One of the most important processes of heat generation from the Earth's interior is the radioactive decay of isotopes. The main hosts of the major radiogenic elements U, Th and K in the crust are granitoids. The Sierras de Córdoba are formed of dissimilar granitic intrusions emplaced by a series of magmatic events that occurred during the Paleozoic. The different granitoids are classified as A-type

In geothermal reservoir systems, changes in pore pressure due to production (depletion), injection or temperature changes result in a displacement of the effective stresses acting on the rock matrix of the aquifer. To compensate for these intrinsic stress changes, the rock matrix is subjected to poroelastic deformation through changes in rock and pore volume. This in turn may induce changes in the

Oil and gas operations in sedimentary basins have revealed the occurrence of significant temperature anomalies at depth, raising the possibility of major geothermal resource potential in the sedimentary sequences. The efficient development of such a resource may require enhancement by hydraulic stimulation. However, effective stimulation relies on an initial assessment of in situ mechanical properties

Production data from the Los Humeros geothermal field in Mexico are used to develop a forecast method for operation of the field in the future. This method supports understanding the limitations of sustainably exploiting a geothermal reservoir. Using such forecasts, fluid extraction could be scheduled in order to fulfill the steam demand of the installed capacity. Moreover, the forecast of the extraction

The installed capacity of geothermal systems for direct use of heat is increasing worldwide. As their number and density is increasing, the their interaction with subsurface faults becomes more important as they could lead to safety risks from induced seismicity. Assessment and management of such risks is essential for the further development and extension of geothermal energy for heating. At the same

A system of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) combined with pumping–injection wells is established in areas where the groundwater is shallow and the seepage velocity is weak. The pumping and injection wells are set on both sides of the BHEs. According to the three-dimensional unsteady-state heat transfer model in the aquifer, the convection–dispersion analytical solution of excess temperature is derived

This paper, based on a novel hybrid techno-economic model for geothermal power plants with endogenized plant lifetime, investigates the economic feasibility of a sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources for electricity generation. To this end, standard terminology and classifications from the literature are reviewed, such as “sustainability”, “sustainable operation”, “renewability”, “recovery”

Advances in new technologies and the desire to achieve a sustainable and safe energy supply, enable communities to transition from conventional to renewable resources, such as geothermal energy. Perception and acceptance amongst different audiences have a high impact on the feasibility of energy projects, which is an important aspect to analyze. For this reason, this study focuses on describing the

Halite formations are attractive geothermal reservoirs due to their high heat conductivity, resulting in higher temperatures than other formations at similar depths. However, halite formations are highly reactive with undersaturated water. An understanding of the geochemical reactions that occur within halite-saturated formation waters can inform decision making regarding well construction, prevention

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

There are many successful geothermal projects that exploit the Upper Jurassic aquifer at 2–3 km depth in the German Molasse Basin. However, up to now, only P-wave seismic exploration has been carried out. In an experiment in the Greater Munich area, we recorded S-waves that were generated by the conventional P-wave seismic survey, using 3C receivers. From this, we built a 3D volume of P- to S-converted

Cementing operations in wellbores, especially for long casings, are often challenging and prone to deficiencies when not properly planned and executed. While exploring for and exploiting of geothermal resources at temperatures above the critical point of water was attempted in different drilling projects in recent years, the well design, and especially the procedure to run and cement long production

Alternative (unconventional) deep geothermal designs are needed to provide a secure and efficient geothermal energy supply. An in-depth sensitivity analysis was investigated considering a deep borehole closed-loop heat exchanger (DBHE) to overcome the current limitations of deep EGS. A T2Well/EOS1 model previously calibrated on an experimental DBHE in Hawaii was adapted to the current NWG 55-29 well

Although geothermal resources are practically independent of climate factors, those factors significantly condition the potential use of the Earth’s natural heat resources. Unlike all the other factors limiting or facilitating the use of geothermal heat (like receivers’ temperature expectation, financial issues or local regulations), climate factors remain immovable. Thus, climate remains the main

To study the influence of thermal shock caused by water-cooling on the physical and mechanical properties of high-temperature granite, granite was subjected to an increasing number of high-temperature (300 °C) water-cooling and thermal shock treatment cycles, and static mechanical experiments were carried out on the treated granite. The results support the following conclusions: (1) thermal shock causes

A geochemometric study based on a multi-criteria decision analysis was applied, for the first time, for the optimal evaluation and selection of artificial neural networks, and the prediction of geothermal reservoir temperatures. Eight new gas geothermometers (GasG1 to GasG8) were derived from this study. For an effective and practical application of these geothermometers, a new computer program GaS_GeoT

