scholarly journals Introduction to the geothermal play and reservoir geology of the Netherlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harmen F. Mijnlieff
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Matrix Permeability ◽  
Sedimentary Aquifer

Abstract The Netherlands has ample geothermal resources. During the last decade, development of these resources has picked up fast. In 2007 one geothermal system had been realised; to date (1 January 2019), 24 have been. Total geothermal heat production in 2018 was 3.7 PJ from 18 geothermal systems. The geothermal sources are located in the same reservoirs/aquifers in which the oil and gas accumulations are hosted: Cenozoic, Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous, Triassic and Rotliegend reservoirs. Additionally, the yet unproven hydrocarbon play in the Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) Limestones delivered geothermal heat in two geothermal systems. This is in contrast to the Upper Cretaceous and Upper Carboniferous with no producing geothermal systems but producing hydrocarbon fields. Similar to hydrocarbon development, developing the geothermal source relies on fluid flow through the reservoir. For geothermal application a transmissivity of 10 Dm is presently thought to be a minimum value for a standard doublet system. Regional mapping of the geothermal plays, with subsequent resource mapping, by TNO discloses the areas with favourable transmissivity within play areas for geothermal development. The website www.ThermoGis.nl provides the tool to evaluate the geothermal plays on a sub-regional scale. The Dutch geothermal source and resource portfolio can be classified using geothermal play classification of, for example, Moeck (2014). An appropriate adjective for play classification for the Dutch situation would be the predominant permeability type: matrix, karst, fracture or fault permeability. The Dutch geothermal play is a matrix-permeability dominated ‘Hot Sedimentary Aquifer’, ‘Hydrothermal’ or ‘Intra-cratonic Conductive’ play. The Dutch ‘Hot Sedimentary Aquifer’ play is subdivided according to the lithostratigraphical annotation of the reservoir. The main geothermal plays are the Delft Sandstone and Slochteren Sandstone plays.

Oil and Gas Drill Bit Technology and Drilling Application Engineering Saves 77 Drilling Days on the World’s Deepest Engineered Geothermal Systems EGS Wells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Cardoe ◽  
Gunnar Nygaard ◽  
Christopher Lane ◽  
Tero Saarno ◽  
Marc Bird
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Average Run Length ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Drill Bit ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Run Length ◽  
Run Lengths

Abstract An Engineered Geothermal System (EGS) pilot project was commissioned to prove the economic viability of an industrial scale geothermal heat plant in Finland. The project aims to generate 40 MW of emission free heat energy, supplying up to 10% of the city of Espoo’s district heating needs. Two wells of 6400 m MD and 6213 m MD (measured depth) were drilled through formations of hard, abrasive granitic gneiss with maximum measured 560 MPa UCS (unconfined compressive strength). Typical dull conditions of lost and worn cutting structure and gauge diameter wear of between 3/16-in to ¼-in contributed to excessive torque, stuck incidences, low rate of penetration (ROP) and difficulties achieving build rate. To address these drilling challenges, this paper explores the interplay between new cemented carbide compact technology, drill bit design, and drilling parameter road mapping. The directional section of the first well was drilled with an average ROP below 2 m/hr and run length averaging 56 m per bit. The well took 246 drilling days and 44 BHAs (bottom hole assemblies) to achieve TD (total depth). Between the first and second well an application specific drill bit design package and step-wise parameter program were implemented. Design enhancements included improved gauge protection, bit hydraulics for minimizing cone erosion and subsequent TCI (tungsten carbide insert) compact loss. Novel hybrid TCI materials technology was introduced having a 100% improvement in wear resistance and durability as compared with conventional grades, to drill these hard and abrasive granitic formations. New BHAs and drilling plan were selected based on the bit design selection to reduce wear on BHA components, improve directional control and reducing drilling dysfunctions. Once these factors were under control, a low risk approach to extending the bit revolution limits (krev) for the roller cone sealed bearings could be implemented based on downhole parameters and previous bit dulls, leading to longer run lengths. The combination of bit design and material enhancements with a properly selected BHA and drill plan increased run lengths and ROP. The second well’s 8.5-in directional section was drilled with a 13% increase in average ROP and a 69% increase in average run length without exceeding krev limits. Well on well, a 77 day reduction in AFE (authorization for expenditure) was realized. We demonstrated the combination of oil and gas bit and BHA design, drilling plan, and new cutting material capabilities can reduce EGS well construction costs in order to make these renewable energy sources economical.

