in the interior of stable continents. His research focuses on understanding the physical processes responsible for the occurrence of distinct rock material behaviors at different spatiotemporal scales, fluid-rock interaction mechanisms, and their effects on the thermomechanical state of natural and engineered reservoirs by combining laboratory experiments and numerical modeling techniques.

Sebastian Held is currently a Ph.D. student at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe, Germany. He graduated in applied geosciences at KIT working during his master thesis on numerical-economical coupled description of an EGS. During his Ph.D. at the Division of Geothermics at the KIT, he works on multidisciplinary geothermal exploration using geophysical and geochemical techniques to characterize a geothermal reservoir in the Andes of southern Chile.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Kohl leads the division of geothermal energy research at the Institute for Applied Geosciences of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT, and is head of the Helmholtz geothermal program at KIT. Starting with his degree in Geophysics he became research associate at CNRS in Paris in the field of seismology and got his PhD at ETH Zurich in 1992. After his habilitation he was director of the ETH spin-off company GEOWATT AG until 2011. His FE code FRACTure was widely applied to characterize coupled T-H-M processes in fractured rock. He collaborated in numerous national, international and European research projects and directed many geothermal projects. The major research interest at KIT is on the investigation of reservoir-scale aspects in fractured subsurface systems during
the assessment and operation of a geothermal reservoir. As author of more than 70 reviewed manuscripts in renowned journals he was awarded with the H. J. Ramey Award of GRC in 2015. His research division is supported by EnBWEnergie Baden-Württemberg AG and includes today 15 PhD and postdoc scientists.