Fluid-driven anthropogenic micro-seismic activity while drilling towards supercritical conditions in the Larderello-Travale geothermal field

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Montanari ◽  
Riccardo Minetto ◽  
Thomas Plànes ◽  
Marco Bonini ◽  
Chiara Del Ventisette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Activity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Phase Changes ◽  
Critical Conditions ◽  
Periodic Pattern ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Geothermal Fluids ◽  
Geothermal Wells

<p>This study investigates the seismic activity occurring at the Larderello-Travale geothermal field (LTGF), central Italy, from June 2017 to January 2018. We deployed a network composed of 9 broadband stations around the Venelle 2 well drilling for supercritical fluids. During the experiment, we recognise a group of events that usually occur in swarms and that show a periodic pattern, a narrow frequency band, and almost identical waveforms. Their source is estimated to be located near the well, and their occurrence ceases after about 3 weeks from the conclusion of the drilling. We propose a causal link with the drilling operations where pressure fronts inside the well may promote phase changes and fluid flow across the drilled formations.</p><p>Our study sheds light on the anthropogenic seismic activity at the LTGF. More generally, we show that microseismic activity occurring during drilling in high-pressure and high-temperature conditions can remain at low magnitudes and that geothermal wells targeting geothermal fluids in such systems may be handled safely despite the critical conditions encountered at depth. The drilling of the Venelle 2 well is an encouraging example for the development of geothermal energy in critical conditions.</p>

scholarly journals Modeling Highly Buoyant Flows in the Castel Giorgio: Torre Alfina Deep Geothermal Reservoir

Geofluids ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Volpi ◽  
Fabien Magri ◽  
Francesca Colucci ◽  
Thomas Fisher ◽  
Mattia De Caro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Coupled Systems ◽  
Geothermal Reservoir ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Thermal Plumes ◽  
Buoyant Flows ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Deep Wells ◽  
Geothermal Wells

The Castel Giorgio-Torre Alfina (CG-TA, central Italy) is a geothermal reservoir whose fluids are hosted in a carbonate formation at temperatures ranging between 120°C and 210°C. Data from deep wells suggest the existence of convective flow. We present the 3D numerical model of the CG-TA to simulate the undisturbed natural geothermal field and investigate the impacts of the exploitation process. The open source finite-element code OpenGeoSys is applied to solve the coupled systems of partial differential equations. The commercial software FEFLOW® is also used as additional numerical constraint. Calculated pressure and temperature have been calibrated against data from geothermal wells. The flow field displays multicellular convective patterns that cover the entire geothermal reservoir. The resulting thermal plumes protrude vertically over 3 km at Darcy velocity of about7⁎10-8 m/s. The analysis of the exploitation process demonstrated the sustainability of a geothermal doublet for the development of a 5 MW pilot plant. The buoyant circulation within the geothermal system allows the reservoir to sustain a 50-year production at a flow rate of 1050 t/h. The distance of 2 km, between the production and reinjection wells, is sufficient to prevent any thermal breakthrough within the estimated operational lifetime. OGS and FELFOW results are qualitatively very similar with differences in peak velocities and temperatures. The case study provides valuable guidelines for future exploitation of the CG-TA deep geothermal reservoir.

scholarly journals Basement Mapping of the Fucino Basin in Central Italy by ITRESC Modeling of Gravity Data

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 398
Author(s):  
Federico Cella ◽  
Rosa Nappi ◽  
Valeria Paoletti ◽  
Giovanni Florio
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Activity ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Gravity Modeling ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Sedimentary Evolution ◽  
Fucino Basin

Sediments infilling in intermontane basins in areas with high seismic activity can strongly affect ground-shaking phenomena at the surface. Estimates of thickness and density distribution within these basin infills are crucial for ground motion amplification analysis, especially where demographic growth in human settlements has implied increasing seismic risk. We employed a 3D gravity modeling technique (ITerative RESCaling—ITRESC) to investigate the Fucino Basin (Apennines, central Italy), a half-graben basin in which intense seismic activity has recently occurred. For the first time in this region, a 3D model of the Meso-Cenozoic carbonate basement morphology was retrieved through the inversion of gravity data. Taking advantage of the ITRESC technique, (1) we were able to (1) perform an integration of geophysical and geological data constraints and (2) determine a density contrast function through a data-driven process. Thus, we avoided assuming a priori information. Finally, we provided a model that honored the gravity anomalies field by integrating many different kinds of depth constraints. Our results confirmed evidence from previous studies concerning the overall shape of the basin; however, we also highlighted several local discrepancies, such as: (a) the position of several fault lines, (b) the position of the main depocenter, and (c) the isopach map. We also pointed out the existence of a new, unknown fault, and of new features concerning known faults. All of these elements provided useful contributions to the study of the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the basin, as well as key information for assessing the local site-response effects, in terms of seismic hazards.