Fracturing in HDR Geothermal System

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Al-Mukhtar
Keyword(s):  
Initial Crack ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Fluid Circulation ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
Electrical Generation

Geothermal systems have a big draw as a provider for free thermal energy for electrical generation. The resource based on fracture networks that permit fluid circulation, and allow geothermal heat to be extracted. Most geothermal resources occur in rocks that posses lack fracture permeability and fluid circulation. Hence, the fluid will be heated due to the Hot Dry Rock (HDR). The flow is circulated through the cracks, and extracts the heat to the ground. The emphasis of the simulators is on the HDR and on the development of methods that produce the hydraulic fractures. Linear elastic fracture mechanics approach (LEFM) was used to predict the crack propagation for initial crack. Finite element method (FEM) is used to predict the maximum stress areas, hence, determining the crack initiation.

scholarly journals Multi-objective optimization of ORC geothermal conversion system integrated with life cycle assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Dominika Matuszewska ◽  
Marta Kuta ◽  
Jan Górski
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Organic Rankine Cycle ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Conversion Technology

This paper details the development of a systematic methodology to integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) with thermo-economic models and to thereby identify the optimal exploitation schemes of geothermal resources. Overall geothermal systems consist of a superstructure of geothermal exploitable resources, a superstructure of conversion technology and multiple demand profiles for Swiss city. In this paper, an enhanced geothermal system has been chosen as exploitable resources. The energy conversion technology used in modelling is an organic Rankine cycle, which can be used to supply heat and electricity. In the Swiss case four demand profiles periods are considered: summer, interseason, winter and extreme winter, the city Nyon serving for the example case study. The multi-objective optimization system, that uses an evolutionary algorithm, is employed to determine the optimal scheme for some of the prepared models, with exergy efficiency and environmental impact as objectives.

scholarly journals Geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous geothermal aquifers in the West Netherlands Basin – an overview

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cees J.L. Willems ◽  
Andrea Vondrak ◽  
Harmen F. Mijnlieff ◽  
Marinus E. Donselaar ◽  
Bart M.M. van Kempen
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cretaceous ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
The West ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Tectonic History ◽  
Water Breakthrough ◽  
Hydrocarbon Fields ◽  
Sedimentary Aquifer

Abstract In the past 10 years the mature hydrocarbon province the West Netherlands Basin has hosted rapidly expanding geothermal development. Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata from which gas and oil had been produced since the 1950s became targets for geothermal exploitation. The extensive publicly available subsurface data including seismic surveys, several cores and logs from hundreds of hydrocarbon wells, combined with understanding of the geology after decades of hydrocarbon exploitation, facilitated the offtake of geothermal exploitation. Whilst the first geothermal projects proved the suitability of the permeable Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones for geothermal heat production, they also made clear that much detail of the aquifer geology is not yet fully understood. The aquifer architecture varies significantly across the basin because of the syn-tectonic sedimentation. The graben fault blocks that contain the geothermal targets experienced a different tectonic history compared to the horst and pop-up structures that host the hydrocarbon fields from which most subsurface data are derived. Accurate prediction of the continuity and thickness of aquifers is a prerequisite for efficient geothermal well deployment that aims at increasing heat recovery while avoiding the risk of early cold-water breakthrough. The potential recoverable heat and the current challenges to enhance further expansion of heat exploitation from this basin are evident. This paper presents an overview of the current understanding and uncertainties of the aquifer geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata and discusses new sequence-stratigraphic updates of the regional sedimentary aquifer architecture.

scholarly journals Direct heat resource assessment and subsurface information systems for geothermal aquifers; the Dutch perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kramers ◽  
J.-D. van Wees ◽  
M.P.D. Pluymaekers ◽  
A. Kronimus ◽  
T. Boxem
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Resource Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Lithostratigraphic Units

