@article{MartinezGarzonKwiatekBohnhoffetal.2017, author = {Mart{\´i}nez-Garz{\´o}n, Patricia and Kwiatek, Grzegorz and Bohnhoff, Marco and Dresen, Georg}, title = {Volumetric components in the earthquake source related to fluid injection and stress state}, series = {Geophysical research letters}, volume = {44}, journal = {Geophysical research letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0094-8276}, doi = {10.1002/2016GL071963}, pages = {800 -- 809}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We investigate source processes of fluid-induced seismicity from The Geysers geothermal reservoir in California to determine their relation with hydraulic operations and improve the corresponding seismic hazard estimates. Analysis of 869 well-constrained full moment tensors (M-w 0.8-3.5) reveals significant non-double-couple components (>25\%) for about 65\% of the events. Volumetric deformation is governed by cumulative injection rates with larger non-double-couple components observed near the wells and during high injection periods. Source mechanisms are magnitude dependent and vary significantly between faulting regimes. Normal faulting events (M-w<2) reveal substantial volumetric components indicating dilatancy in contrast to strike-slip events that have a dominant double-couple source. Volumetric components indicating closure of cracks in the source region are mostly found for reverse faulting events with M-w>2.5. Our results imply that source processes and magnitudes of fluid-induced seismic events are strongly affected by the hydraulic operations, the reservoir stress state, and the faulting regime.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Ziegler2017, author = {Ziegler, Moritz O.}, title = {The 3D in-situ stress field and its changes in geothermal reservoirs}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-403838}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {VIII, 110, XV}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Information on the contemporary in-situ stress state of the earth's crust is essential for geotechnical applications and physics-based seismic hazard assessment. Yet, stress data records for a data point are incomplete and their availability is usually not dense enough to allow conclusive statements. This demands a thorough examination of the in-situ stress field which is achieved by 3D geomechanicalnumerical models. However, the models spatial resolution is limited and the resulting local stress state is subject to large uncertainties that confine the significance of the findings. In addition, temporal variations of the in-situ stress field are naturally or anthropogenically induced. In my thesis I address these challenges in three manuscripts that investigate (1) the current crustal stress field orientation, (2) the 3D geomechanical-numerical modelling of the in-situ stress state, and (3) the phenomenon of injection induced temporal stress tensor rotations. In the first manuscript I present the first comprehensive stress data compilation of Iceland with 495 data records. Therefore, I analysed image logs from 57 boreholes in Iceland for indicators of the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress component. The study is the first stress survey from different kinds of stress indicators in a geologically very young and tectonically active area of an onshore spreading ridge. It reveals a distinct stress field with a depth independent stress orientation even very close to the spreading centre. In the second manuscript I present a calibrated 3D geomechanical-numerical modelling approach of the in-situ stress state of the Bavarian Molasse Basin that investigates the regional (70x70x10km³) and local (10x10x10km³) stress state. To link these two models I develop a multi-stage modelling approach that provides a reliable and efficient method to derive from the larger scale model initial and boundary conditions for the smaller scale model. Furthermore, I quantify the uncertainties in the models results which are inherent to geomechanical-numerical modelling in general and the multi-stage approach in particular. I show that the significance of the models results is mainly reduced due to the uncertainties in the material properties and the low number of available stress magnitude data records for calibration. In the third manuscript I investigate the phenomenon of injection induced temporal stress tensor rotation and its controlling factors. I conduct a sensitivity study with a 3D generic thermo-hydro-mechanical model. I show that the key control factors for the stress tensor rotation are the permeability as the decisive factor, the injection rate, and the initial differential stress. In particular for enhanced geothermal systems with a low permeability large rotations of the stress tensor are indicated. According to these findings the estimation of the initial differential stress in a reservoir is possible provided the permeability is known and the angle of stress rotation is observed. I propose that the stress tensor rotations can be a key factor in terms of the potential for induced seismicity on pre-existing faults due to the reorientation of the stress field that changes the optimal orientation of faults.