scholarly journals Methodology Applied for Thickness Selection and Stored Heat Evaluation in Non-producer Geothermal Wells in Order to Its Investment Rescue

2020 ◽  
pp. 91-111
Author(s):  
Alfonso Aragon- Aguilar ◽  
Georgina Izquierdo- Montalvo ◽  
Dominic A. Becerra- Serrato ◽  
Victor M. Monrroy- Mar
Keyword(s):  
Electric Energy ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Drainage Radius ◽  
Heterogeneous Behavior ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Geothermal Wells ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Heat Calculation ◽  
Heat Store

An assessment methodology of stored heat in rock formation surrounding to wellbore in geothermal systems is shown. Due to geothermal systems generally are nested in volcanic rock, it is characteristic its heterogeneous behavior. Proposed methodology starts since zone selection with possibilities of heat store. This methodology is focused to be applied in geothermal reservoirs with tendency to production decline, due to low permeability and unbalance between exploitation and water recharge. Because the high costs of drilling geothermal wells, methodology shown in this work is proposed to be applied in those with production decline or non-producers, in order to rescue its investment. The objective is to select the thickness with heat, evaluate its storage, design the appropriate instrumentation for its recovery, its energy conversion and rescue its investment done. The different designs for energy recovery using non-conventional methods to those, used habitually are reviewed. Each one of the variables for stored heat calculation was determined using technical tools of reservoir engineering. A parametric analysis about variables sensitivity (porosity and drainage radius) for determining thermal energy and corresponding electric energy of analyzed rock volume is done. Practical application of this methodology was carried out using data of one of wells of Los Humeros Mexican geothermal field.

scholarly journals ANALISIS KONDISI RESERVOIR PANAS BUMI DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN DATA GEOKIMIA DAN MONITORING PRODUKSI SUMUR ELS-02 LAPANGAN ELSA

PETRO ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Nabilla Elsaphira Putri ◽  
Onnie Ridaliani ◽  
Widia Yanti
Keyword(s):  
Chloride Concentration ◽  
Reservoir Management ◽  
Calcium Sulphate ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Carbonate Concentration ◽  
Enthalpy Changes ◽  
Geothermal Fluids ◽  
Time Problem ◽  
Concentration Changes

<p><em>A</em><em> good reservoir management is needed </em><em>to maintain</em><em> the </em><em>availability and </em><em>quality of geothermal production fluid. When producing geothermal fluids, there are some changes in reservoir parameters such as declining of reservoir pressure and temperature, chemical composition of geothermal fluids, </em><em>and </em><em>states of fluid that would affect the quality of reservoir by mixing, boiling, or cooling processes that may be happened </em><em>because of</em><em> those changes. </em><em>It is</em><em> becoming a concern on reservoir management. In this case, chemical </em><em>concentrations </em><em>of fluid</em><em>s</em><em> monitoring is one of methods that can perform to reach a well reservoir management of geothermal field. With </em><em>chemical </em><em>monitoring process, current reservoir condition and processes </em><em>that </em><em>occurred during exploitation can be defined</em><em>. In ELS-02 by monitoring and analyzing its enthalpy changes, chloride concentration changes, and NCG concentration changes and supported by its calcium, sulphate, and carbonate concentration profile, two processes could be defined:</em><em> </em><em>mixing with </em><em>surface </em><em>cooler water and reinjection breakthrough.</em><em> </em><em>Other than that, casing leak that causing surface water enter the well could be detected.  </em><em>These become a sign to reservoir engineer to prepare for problems that may occur in near time </em><em>term </em><em>relating to well problem </em><em>such as scaling </em><em>and long time problem like massive cooling or drying of reservoir. After all, further development scenario of Elsa field can be made to improve its performance in producing fluids and heats. </em></p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Unit Quaternion Description Method for Detecting High-Temperature Geothermal Well Drilling Conditions

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Hongyan Li ◽  
Pengtao Wang ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Xianyu Zhang ◽  
Hai Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Kernel Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Unit Quaternion ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Geothermal Well ◽  
Geothermal Wells ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Drilling Conditions

