Geothermal Exploration and Reservoir Assessment in Magmatic Systems. the IMAGE Project

Abstract

IMAGE (Integrated Methods for Advanced Geothermal Exploration) was a four years EU funded research project that finished in late 2017. IMAGE involved 20 partners from 9 different countries. The main idea was to address the problems encountered in geothermal exploration and reservoir assessment through a three-step methodological approach. In IMAGE, these were adapted to specific geological environments with the basic subdivision into magmatic systems (subproject, SP2) and basement/sedimentary systems (subproject, SP3). The three-step methodological approach within subproject, SP2 consisted of the following: Firstly: Provide basic information and understanding of the physical and geological properties of high temperature geothermal systems and the processes that control these in order to design and develop proper exploration methods and interpret the results in geothermal terms with interdisciplinary approach. Secondly: Develop novel geophysical exploration methods for magmatic environments to detect, prior to drilling, zones of high permeability, steam and magma and to estimate reservoir temperature. Thirdly: Integrate information and results obtained in IMAGE to develop solid methodology for exploration and assessment of high temperature geothermal fields in magmatic environment. The research leading to these results has received funding from the EU 7th Framework Program, under grant agreement n. 608553 (Project IMAGE.