}, language = {en} } @article{MartinezGarzonKwiatekSoneetal.2014, author = {Martinez-Garzon, Patricia and Kwiatek, Grzegorz and Sone, Hiroki and Bohnhoff, Marco and Dresen, Georg and Hartline, Craig}, title = {Spatiotemporal changes, faulting regimes, and source parameters of induced seismicity: A case study from the Geysers geothermal field}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, volume = {119}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, number = {11}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2169-9313}, doi = {10.1002/2014JB011385}, pages = {8378 -- 8396}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The spatiotemporal, kinematic, and source characteristics of induced seismicity occurring at different fluid injection rates are investigated to determine the predominant physical mechanisms responsible for induced seismicity at the northwestern part of The Geysers geothermal field, California. We analyze a relocated hypocenter catalog from a seismicity cluster where significant variations of the stress tensor orientation were previously observed to correlate with injection rates. We find that these stress tensor orientation changes may be related to increased pore pressure and the corresponding changes in poroelastic stresses at reservoir depth. Seismic events during peak injections tend to occur at greater distances from the injection well, preferentially trending parallel to the maximum horizontal stress direction. In contrast, at lower injection rates the seismicity tends to align in a different direction which suggests the presence of a local fault. During peak injection intervals, the relative contribution of strike-slip faulting mechanisms increases. Furthermore, increases in fluid injection rates also coincide with a decrease in b values. Our observations suggest that regardless of the injection stage, most of the induced seismicity results from thermal fracturing of the reservoir rock. However, during peak injection intervals, the increase in pore pressure may likewise be responsible for the induced seismicity. By estimating the thermal and hydraulic diffusivities of the reservoir, we confirm that the characteristic diffusion length for pore pressure is much greater than the corresponding length scale for temperature and also more consistent with the spatial extent of seismicity observed during different injection rates.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Feldbusch2015, author = {Feldbusch, Elvira}, title = {Geochemische Charakterisierung eines Formationsfluids im Unteren Perm}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87402}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {x, 116, XIII}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der ganzheitlichen Betrachtung der Fluideigenschaften eines unterpermischen Reservoirs am Geothermie Forschungsstandort Groß Sch{\"o}nebeck (GrSk) bei Reservoirbedingungen und im Betrieb der Geothermieanlage. Die Untersuchungen zur Fluidherkunft ergeben, dass es sich um ein konnates Wasser meteorischen Ursprungs ohne den Einfluss der dar{\"u}berliegenden Zechsteinw{\"a}sser handelt. Die Ionen und Isotopenverh{\"a}ltnisse im Formationswasser gel{\"o}ster Komponenten in GrSk belegen einen gemeinsamen Genesepfad mit W{\"a}ssern anderer Rotliegend-Reservoire des Nordostdeutschen Beckens (NEGB). Die Isotopenverh{\"a}ltnisse von ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≈ 0,7158 und von δ³⁴SV CDT ≈ 4,1 per mille des Sulfats weisen auf die Anreicherung des Fluids mit schweren Isotopen durch die Fluid Gestein-Wechselwirkung mit Vulkaniten und Rotliegend Sandsteinen des Unteren Perms hin. Das im Formationswasser bei Reservoirbedingungen gel{\"o}ste Gas (Gas/Wasser ≤ 2 bei STP) enth{\"a}lt Stickstoff (δ¹⁵NAir ≈ 0,6 per mille) und thermogenes Methan (δ¹³CV-PDB ≈ - 18 per mille) aus organischen Karbonablagerungen (Kerogen Typ - III Kohlen) hoher Reife. Die Isotopenverh{\"a}ltnisse der Edelgase belegen eine krustale Herkunft des Gasgemisches. Die berechnete Verweilzeit τ (⁴He) der Gase im Reservoir liegt zwischen 275 und 317 Ma und {\"u}berschreitet damit bei gegebener Konzentration von Mutternukliden im Reservoirgestein das allgemein angenommene Zeitalter der Sedimentgruppe. Das l{\"a}sst sich durch eine Zuwanderung von Gasen aus {\"a}lteren Sedimentfolgen erkl{\"a}ren. Die Ver{\"a}nderungen der physikochemischen Fluidparameter w{\"a}hrend des Anlagenbetriebs sind haupts{\"a}chlich temperaturbedingt. Bei stabilen Produktionsbedingungen und einer Temperatur von ca. 100 °C stabilisieren sich auch die Fluideigenschaften. Bei In situ Bedingungen {\"u}bertage betr{\"a}gt die Dichte ρ = 1,1325 ± 0,0002 g ∙ mL⁻¹, das Redoxpotential Eh = -105,5 ± 1,3 mV und der pH = 6,61 ± 0,002. Die relative Zusammensetzung der Gasphase bei stabilen Produktionsbedingungen zeigt dagegen eine geringe Erh{\"o}hung des Stickstoffanteils sowie des Anteils der Kohlenwasserstoffe (Ethan, Propan, usw.) und Abnahme des relativen Methananteils im Laufe des Betriebs. Die quantitative Untersuchung der sekund{\"a}ren mineralischen Ausf{\"a}llungen im Fluid mittels sequentieller Extraktion zeigte, dass Schwermetalle als eine Hauptkomponente der Fluidfestphase gr{\"o}ßtenteils in Verbindung mit organischen Molek{\"u}len vorliegen. Experimente zum Einfluss organischer Verbindungen unterschiedlicher Substanzklassen auf eine Mobilisierung der Schwermetalle aus dem Reservoirgestein ergaben, dass die Verbindungen wie Fetts{\"a}uren und PAK (polyzyklische aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe) die Freisetzung von Kupfer, Nickel, Chrom und Blei verhindern bzw. zu derer Immobilisierung beitragen. Im Gegensatz dazu wird die Mobilit{\"a}t von Zink in Anwesenheit von diesen Verbindungen erh{\"o}ht. Niedermolekulare Monocarbons{\"a}uren und stickstoffhaltige Heteroaromaten tragen, mit Ausnahme von Blei, zur Freisetzung bzw. Mobilisierung von Schwermetallen aus dem Reservoirgestein bei. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse dieser Arbeit best{\"a}tigen das Risiko massiver Ausf{\"a}llungen auf der kalten Seite der Geothermieanlage bei Inbetriebnahme des Kraftwerks, wenn keine an den Fluidchemismus angepassten Pr{\"a}ventionsmethoden eingesetzt werden. Die Isotopenzusammensetzung der Fluidkomponenten sowie geringf{\"u}gige Schwankungen der Gaszusammensetzung im kontinuierlichen Anlagenbetrieb l{\"a}sst eine Kommunikation des unterpermischen Reservoirs mit dem darunter liegenden Oberkarbon vermuten, was eine nachtr{\"a}gliche Ver{\"a}nderung der Fluidzusammensetzung beim Dauerbetrieb der Anlage bedeuten kann.}, language = {de} }