When the typically utilized method for detecting the drilling conditions of high-temperature geothermal wells is applied, the detection takes a long time, the detection results are inconsistent with the actual conditions, and there are problems such as low detection efficiency and large detection deviation. Therefore, a method for detecting the drilling conditions of high-temperature geothermal wells described by a unit quaternion is proposed. Based on quaternion theory, the quaternion model of the position and attitude is constructed to obtain the drilling attitude. According to the analysis results and the basic principle of kernel principal component analysis, a model is built to realize the detection of high-temperature geothermal well drilling conditions. The experimental results show that in many iterations, the time required is stable and lower than that of other comparison methods, and the detection errors are all lower than 10%. The proposed method has high detection efficiency and low detection errors.

Origin of continuous hydrogen flux in gas manifestations at the Larderello geothermal field, Central Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 585 ◽  
pp. 120564
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Leila ◽  
Dan Lévy ◽  
Anne Battani ◽  
Luigi Piccardi ◽  
Branimir Šegvić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Hydrogen Flux

scholarly journals Gel Pills for Downhole Pressure Control during Oil and Gas Well Drilling

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6318
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Khalifeh ◽  
Larisa Penkala ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Bodil Aase ◽  
Tor Henry Omland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrostatic Pressure ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Solid Material ◽  
Static Condition ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Gas Well ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Geothermal Wells ◽  
Mitigation Action

During drilling of petroleum or geothermal wells, unforeseen circumstances occasionally happen that require suspension of the operation. When the drilling fluid is left in a static condition, solid material like barite may settle out of the fluid. Consequently, the induced hydrostatic pressure that the fluid exerts onto the formation will be reduced, possibly leading to collapse of the borehole or influx of liquid or gas. A possible mitigation action is placement of a gel pill. This gel pill should preferably be able to let settled barite rest on top of it and still transmit the hydrostatic pressure to the well bottom. A bentonite-based gel pill is developed, preventing flow of higher density drilling fluid placed above it to bypass the gel pill. Its rheological behavior was characterized prior to functional testing. The designed gel pill develops sufficient gel structure to accommodate the settled barite. The performance of the gel was tested at vertical and 40° inclination from vertical. Both conventional settling and the Boycott effect were observed. The gel pill provided its intended functionality while barite was settling out of the drilling fluid on top of this gel pill. The barite was then resting on top of the gel pill. It is demonstrated that a purely viscous pill should not be used for separating a high density fluid from a lighter fluid underneath. However, a bentonite or laponite gel pill can be placed into a well for temporary prevention of such intermixing.

scholarly journals How Can Temperature Logs Help Identify Permeable Fractures and Define a Conceptual Model of Fluid Circulation? An Example from Deep Geothermal Wells in the Upper Rhine Graben

Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne Vidal ◽  
Régis Hehn ◽  
Carole Glaas ◽  
Albert Genter
Keyword(s):  
Upper Rhine Graben ◽  
Fluid Circulation ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Geothermal Fluids ◽  
Rhine Graben ◽  
Sensitive Tool ◽  
Geothermal Wells ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Upper Rhine

Identifying fluid circulation in fracture zones (FZs) is a key challenge in the extraction of deep geothermal heat from natural reservoirs in the Upper Rhine Graben. This study focuses on permeable FZs present within the granitic basement penetrated by deep geothermal well GPK-1 at Soultz and GRT-1 and GRT-2 at Rittershoffen (France). The various temperature (T) log datasets acquired from these wells during production and at equilibrium, with the associated flow logs, allow for the unique opportunity to interpret fluid circulation at the borehole scale. All permeable FZs identified by permeability indicators measured during drilling operations and from image logs spatially coincide with positive or negative T anomalies observed in the T logs during production and/or at equilibrium. However, within the FZs, partially open fractures act as narrower paths for circulation at different temperatures. These temperatures can even be estimated with confidence if the associated flow log is available. The polarity of the T anomalies correlates with the state of equilibrium of the well and thus can change over the well history. During production, the temperature of the water inflow through the fractures can be estimated relative to the mixture of water circulating below the fractures. At thermal equilibrium, the water temperature is estimated with respect to the temperature of the surrounding rock formation. Because temperature fluxes and geothermal fluids are intimately linked, T logs are a useful, reliable, and very sensitive tool to localize the inflow of geothermal water through FZs.

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