Temperature logs recorded shortly after drilling operations can be the only temperature information from deep wells. However, these measurements are still influenced by the thermal disturbance caused by drilling and therefore do not represent true rock temperatures. The magnitude of the thermal disturbance is dependent on many factors such as drilling time, logging procedure or mud temperature. However

The majority of scales observed at geothermal facilities exploring the Malm Aquifer in the Bavarian Molasse Basin are carbonates. They form due to a disruption of the lime–carbonic acid equilibrium during production caused by a reduction of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide due to pressure change and degassing. These scales are found at the pumps, production pipes, filters, heat exchangers, and

Knowledge of the crustal stress state is important for the assessment of subsurface stability. In particular, stress magnitudes are essential for the calibration of geomechanical models that estimate a continuous description of the 3-D stress field from pointwise and incomplete stress data. Well established is the World Stress Map Project, a global and publicly available database for stress orientations

Uranium and thorium decay series disequilibria in deep geothermal brines are a result of water–rock interaction processes. The migratory behavior of radionuclides provides valuable site-specific information and can therefore be an important tool for reservoir characterization and sustainable management of geothermal sites. In this study, we present data from long-term monitoring of naturally occurring

Mineral precipitates, scales, are wide-spread in geothermal facilities and hamper technical and economic efficiency. Scales reported from earlier studies in the Bavarian Molasse Basin consisted mostly of calcite, appeared rather homogeneous, grew flat and perpendicular to the surface, and showed little or no internal macrostructure apart from small gradients in crystal size and chemical composition

Classification schemes for geothermal energy sources have recently been improved to include the concept of geothermal play. Our comprehensive review for the island of Madagascar aims to enhance the understanding of the factors controlling the country’s geothermal energy sources. The result is the first catalogue of geothermal systems in Madagascar. The geothermal systems of six prospective areas were

A new method to remove hydrogen sulfide from geothermal fluids during well operation was tested in situ at a geothermal site in Vienna (Austria). For this purpose, ferric iron was added either as granulated iron hydroxide or as FeCl3 solution into a reaction vessel containing the thermal water directly removed from the wells. From the container, the water would be pumped through a particle filter.

The North Alpine Foreland Basin in SE Germany is Germany’s most active deep geothermal province. However, in its southern and eastern part the basin is considerably overpressured, which is a significant challenge for drilling deep geothermal wells. In this study, we combine drilling data and velocity-based pore pressure analyses with 3D basin modeling to assess the predictability and controlling factors

The increasing demand for energy makes it difficult to replace fossil fuels with low-carbon energy sources in the short term, and the large amount of CO2 emitted by fossil fuel combustion increases global warming. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies for reducing CO2 emissions in power plants and industrial processes have been developed. High costs and security issues limit industrial applications

The deep borehole heat exchanger (DBHE) shows great potential in seasonal thermal energy storage and its high performance efficiency with smaller land occupancy attracts increasing attention as a promising geothermal energy exploitation technique. With respect to a vertical BHE with extremely long length pipes buried underground, thermal analysis of the unsteady heat transfer process of the system

When water is injected into a fracture-dominated reservoir that is cooler or hotter than the injected water, the reservoir permeability is expected to be altered by the injection-induced thermo-mechanical effects, resulting in the redistribution of fluid flow in the reservoir. These effects are important to be taken into account when evaluating the performance and lifetime particularly of Enhanced

To improve the economics and viability of accessing deep georesources, we propose a combined thermo–mechanical drilling (CTMD) method, employing a heat source to facilitate the mechanical removal of rock, with the aim of increasing drilling performance and thereby reducing the overall costs, especially for deep wells in hard rocks. In this work, we employ a novel experiment setup to investigate the

By providing solutions for harnessing subsurface resources, the geosciences will emerge as a critical component of an efficient transition to a low-carbon economy. In particular, the potential for geothermal energy to supply clean base-load energy for heating and electricity worldwide is enormous. If developed appropriately, this georesource will play a decisive role in the global switch to renewable

The Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal reservoir (France)—in particular, the GPK-4 well—has been proposed as a target for chemical stimulation under the DESTRESS Horizon-2020 framework. With a combination of batch reaction tests and acid flow-through experiments using hydrochloric acid (HCl) at different molarities and temperatures, we investigate the potential for acid-induced permeability enhancement

Gravity measurements in the Upper Rhine Graben evidence spatial variations at the regional scale and close to the geothermal sites. They are classically interpreted as linked to the geology. We aim to bring new insights on another potential origin of these gravity changes. Our approach is to quantify gravity anomalies related to the deep hydrothermal circulation. A thermo-hydro-mechanical model is

