Audible acoustics from low-magnitude fluid-induced earthquakes in Finland

Earthquakes are frequently accompanied by public reports of audible low-frequency noises. In 2018, public reports of booms or thunder-like noises were linked to induced earthquakes during an Engineered Geothermal System project in the Helsinki Metropolitan area. In response, two microphone arrays were deployed to record and study these acoustic signals while stimulation at the drill site continued. During the 11 day deployment, we find 39 earthquakes accompanied by possible atmospheric acoustic signals. Moment magnitudes of these events ranged from $$-0.07$$ - 0.07 to 1.87 with located depths of 4.8–6.5 km. Analysis of the largest event revealed a broadband frequency content, including in the audible range, and high apparent velocities across the arrays. We conclude that the audible noises were generated by local ground reverberation during the arrival of seismic body waves. The inclusion of acoustic monitoring at future geothermal development projects will be beneficial for studying seismic-to-acoustic coupling during sequences of induced earthquakes.

Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Performance in Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Analyses of fracturing and thermal performance of fractured reservoirs in engineered geothermal system (EGS) are extended from a depth of 5 km to 10 km, and models for flow and heat transfer in EGS are improved. Effects of the geofluid flow direction choice, distance between fractures, fracture width, permeability, radius, and number of fractures, on reservoir heat drawdown time are computed. The number of fractures and fracture radius for desired reservoir thermal drawdown rates are recommended. A simplified model for reservoir hydraulic fracturing energy consumption is developed, indicating it to be 51.8–99.6 MJ per m3 fracture for depths of 5–10 km.

Natural State Modeling of Singapore Geothermal Reservoir

The existence of hot springs coupled with the apparent anomalous high heat flow has sparked interest in the potential for geothermal development in Singapore. This geothermal resource may be potentially significant and could be exploited through Engineered Geothermal System (EGS) technology, i.e. a method to create artificial permeability at depth in granitic or sandstone formations as found under Singapore. The apparently ever-increasing fossil fuel price has made the cost of using the EGS technology more viable than it was in the past. Thus, to assess the resource, a numerical model for the geothermal reservoir has been constructed. Mass and heat flows in the system are simulated in 2D with AUTOUGH2.2, and the graphical interface processed through MULGRAPH2.2. Natural state calibration was performed to match both the observed and the expected groundwater profile, and also to match the hot water upflow at the Sembawang hot spring, with simulated flowrate matching the hot spring natural flowrate. The simulation gives an encouraging result of 125 - 150 °C hot water at depth 1.25 – 2.75 km.