AbstractA resource assessment methodology has been developed to designate prospective high permeable clastic aquifers and to assess the amount of potential geothermal energy in the Netherlands. It builds from the wealth of deep subsurface data from oil and gas exploration and production which is publicly and digitally available. In the resource assessment various performance indicator maps have been produced for direct heat applications (greenhouse and spatial heating). These maps are based on detailed mapping of depth, thickness, porosity, permeability, temperature and transmissivity (methodology presented in other papers in this NJG issue). In the resource assessment analysis 14 lithostratigraphic units (clastic aquifers) have been considered, ranging in age from the Permian to the Cenozoic. Performance maps have been made which include a) the expected doublet power (MWth) to be retrieved; b) the number of houses or hectares that can be heated from one doublet; and c) a potential indicator map, which provides insight in subsurface suitability for specific applications from a techno-economic perspective. To obtain a nationwide overview of the resource potential in terms of recoverable geothermal energy, a progressive filtering approach was used from total heat content of the reservoirs (Heat In Place – HIP) via the heat that can potentially be recovered (Potential Recovery Heat – PRH) to energy maps taking into account a techno-economic performance evaluation (Recoverable Heat – RH). Results show that the HIP is approximately 820,000 PJ which is significantly more than previous estimates of around 90,000 PJ. This considerable increase in geothermal energy potential is the result of accurate geological mapping of key reservoir properties and the development of state-of-the-art techno-economic performance assessment tools that performs Monte Carlo simulation. Moreover, for the previous estimates boundary conditions were set with the aim to compare the geothermal potential between different EU countries (Rijkers & Van Doorn, 1997). Taking into account techno-economic aspects, the RH is in the order of 85,000 PJ. This is equivalent to ~70% of the ultimate recoverable gas of the Slochteren Gas field. In total over 400 maps have been created or used as input for the resource assessment. Together, they provide comprehensive information for geothermal energy development from various stakeholder perspectives. The maps can be interactively assessed in the web-based portal ThermoGIS (www.thermogis.nl). This application complements existing subsurface information systems available in the Netherlands and supports the geothermal community in assessing the feasibility of a geothermal system on a regional scale.

The historical development of the magnetic method in exploration

Geophysics ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 33ND-61ND ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Nabighian ◽  
V. J. S. Grauch ◽  
R. O. Hansen ◽  
T. R. LaFehr ◽  
Y. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Magnetic Method ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Weakly Magnetic ◽  
New Applications

The magnetic method, perhaps the oldest of geophysical exploration techniques, blossomed after the advent of airborne surveys in World War II. With improvements in instrumentation, navigation, and platform compensation, it is now possible to map the entire crustal section at a variety of scales, from strongly magnetic basement at regional scale to weakly magnetic sedimentary contacts at local scale. Methods of data filtering, display, and interpretation have also advanced, especially with the availability of low-cost, high-performance personal computers and color raster graphics. The magnetic method is the primary exploration tool in the search for minerals. In other arenas, the magnetic method has evolved from its sole use for mapping basement structure to include a wide range of new applications, such as locating intrasedimentary faults, defining subtle lithologic contacts, mapping salt domes in weakly magnetic sediments, and better defining targets through 3D inversion. These new applications have increased the method's utility in all realms of exploration — in the search for minerals, oil and gas, geothermal resources, and groundwater, and for a variety of other purposes such as natural hazards assessment, mapping impact structures, and engineering and environmental studies.

Sustainable geothermal energy utilization

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-30
Author(s):  
G. Axelsson
Keyword(s):  
Time Scale ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Sustainability Policy

Abstract Sustainable development involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The Earth's enormous geothermal resources have the potential to contribute significantly to sustainable energy use worldwide and to help mitigate climate change. Experience from the use of geothermal systems worldwide, lasting several decades, demonstrates that by maintaining production below a certain limit the systems reach a balance between net energy discharge and recharge that may be maintained for a long time. Therefore, a sustainability time-scale of 100 to 300 years has been proposed. Studies furthermore indicate that the effect of heavy utilization is often reversible on a time-scale comparable to the period of utilization. Geothermal resources can be used in a sustainable manner either through (1) constant production below a sustainable limit, (2) step-wise increase in production or (3) intermittent excessive production with breaks during which other geothermal resources need to fill in the gap. The long production histories that are available for geothermal systems provide the most valuable data available for studying sustainable management of geothermal resources, and reservoir modelling is the most powerful tool available for this purpose. The paper reviews long utilization experiences from e.g. Iceland, France and Hungary and presents sustainability modelling studies for the Hamar geothermal system in Iceland and the Beijing Urban system in China. International collaboration has facilitated sustainability research and fruitful discussions as well as identifying several relevant research issues. Distinction needs to be made between sustainable production from a particular geothermal resource and the more general sustainable geothermal utilization, which involves integrated economical, social and environmental development. Developing a sustainability policy involves setting general sustainability goals and consequently defining specific sustainability indicators to measure the degree of sustainability of a given geothermal operation or progress towards sustainability.

scholarly journals Reservoir characterisation of aquifers for direct heat production: Methodology and screening of the potential reservoirs for the Netherlands

2012 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P.D. Pluymaekers ◽  
L. Kramers ◽  
J.-D. van Wees ◽  
A. Kronimus ◽  
S. Nelskamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Well Test ◽  
Starting Point

