TY - JOUR A1 - Cacace, Mauro A1 - Kaiser, Bjoern Onno A1 - Lewerenz, Bjoern A1 - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena T1 - Geothermal energy in sedimentary basins : what we can learn from regional numerical models N2 - Understanding the interactions between the different processes that control the geothermal and fluid flow fields in sedimentary basins is crucial for exploitation of geothermal energy. Numerical models provide predictive and feasible information for a correct assessment of geothermal resources especially in areas where data acquisition is demanding. Here, we present results from numerical efforts to characterize the thermal structure and its interaction with the fluid system for the area of the North East German Basin (NEGB). The relative impact of the different (diffusive and advective) processes affecting the hydrothermal setting of the basin are investigated by means of three- dimensional numerical simulations. Lithospheric-scale numerical models are evaluated to understand the specific thermal signature of the relevant factors influencing the present-day conductive geothermal field in the NEGB. Shallow and deep structural controls on the thermal configuration of the basin are addressed and quantified. Interaction between the resulting thermal field and the active fluid system is investigated by means of three-dimensional simulations of coupled fluid flow and heat transport. Factors influencing stability and reliability of modeling predictions are discussed. The main effort is to build a physically consistent model for the basin which integrates the impacts of thermal gradients on the regional fluid regime and their coupling with the main geological units defining the basin. Y1 - 2010 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00092819 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2010.05.017 SN - 0009-2819 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kaiser, Bjoern Onno A1 - Cacace, Mauro A1 - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena A1 - Lewerenz, Bjoern T1 - Characterization of main heat transport processes in the Northeast German Basin constraints from 3-D numerical models JF - Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems N2 - To investigate and quantify main physical heat driving processes affecting the present-day subsurface thermal field, we study a complex geological setting, the Northeast German Basin (NEGB). The internal geological structure of the NEGB is characterized by the presence of a relatively thick layer of Permian Zechstein salt (up to 5000 m), which forms many salt diapirs and pillows locally reaching nearly the surface. By means of three-dimensional numerical simulations we explore the role of heat conduction, pressure, and density driven groundwater flow as well as fluid viscosity related effects. Our results suggest that the regional temperature distribution within the basin results from interactions between regional pressure forces as driven by topographic gradients and thermal diffusion locally enhanced by thermal conductivity contrasts between the different sedimentary rocks with the highly conductive salt playing a prominent role. In contrast, buoyancy forces triggered by temperature-dependent fluid density variations are demonstrated to affect only locally the internal thermal configuration. Locations, geometry, and wavelengths of convective thermal anomalies are mainly controlled by the permeability field and thickness values of the respective geological layers. KW - advection KW - convection KW - coupled fluid and heat transport KW - numerical simulations KW - Northeast German Basin KW - salt structures Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GC003535 SN - 1525-2027 VL - 12 IS - 13 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena A1 - Cacace, Mauro A1 - Maystrenko, Yuriy Petrovich A1 - Cherubini, Yvonne A1 - Noack, Vera A1 - Kaiser, Bjoern Onno A1 - Sippel, Judith A1 - Bjoern, Lewerenz T1 - Models of heat transport in the Central European Basin System: Effective mechanisms at different scales JF - Marine and petroleum geology N2 - Understanding heat transport in sedimentary basins requires an assessment of the regional 3D heat distribution and of the main physical mechanisms responsible for the transport of heat. We review results from different 3D numerical simulations of heat transport based on 3D basin models of the Central European Basin System (CEBS). Therefore we compare differently detailed 3D structural models of the area, previously published individually, to assess the influence of (1) different configurations of the deeper lithosphere, (2) the mechanism of heat transport considered and (3) large faults dissecting the sedimentary succession on the resulting thermal field and groundwater flow. Based on this comparison we propose a modelling strategy linking the regional and lithosphere-scale to the sub-basin and basin-fill scale and appropriately considering the effective heat transport processes. We find that conduction as the dominant mechanism of heat transport in sedimentary basins is controlled by the distribution of thermal conductivities, compositional and thickness variations of both the conductive and radiogenic crystalline crust as well as the insulating sediments and by variations in the depth to the thermal lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. Variations of these factors cause thermal anomalies of specific wavelength and must be accounted for in regional thermal studies. In addition advective heat transport also exerts control on the thermal field on the regional scale. In contrast, convective heat transport and heat transport along faults is only locally important and needs to be considered for exploration on the reservoir scale. The general applicability of the proposed workflow makes it of interest for a broad range of application in geosciences including oil and gas exploration, geothermal utilization or carbon capture and sequestration issues. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - 3D thermal model KW - Geothermal field KW - Sedimentary basin KW - Heat transport by conduction KW - Advection and convection KW - Central European Basin System Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.03.009 SN - 0264-8172 SN - 1873-4073 VL - 55 SP - 315 EP - 331 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER -