INDUCTIVE DETECTION OF FRACTURES IN GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS - PETROPHYSICAL ASPECTS AND GEOPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

A reliable electromagnetic (EM) means of detecting and delineating geothermal fracture systems would facilitate geothermal reservoir development. To this end, there have been rapid advances in our geophysical capability to gather extensive electromagnetic data sets and to generate elaborate numerical simulations mapping electrical conductivity distributions to electromagnetic field responses. However, the nonuniqueness of electromagnetic interpretations requires that formal interpretations of EM field data be conditioned by geological constraints. Indeed, the electrical conductivity expression of a fault is far from intuitive and must be based on geological investigations.