Complex Hydraulic and Geothermal Model of the Komárno-Štúrovo Pilot Area of the TRANSENERGY project

Abstract

The Komarno-Šturovo (Komárom-Párkány) Pilot Area of the Transenergy Project is situated in the northeastern part of the Transdanubian Range in Hungary and its basinal part in Slovakia. The groundwater bodies are divided by national boundaries and are in focus of International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The large karstwater-aquifer contains of mainly Upper-Triassic limestones and dolomites (Dachstein Limestone, Main-dolomite) affected by bauxite (Fenyõfõ) and coal mining (Dorog, Mány, Tatabánya, Balinka, Dudar) and its growing dewatering since the 1950’s. Due to the intensive water extraction the water table significantly decreased and cold and/or warm springs disappeared (Tata-, Dunaalmás-, Esztergom springs) or the yields reduced (Budapest thermal springs, the Patince spring/well lost its artesian characteristic) along the whole Transdanubian Range since the 1960’s. After the mine-closures the water abstraction of the mines decreased or stopped (somewhere replaced by drinking water supply, e.g. Tata) the karstwater level started to increase and springs reappeared and their yields increased: the Csokonai spring reappeared in 1999, the Fényesspings in 2002. In the last few years this increasing in the water levels sets a lot of new problems. How does regenerate the karst-flow system? Can the system totally regenerate? Is it possible that the current utilizations develop their services? Shall new investments get permissions? What will be the effects of the developments and/or new investments? A complex 3D hydraulic and geothermal model based on geological, hydrogeological and geothermic data from both countries is looking for answers to the questions above. The regeneration of the discharge zones, the present and future utilizations can be determined by the help of transient flow and geothermal modelling the refilling of the system.