1Fraunhofer IEG Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems, Germany; 2Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; 3Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany; 4University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy; 5UMSNH Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico; 6CNR National Research Council, Pisa, Italy; 7NORCE, Bergen, Norway; 8Chair of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Technische Universitaet Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany; 9Hochschule Bochum, Bochum, Germany
Data gathered from two geothermal exploration wells in the Acoculco caldera, within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, indicated that temperature is high enough for economic utilization, but permeability is insufficient. Hence, heat exploitation at this location may only be possible by Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) technologies. To evaluate the potential for EGS development, a wide range of exploration work has been carried out in the framework of the international research project GEMex. In this research, we present best estimates of the in-situ stress field conditions at the site – an important, yet highly uncertain, parameter for stimulation planning. The study is based on geological data, drilling parameters, geophysical logging, laboratory measurements on collected rock samples, and statistical analyses. The in-situ stress regime of the Acoculco geothermal area can be described as transtensional with maximum horizontal stress striking in the NE-SW direction. Based on the predicted stress tensor, we estimate the maximum pressure required to enhance the rock permeability and discuss the potential EGS development options for the Acoculco geothermal area.
CV / author:
Michal Kruszewski holds M.Eng. in Petroleum Engineering from the Department of Drilling, Oil, and Gas at the AGH University of Science Technology. During his education, he received grants for scientific research on the topic of geothermal drilling and well completion at the University of Iceland and TU Bergakademie Freiberg. He gained his engineering experience while working on the Iceland Deep Drilling Project 2 (DEEPEGS) in Reykjanes. His main research focuses on the topics of reservoir geomechanics, 3D geomechanical modeling, drilling, and well completion technologies, especially for deep geothermal resources. His recent projects include GEMex and 3D-RuhrMarie. He is involved in promoting wider use of geothermal energy on a global scale in various international organizations. Since 2019, he is a PhD student at the Institute of Geology, Mineralogy, and Geophysics at the Ruhr University Bochum (Germany) within the Engineering Geology working group.
