Numerical model as a decision-making tool for drills in the low enthalpy geothermal context of Martinique

Abstract

In the context of the volcanic Island arc of the Lesser Antilles, low enthalpy Geothermal Energy is available in the “Plaine du Lamentin” in Martinique. Its exploitation could be effective within a few years but additional studies are necessary to evaluate it and to acquire a better understanding of its behaviour. This is one of the reasons why 3D numerical modelling is essential in order to enrich the exploratory phase, which would eventually culminate in a successful exploitation of this energy source.
In view of assessing the practicability of an exploitation of the geothermal resource, we thus build a numerical model which employs the groundwater software Processing Modflow in order to obtain a tool for the determination of the most promising sites for drilling, as well as assess the expected flows. Some assumptions are proposed for inflows and outflows that have meteoric and marine origins. Finally, we will show that this model could prove a useful tool in terms of the risk management connected to the exploitation. Our numerical tool, simple and fast, allows one to form rapid decisions in the eventuality of an urgent problem, when, for instance, one is confronted to the difficulty of accessing some location, in order to appraise the consequences of the opening and closure of a well on the neighbouring ones.