AbstractGeothermal low enthalpy heat in non-magmatic areas can be produced by pumping hot water from aquifers at large depth (>1 km). Key parameters for aquifer performance are temperature, depth, thickness and permeability. Geothermal exploration in the Netherlands can benefit considerably from the wealth of oil and gas data; in many cases hydrocarbon reservoirs form the lateral equivalent of geothermal aquifers. In the past decades subsurface oil and gas data have been used to develop 3D models of the subsurface structure. These models have been used as a starting point for the mapping of geothermal reservoir geometries and its properties. A workflow was developed to map aquifer properties on a regional scale. Transmissivity maps and underlying uncertainty have been obtained for 20 geothermal aquifers. Of particular importance is to take into account corrections for maximum burial depth and the assessment of uncertainties. The mapping of transmissivity and temperature shows favorable aquifer conditions in the northern part of the Netherlands (Rotliegend aquifers), while in the western and southern parts of the Netherlands aquifers of the Triassic and Upper Cretaceous / Jurassic have high prospectivity. Despite the high transmissivity of the Cenozoic aquifers, the limited depth and temperature reduce the prospective geothermal area significantly.The results show a considerable remaining uncertainty of transmissivity values, due to lack of data and heterogeneous spatial data distribution. In part these uncertainties may be significantly reduced by adding well test results and facies parameters for the map interpolation in future work. For underexplored areas this bears a significant risk, but it can also result in much higher flowrates than originally expected, representing an upside in project performance.

scholarly journals A Methodology for Assessing the Favourability of Geopressured-Geothermal Systems in Sedimentary Basin Plays: A Case Study in Abruzzo (Italy)

Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Santilano ◽  
Eugenio Trumpy ◽  
Gianluca Gola ◽  
Assunta Donato ◽  
Davide Scrocca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Unconventional Resource

We exploit the concept of the geothermal favourability, widely used for hydrothermal and EGS systems, to present an innovative methodology for assessing geopressured-geothermal resources occurring in terrigenous units in sedimentary basin plays. Geopressured-geothermal systems are an unconventional resource for power trigeneration exploiting three forms of energy from hydrocarbons, hydrothermal fluids, and well-head overpressure. This paper is intended to be a practical analytical framework for the systematic integration of the relevant data required to assess geopressured-geothermal resources. For this purpose, innovative parameters were also implemented in the methodology. The final result is the favourability map for identifying prospective areas to be further investigated for the appraisal of the geopressured-geothermal potential. We applied our methodology to the foredeep-foreland domains of the Apennines thrust belt in the Abruzzo region (central Italy). We analysed hundreds of deep hydrocarbon wells in order to create 3D geological and thermo-fluid dynamic models at a regional scale as well as to obtain information on the pressure regimes and on the chemistry of the system. The final favourability map for the Abruzzo case study is a first attempt at ranking these kinds of unconventional geothermal resources in a region that has been historically explored and exploited mostly for hydrocarbons.

scholarly journals Low Enthalpy Geothermal Systems in Structural Controlled Areas: A Sustainability Analysis of Geothermal Resource for Heating Plant (The Mondragone Case in Southern Appennines, Italy)

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Iorio ◽  
Alberto Carotenuto ◽  
Alfonso Corniello ◽  
Simona Di Fraia ◽  
Nicola Massarotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Hydrogeological Model ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Geothermal Resources ◽  
Heating Plant

In this study, the sustainability of low-temperature geothermal field exploitation in a carbonate reservoir near Mondragone (CE), Southern Italy, is analyzed. The Mondragone geothermal field has been extensively studied through the research project VIGOR (Valutazione del potenzIale Geotermico delle RegiOni della convergenza). From seismic, geo-electric, hydro-chemical and groundwater data, obtained through the experimental campaigns carried out, physiochemical features of the aquifers and characteristics of the reservoir have been determined. Within this project, a well-doublet open-loop district heating plant has been designed to feed two public schools in Mondragone town. The sustainability of this geothermal application is analyzed in this study. A new exploration well (about 300 m deep) is considered to obtain further stratigraphic and structural information about the reservoir. Using the derived hydrogeological model of the area, a numerical analysis of geothermal exploitation was carried out to assess the thermal perturbation of the reservoir and the sustainability of its exploitation. The effect of extraction and reinjection of fluids on the reservoir was evaluated for 60 years of the plant activity. The results are fundamental to develop a sustainable geothermal heat plant and represent a real case study for the exploitation of similar carbonate reservoir geothermal resources.

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