@article{WinterleitnerSchuetzWenzlaffetal.2018,
  author    = {Winterleitner, Gerd and Sch{\"u}tz, F. and Wenzlaff, Christian and Huenges, Ernst},
  title     = {The impact of reservoir heterogeneities on High-Temperature aquifer thermal energy storage systems},
  series = {Geothermics : an international journal of geothermal research and its applications},
  volume    = {74},
  journal   = {Geothermics : an international journal of geothermal research and its applications},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0375-6505},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.geothermics.2018.02.005},
  pages     = {150 -- 162},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {We conducted a geoscientific feasibility study for the development of a high-temperature thermal aquifer energy storage system (HT-ATES) outside the capital of Muscat, northern Oman. The aquifer storage is part of a solar geothermal cooling project for the sustainable and continuous cooling of office buildings. The main concept is that excess solar energy will be stored in the subsurface through hot water injection and subsequently utilised as auxiliary energy source during peak demand times. The characterisation of aquifer heterogeneities is thus essential to predict subsurface thermal heat plume development and recovery efficiency of the storage system. We considered two aquifer systems as potential storage horizons, (i) a clastic-dominated alluvial fan system where individual channel systems in combination with diagenetic alterations constitute the main heterogeneities and (ii) a carbonate-dominated system represented by a homogenous layer-cake architecture. The feasibility study included a multidisciplinary approach from initial field work, geocellular reservoir modelling to finite element fluid flow and thermal modelling. Our results show that for the HT-ATES system, with a high frequency of injection and production cycles, heat loss mainly occurs due to heterogeneities in the permeability field of the aquifer in combination with buoyancy driven vertical fluid flow. An impermeable cap-rock is needed to keep the heat plume in place. Conductive heat loss is a minor issue. Highly complex heat plume geometries are apparent in the clastic channel system and ATES well planning is challenging due to the complex and interconnected high permeable channels. The carbonate sequence shows uniform plume geometries due to the layer cake architecture of the system and is tentatively more suitable for ATES development. Based on our findings we propose the general concept of HT-ATES traps, incorporating and building on expertise and knowledge from petroleum and reservoir geology regarding reservoir rocks and suitable trap\&seal geometries. The concept can be used as guideline for future high-temperature aquifer storage exploration and development.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TawfikOndrakWinterleitneretal.2022,
  author    = {Tawfik, Ahmed Y. and Ondrak, Robert and Winterleitner, Gerd and Mutti, Maria},
  title     = {Source rock evaluation and petroleum system modeling of the East Beni Suef Basin, north Eastern Desert, Egypt},
  series = {Journal of African earth sciences},
  volume    = {193},
  journal   = {Journal of African earth sciences},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {1464-343X},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104575},
  pages     = {21},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {This study deals with the East Beni Suef Basin (Eastern Desert, Egypt) and aims to evaluate the source-generative potential, reconstruct the burial and thermal history, examine the most influential parameters on thermal maturity modeling, and improve on the models already published for the West Beni Suef to ultimately formulate a complete picture of the whole basin evolution. Source rock evaluation was carried out based on TOC, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and visual kerogen petrography analyses. Three kerogen types (II, II/III, and III) are distinguished in the East Beni Suef Basin, where the Abu Roash "F" Member acts as the main source rock with good to excellent source potential, oil-prone mainly type II kerogen, and immature to marginal maturity levels. The burial history shows four depositional and erosional phases linked with the tectonic evolution of the basin. A hiatus (due to erosion or non-deposition) has occurred during the Late Eocene-Oligocene in the East Beni Suef Basin, while the West Beni Suef Basin has continued subsiding. Sedimentation began later (Middle to Late Albian) with lower rates in the East Beni Suef Basin compared with the West Beni Suef Basin (Early Albian). The Abu Roash "F" source rock exists in the early oil window with a present-day transformation ratio of about 19\% and 21\% in the East and West Beni Suef Basin, respectively, while the Lower Kharita source rock, which is only recorded in the West Beni Suef Basin, has reached the late oil window with a present-day transformation ratio of about 70\%. The magnitude of erosion and heat flow have proportional and mutual effects on thermal maturity. We present three possible scenarios of basin modeling in the East Beni Suef Basin concerning the erosion from the Apollonia and Dabaa formations. Results of this work can serve as a basis for subsequent 2D and/or 3D basin modeling, which are highly recommended to further investigate the petroleum system evolution of the Beni Suef Basin.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TellaWinterleitnerMutti2022,
  author    = {Tella, Timothy Oluwatobi and Winterleitner, Gerd and Mutti, Maria},
  title     = {Investigating the role of differential biotic production on carbonate geometries through stratigraphic forward modelling and sensitivity analysis},
  series = {Petroleum geoscience},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Petroleum geoscience},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Geological Soc. Publ. House},
  address   = {Bath},
  issn      = {1354-0793},
  doi       = {10.1144/petgeo2021-053},
  pages     = {20},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {The geometry of carbonate platforms reflects the interaction of several factors. However, the impact of carbonate-producing organisms has been poorly investigated so far. This study applies stratigraphic forward modelling (SFM) and sensitivity analysis to examine, referenced to the Miocene Llucmajor Platform, the effect of changes of dominant biotic production in the oligophotic and euphotic zones on platform geometry. Our results show that the complex interplay of carbonate production rates, bathymetry and variations in accommodation space control the platform geometry. The main driver of progradation is the oligophotic production of rhodalgal sediments during the lowstands. This study demonstrates that platform geometry and internal architecture varies significantly according to the interaction of the predominant carbonate-producing biotas. The input parameters for this study are based on well-understood Miocene carbonate biotas with characteristic euphotic, oligophotic and photo-independent carbonate production in which it is crucial that each carbonate-producing class is modelled explicitly within the simulation run and not averaged with a single carbonate production-depth profile. This is important in subsurface exploration studies based on stratigraphic forward models where the overall platform geometry may be approximated through calibration runs, and constrained by seismic surveys and wellbores. However, the internal architecture is likely to be oversimplified without an in-depth understanding of the target carbonate system and a transfer to forward modelling parameters.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchuetzWinterleitnerHuenges2018,
