AbstractsEarth & Environmental Science

Fault zones in potential geothermal reservoir rocks in the Upper Rhine Graben: Characteristics, permeability implications, and numerical stress field models

by Silke Meier




Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Department:
Year: 2016
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2064596
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-1735-0000-0028-87D5-5


Abstract

Fault zones in carbonate successions of the Middle Triassic Muschelkalk are potential target structures of hydrothermal projects in the Upper Rhine Graben (URG). A mixed-method approach was applied to make assumptions on fault-zone permeability structures, stress states and local stress fields. This thesis contributes to exploration of fault-related Muschelkalk reservoirs in the URG and draws comparison with the already successfully tested hydrothermal reservoir of the Lower Triassic Bunter sandstone. To define fault-zone characteristics and estimate related permeability structures in Muschelkalk rocks, fault zones of different types (e.g., normal, inverted, oblique-slip) and different scales (displacement: medium-scale: 1-10 m; large-scale >10 m) were analyzed in detail. The outcrop analogue study of one large-scale fault zone in thick-bedded sandstones of Bunter age provided the opportunity for comparison. Special emphasis in both sedimentary successions was given to damage-zone and fault-core characteristics as well as to characteristics of associated fracture systems (e.g., density, aperture distribution, connectivity, vertical extension). Fracture systems formed in rather homogenous units have a positive effect on reservoir permeability. They may provide, in particular in proximity to the fault core, potential fluid pathways across multiple layers and enhanced fracture connectivity of comparatively short fractures. In contrast, fracture systems in strongly mechanically layered units may have less impact on reservoir permeability. Fault cores show partially significant complexity, comprising mainly sealing, but also conductive structures. Large-scale fault zones, i.e., in reservoir-scale, in both potential reservoir units are best described as combined conduit-barrier systems. They show potentially conductive fracture systems in damage zones (and additionally in Bunter: transition zone) and a low-permeable to sealing fault core. To improve knowledge about fault-zone local stress fields within the layered Muschelkalk reservoir (reservoir depth: 2.900 m) 3D-numerical models were developed, using the finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics®. Pronounced differences in local stress fields occur, depending on (1) orientation, (2) impact of maximum horizontal stress SH, (3) fault-zone scale and (4) contrasts in rock-mechanical properties. Clear dependency of fault-zone orientation on stress magnitude and displacement follows for stress regimes with high horizontal compression. In particular, large-scale fault-zones at 30° to SH may be favorable for SH-induced horizontal displacement within soft fault-zone units since highest displacement-values occur. Decrease of stress magnitudes in soft fault rocks diminishes towards fault zones oriented perpendicular to SH. Impact of mechanical layering increases with increasing horizontal compression, resulting in vertically heterogeneous stress fields. To make assumptions on the hydraulic activities of fault zones, analytical estimations on slip and dilation tendencies for… Advisors/Committee Members: Philipp, Sonja L. (advisor), Philipp, Sonja L. (referee), Sauter, Martin (referee).