Emmanuel GAUCHER1, Jérôme AZZOLA1, Michael MEINECKE2, Bernhard BETZL2, Peter GOBLIRSCH3, Ralph BAASCH3, Ulrich STEINER4, Ilka SCHULZ4
Organisation(en): 1: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany; 2: Stadtwerke München Services GmbH, Germany; 3: Innovative Energie für Pullach GmbH , Germany; 4: Erdwerk GmbH, Germany
Scientific investigations for sustainable geothermal development in the Munich area (Germany, Molasse Basin) are carried out in the frame of the INSIDE project (supported by BMWi). Thermo-hydro-geomechanical characterization and seismological exploration are the two aspects chosen to assess the impact of the geothermal exploitation on induced seismicity, deformation and on interferences between geothermal plants.
For this purpose, an extensive real-time monitoring network will be deployed to monitor high (seismicity) and low (subsidence, uplift) frequency deformation processes in the subsurface, with the long-term objective of assessing potential impacts on geothermal reservoir management. Several active and under-development plants are considered in this joint-project, which is done in cooperation with industrial partners, in particular geothermal energy suppliers in the Greater Munich, and other research institutes.
After presenting the project, we will focus on the current status of the seismic monitoring network being developed around the three geothermal sites of Baierbrunn, Pullach and Schäftlarnstraße (Munich - Bavaria). We report the further consolidation of the existing seismometer network, including the installation of surface and borehole stations, but also the deployment of various innovative technical solutions for real-time seismic monitoring. These new measurement methods involve the use of a mini-array to achieve higher signal detection capabilities and the deployment of fibre optic cables providing dense arrays of distributed acoustic sensors.
Kurzer Lebenslauf der vortragenden Autorin / des vortragenden Autors:
Dr. Emmanuel Gaucher is a geophysicist. After earning his doctorate (1998) dealing with the seismicity induced at the Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) geothermal reservoir, he spent 12 years working for service companies in the oil and gas sector, in hydrofrac monitoring (CGG-Veritas and Magnitude-Baker-Hughes). Among other things, he led the research and development department and carried out several projects for international operating companies (e.g., BP, Kuwait Oil Company, Total).
In 2010, he joined the geothermal chair of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Besides teaching, he has been involved or led several national or international projects related to the seismic monitoring of geothermal site (Bruchsal, Rittershoffen, Reykjanes, Los Humeros, Vendenheim). His main research interests are to investigate the physical processes associated with induced seismicity in geothermal reservoirs, to develop methods to use induced seismicity as a tool for reservoir imaging and to develop probabilistic approaches for the processing and evaluation of geophysical data.