For the successful realization and productivity prediction of new hydrothermal projects in the South German Molasse Basin, the hydraulic matrix properties of the Upper Jurassic Malm reservoir have to be determined as accurately as possible. To obtain specific information on the distribution of the petrophysical parameters (e.g., rock density, porosity, and permeability) 363 samples of rare drilling

Knowledge of the undisturbed stress state is a key parameter for borehole stability, productivity and induced seismicity hazard assessment. Due to the sparse and incomplete availability of data records, 3D geomechanical–numerical modelling is applied to estimate the stress state in a volume. To assess the quality of the model results, the model uncertainties have to be quantified. We present an approach

The beginnings of geothermal implementation research in Poland date back to 1989–1993 when the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEERI PAS) launched the first geothermal installation in the Podhale region, using the reconstructed Bańska IG-1 well. The knowledge acquired during these 30 years has highlighted the importance of geothermal energy—among other

One of the main challenges associated with the operation and maintenance of binary geothermal power plants is the degradation of construction materials. In this sense, it is crucial to apply appropriate preventive maintenance in critical components (such as the wellheads, heat exchangers, or pipes), while reducing shutdown times. Based on electrochemical measurements performed in an autoclave corrosion

The authors have retracted this article (Drews et al. 2019) because some data have been used without the appropriate permissions. Additionally, the funding statement is not complete and the authorship is incorrect.

Crystallization of carbonates is a key process affecting the operation of geothermal facilities and aquifer heat storage systems. The crystals formed in an aquifer heat storage test in the Upper Jurassic carbonate aquifer were investigated at injection temperatures of $$65\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ to $$110\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$, with varying $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ partial pressures, and varying Mg/Ca ratios

Deep-borehole heat exchangers (DBHE) are generally coaxial pipes installed in deep boreholes and has become an alternative approach to utilize geothermal energy. Since the performance of the DBHE system can be affected by several parameters, it is important to optimize the design of parameters for the DBHE. In this paper, based on the analytical method, we carried out the sensitivity analysis of DBHE

The development of the Rittershoffen deep geothermal field (Alsace, Upper Rhine Graben) between 2012 and 2014 induced unfelt seismicity with a local magnitude of less than 1.6. This seismicity occurred during two types of operations: (1) mud losses in the Muschelkalk formation during the drilling of both wells of the doublet and (2) thermal and hydraulic stimulations of the GRT-1 well. Seismicity was

The energetic framework of Canadian remote communities relies on fossil fuels. This has adverse environmental and energy security issues. In order to offset diesel consumption, the search for local, sustainable and carbon-free energy sources is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, in such remote regions, subsurface data to evaluate the geothermal potential is often nonexistent. This raises a key question:

Anticosti Island is located in the Anticosti sedimentary basin, an Ordovician/Silurian carbonate platform. This platform is mainly composed of limestone and shale with some dolomite and sandstone and reaches up to 5 km depth in the southwest. It overlies a Precambrian basement of the Grenville Province made of magmatic and metamorphic rocks. Like most remote and off-grid regions in Canada, it relies

For successful geothermal reservoir exploration, accurate temperature estimation is essential. Since reservoir temperature estimation frequently involves high uncertainties when using conventional solute geothermometers, a new statistical approach is proposed. The focus of this study is on the development of a new multicomponent geothermometer tool which requires a significantly reduced data set compared

Precise knowledge of the subsurface thermal field plays a key role in the assessment of geothermal targets. Unfortunately, deep underground temperature data is generally scarce and a matter of research. To achieve first estimates for subsurface temperatures, steady-state conductive thermal modeling is commonly applied. Thereby the rock thermal conductivity is an essential parameter, which is usually

The Upper Rhine Graben (URG) has been extensively studied for geothermal exploitation over the past decades. Yet, the thermal conductivity of the sedimentary cover is still poorly constrained, limiting our ability to provide robust heat flow density estimates. To improve our understanding of heat flow density in the URG, we present a new large thermal conductivity database for sedimentary rocks collected

Here, we present the first application of a temperature sensor module (TSM) for deducing groundwater flow velocity and direction at borehole heat exchangers (BHEs). The TSM maps the horizontal temperature distribution around a BHE. As groundwater flow distorts this temperature distribution, flow velocity and direction can be inferred from the measured temperatures. As modular systems, TSMs can be attached

The binary-flashing cycle (BFC) is supposed to be a promising technology for geothermal recovery due to the full use of geofluid. For further performance improvement, the potential of using mixtures of a hydrocarbon and a retardant in the BFC system is investigated. R245fa is selected as a retardant and blended with R600 to form zeotropic mixtures. With the thermal efficiency (ηth), exergy efficiency

