TY - JOUR A1 - Cherubini, Yvonne A1 - Cacace, Mauro A1 - Blöcher, Guido A1 - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena T1 - Impact of single inclined faults on the fluid flow and heat transport - results from 3-D finite element simulations JF - Environmental earth sciences N2 - The impact of inclined faults on the hydrothermal field is assessed by adding simplified structural settings to synthetic models. This study is innovative in carrying out numerical simulations because it integrates the real 3-D nature of flow influenced by a fault in a porous medium, thereby providing a useful tool for complex geothermal modelling. The 3-D simulations for the coupled fluid flow and heat transport processes are based on the finite element method. In the model, one geological layer is dissected by a dipping fault. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to quantify the effects of the fault's transmissivity on the fluid flow and thermal field. Different fault models are compared with a model where no fault is present to evaluate the effect of varying fault transmissivity. The results show that faults have a significant impact on the hydrothermal field. Varying either the fault zone width or the fault permeability will result in relevant differences in the pressure, velocity and temperature field. A linear relationship between fault zone width and fluid velocity is found, indicating that velocities increase with decreasing widths. The faults act as preferential pathways for advective heat transport in case of highly transmissive faults, whereas almost no fluid may be transported through poorly transmissive faults. KW - Hydrothermal field KW - 3-D numerical simulations KW - Inclined faults KW - Fault zone KW - Coupled fluid flow and heat transport KW - Finite elements Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2212-z SN - 1866-6280 SN - 1866-6299 VL - 70 IS - 8 SP - 3603 EP - 3618 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cacace, Mauro A1 - Blöcher, Guido A1 - Watanabe, Norihiro A1 - Möck, Inga A1 - Börsing, Nele A1 - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena A1 - Kolditz, Olaf A1 - Hünges, Ernst T1 - Modelling of fractured carbonate reservoirs - outline of a novel technique via a case study from the Molasse Basin, southern Bavaria, Germany JF - Environmental earth sciences N2 - Fluid flow in low-permeable carbonate rocks depends on the density of fractures, their interconnectivity and on the formation of fault damage zones. The present-day stress field influences the aperture hence the transmissivity of fractures whereas paleostress fields are responsible for the formation of faults and fractures. In low-permeable reservoir rocks, fault zones belong to the major targets. Before drilling, an estimate for reservoir productivity of wells drilled into the damage zone of faults is therefore required. Due to limitations in available data, a characterization of such reservoirs usually relies on the use of numerical techniques. The requirements of these mathematical models encompass a full integration of the actual fault geometry, comprising the dimension of the fault damage zone and of the fault core, and the individual population with properties of fault zones in the hanging and foot wall and the host rock. The paper presents both the technical approach to develop such a model and the property definition of heterogeneous fault zones and host rock with respect to the current stress field. The case study describes a deep geothermal reservoir in the western central Molasse Basin in southern Bavaria, Germany. Results from numerical simulations indicate that the well productivity can be enhanced along compressional fault zones if the interconnectivity of fractures is lateral caused by crossing synthetic and antithetic fractures. The model allows a deeper understanding of production tests and reservoir properties of faulted rocks. KW - Fractured carbonate geothermal reservoirs KW - Fault core and damage zone KW - In situ stress field KW - 3D mesh generator KW - OpenGeosys KW - Well productivity Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2402-3 SN - 1866-6280 SN - 1866-6299 VL - 70 IS - 8 SP - 3585 EP - 3602 PB - Springer CY - New York ER -