A major hindrance for the exploration of geothermal energy is the high risk of failure due to the unknown properties of the target rocks at depth. Usually, con-servative assumptions are made about these proper-ties, resulting in larger drilling depths and increased exploration costs. We systematically study hydraulic and thermal properties for the Molasse Basin, a re-gion in Southern Germany, in order to improve this situation. This should allow building of better models of geothermal installations in the planning stage.

For this purpose a combination of laboratory meas-urements and well log interpretation is used. Labora-tory data provides the basis of the study by providing the petrophysical properties, measured on a represen-tative collection of samples obtained from outcrops and boreholes in that area. Measured properties en-compass thermal conductivity and diffusivity as well as porosity and permeability. Variations arising from temperature and pressure increase with depth are studied. Logging data add knowledge about the prob-lem by developing relationships linking core and wireline measurements as well as delineating geo-graphical regions of different petrophysical facies type. A major aspect is the use of data from aban-doned hydrocarbon exploration wells, establishing an additional data source to constrain the problem.

Press the Back button in your browser, or search again.

Copyright 2006, Stanford Geothermal Program: Readers who download papers from this site should honor the copyright of the original authors and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.