Introduction of micro-gravity as standard in geothermal exploration¿

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 11950.1 PFIW-IW

Short description (German)

Mikrogravimetrie als Standardprospektionsmethode für geothermische Reservoire

Short description (English)

Introduction of micro-gravity as standard in geothermal exploration¿

Abstract (German)

The productivity of a geothermal reservoir depends mainly on the transmissivity of the geological unit. It is a challenge to assess this during exploration. A first step is the assessment of porosity. Inversion of gravity based on 3D geology has revealed the thermal anomaly of Soultz-sous-Forêts. The aim is to further develop this methodology and to introduce it as a standard in the geothermal reservoir exploration in Switzerland.|The innovation is to put the focus on the evaluation of porosity changes in the target zones in combination|with detailed (3D) seismic studies, which reduce the uncertainty in the geological interpretation of gravity|data and thus allow the assessment of density changes due to porosity variation.

Abstract (English)

The productivity of a geothermal reservoir depends mainly on the transmissivity of the geological unit. It is a challenge to assess this during exploration. A first step is the assessment of porosity. Inversion of gravity based on 3D geology has revealed the thermal anomaly of Soultz-sous-Forêts. The aim is to further develop this methodology and to introduce it as a standard in the geothermal reservoir exploration in Switzerland.|The innovation is to put the focus on the evaluation of porosity changes in the target zones in combination|with detailed (3D) seismic studies, which reduce the uncertainty in the geological interpretation of gravity|data and thus allow the assessment of density changes due to porosity variation.