  author    = {Sch{\"u}tz, Felina and Winterleitner, Gerd and Huenges, Ernst},
  title     = {Geothermal exploration in a sedimentary basin},
  series = {Geothermal Energy},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Geothermal Energy},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2195-9706},
  doi       = {10.1186/s40517-018-0091-6},
  pages     = {23},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The lateral and vertical temperature distribution in Oman is so far only poorly understood, particularly in the area between Muscat and the Batinah coast, which is the area of this study and which is composed of Cenozoic sediments developed as part of a foreland basin of the Makran Thrust Zone. Temperature logs (T-logs) were run and physical rock properties of the sediments were analyzed to understand the temperature distribution, thermal and hydraulic properties, and heat-transport processes within the sedimentary cover of northern Oman. An advective component is evident in the otherwise conduction-dominated geothermal play system, and is caused by both topography and density driven flow. Calculated temperature gradients (T-gradients) in two wells that represent conductive conditions are 18.7 and 19.5 °C km-1, corresponding to about 70-90 °C at 2000-3000 m depth. This indicates a geothermal potential that can be used for energy intensive applications like cooling or water desalinization. Sedimentation in the foreland basin was initiated after the obduction of the Semail Ophiolite in the late Campanian, and reflects the complex history of alternating periods of transgressive and regressive sequences with erosion of the Oman Mountains. Thermal and hydraulic parameters were analyzed of the basin's heterogeneous clastic and carbonate sedimentary sequence. Surface heat-flow values of 46.4 and 47.9 mW m-2 were calculated from the T-logs and calculated thermal conductivity values in two wells. The results of this study serve as a starting point for assessing different geothermal applications that may be suitable for northern Oman.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{SchuetzWinterleitnerHuenges2018,
  author    = {Sch{\"u}tz, Felina and Winterleitner, Gerd and Huenges, Ernst},
  title     = {Geothermal exploration in a sedimentary basin},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {934},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-45931},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-459317},
  pages     = {25},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The lateral and vertical temperature distribution in Oman is so far only poorly understood, particularly in the area between Muscat and the Batinah coast, which is the area of this study and which is composed of Cenozoic sediments developed as part of a foreland basin of the Makran Thrust Zone. Temperature logs (T-logs) were run and physical rock properties of the sediments were analyzed to understand the temperature distribution, thermal and hydraulic properties, and heat-transport processes within the sedimentary cover of northern Oman. An advective component is evident in the otherwise conduction-dominated geothermal play system, and is caused by both topography and density driven flow. Calculated temperature gradients (T-gradients) in two wells that represent conductive conditions are 18.7 and 19.5 degrees C km(-1), corresponding to about 70-90 degrees C at 2000-3000 m depth. This indicates a geothermal potential that can be used for energy intensive applications like cooling or water desalinization. Sedimentation in the foreland basin was initiated after the obduction of the Semail Ophiolite in the late Campanian, and reflects the complex history of alternating periods of transgressive and regressive sequences with erosion of the Oman Mountains. Thermal and hydraulic parameters were analyzed of the basin's heterogeneous clastic and carbonate sedimentary sequence. Surface heat-flow values of 46.4 and 47.9 mW m(-2) were calculated from the T-logs and calculated thermal conductivity values in two wells. The results of this study serve as a starting point for assessing different geothermal applications that may be suitable for northern Oman.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WenzlaffWinterleitnerSchutz2019,
  author    = {Wenzlaff, Christian and Winterleitner, Gerd and Schutz, Felina},
  title     = {Controlling parameters of a mono-well high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage in porous media, northern Oman},
  series = {Petroleum geoscience},
  volume    = {25},
  journal   = {Petroleum geoscience},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Geological Soc. Publ. House},
  address   = {Bath},
  issn      = {1354-0793},
  doi       = {10.1144/petgeo2018-104},
  pages     = {337 -- 349},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) as a complement to fluctuating renewable energy systems is a reliable technology to guarantee continuous energy supply for heating and air conditioning. We investigated a high-temperature (HT) mono-well system (c. 100 degrees C), where the well screens are separated vertically within the aquifer, as an alternative to conventional doublet ATES systems for an underground storage in northern Oman. We analysed the impact of thermal inference between injection and extraction well screens on the heat recovery factor (HRF) in order to define the optimal screento-screen distance for best possible systems efficiency. Two controlling interference parameters were considered: the vertical screen-to-screen distance and aquifer heterogeneities. The sensitivity study shows that with decreasing screen-to-screen distances, thermal interference increases storage performance. A turning point is reached if the screen distance is too close, causing either water breakthrough or negative thermal interference between the screens. Our simulations show that a combined heat plume with spherical geometry results in the highest heat recovery factors due to the lowest surface area to volume ratios. Thick aquifers for mono-well HT-ATES are thus not mandatory Our study shows that a HT-ATES mono-well system is a feasible storage design with high heat recovery factors for continuous cooling or heating purposes.},
  language  = {en}
}