Hydrothermal convection in porous geothermal reservoir systems can be seen as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, regions of upflow in convective systems can increase the geothermal energy potential of the reservoir; on the other hand, convection introduces uncertainty, because it can be difficult to locate these regions of upflow. Several predictive criteria, such as the Rayleigh number, exist

In the 1950s, a petroleum well in Soultz-sous-Forêts (no 4589; Upper Rhine Graben, France) reached the Lettenkohle (Triassic) at 830 m depth. During the exploration phase at Soultz-sous-Forêts, the first enhanced geothermal system pilot project in the world, the well was core-deepened up to 2227 m into the granitic basement (then renamed EPS-1). The objectives of this deeper well were (i) to explore

The present study aims to understand the potential of a new and novel type of geothermal play system for high temperature and electricity production: crustal fault zones (CFZ). According to geological and geophysical data, the Pontgibaud fault zone (French Massif Central) is suspected to host an active hydrothermal system at a depth of a few kilometers. The deep geometry of the fault zone and the permeability

Temperature logs have important applications in the geothermal industry such as the estimation of the static formation temperature (SFT) and the characterization of fluid loss from a borehole. However, the temperature distribution of the wellbore relies on various factors such as wellbore flow conditions, fluid losses, well layout, heat transfer mechanics within the fluid as well as between the wellbore

Integrity issues create challenges for maintaining the production of mature geothermal wells. Such problems are likely to occur in wells designed according to oil and gas standards, without considering the extreme geothermal environment. PT Geo Dipa Energi as the operator of the Dieng geothermal field, one of the longest operated in Indonesia, has experienced this difficulty since acquiring the field

This paper describes a novel concept for integrating binary plants at a geothermal site which has been realized within a demonstration project in Indonesia. By using an intermediate hot water and an intermediate cooling water cycle it is possible to integrate a fully-automated binary plant with flexible operation in an existing, predominantly manually operated geothermal field. The paper gives technical

The quantitative connections between subsurface geologic structure and measured geophysical data allow 3D geologic models to be tested against measurements and geophysical anomalies to be interpreted in terms of geologic structure. Using a Bayesian framework, geophysical inversions are constrained by prior information in the form of a reference geologic model and probability density functions (pdfs)

This study investigates the thermo-hydraulic implications of three geologic scenarios for characterizing the geothermal hydrology of Basse-Terre Island, Guadeloupe. Despite newly acquired magnetotelluric, petrophysical, and geologic data, flow patterns and heat sources have remained elusive. Our simulations were performed in 2D, on a cross section going from La Soufrière volcano in the south to the

The Muschelkalk, composed of Triassic limestones, marls, dolomites, and evaporites, forms part of the Permo-Triassic cover of sedimentary rocks that directly overlies the fractured granitic reservoir used for geothermal energy exploitation in the Upper Rhine Graben. Petrophysical data for this lithostratigraphic unit are sparse, but are of value for reservoir prospection, stimulation, and optimisation

A geothermal exploration corehole was drilled to a total depth of 1821.5 m on the Mountain Home Air Force Base near Mountain Home, Idaho. The corehole was used to collect an unusually large amount of data, including uniaxial compressive stress (UCS) experiments on core samples, to evaluate the geothermal potential of the western Snake River Plain. In addition, unlike many exploration holes in this

Fault zones in the Upper Jurassic aquifer of the North Alpine Foreland Basin are generally regions with possibly increased hydraulic properties. They are consequently often part of the geothermal exploration concepts in this area and a primary target for the drilling operation. Data from this aquifer, gathered in pump tests, however, show that only four out of 41 successful wells exhibit hydraulic

The use of the subsurface and the exploitation of subsurface resources require prior knowledge of fluid flow through fracture networks. For nuclear waste disposal, for the enhancement of hydrocarbon recovery from a field, or the development of an enhanced geothermal system (EGS), it is fundamental to constrain the fractures and the fracture network. This study is part of the GEMex project, an international

The utilization of geothermal energy remains underdeveloped, mainly due to the technical problem of silica scaling. The scaling can eventually disrupt the electricity production process due to frequent pipe maintenance. Although inevitable, scaling can be controlled by accelerating the precipitation process through the addition of silica seeds. Silica gel has an affinity to bind with dissolved silica

Temperature variations often trigger coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) processes that can significantly alter the permeability/impedance of fracture-dominated deep geological reservoirs. It is thus necessary to quantitatively explore the associated phenomena during fracture opening and closure as a result of temperature change. In this work, we report near-field experimental