Geothermal reservoir characteristics of Meso- and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks of Budapest (Hungary)

Abstract

Abstract:The characterization of deep geothermal reservoirs of sedimentary basins is supported by outcrop analogue studies since reservoir characteristics are strongly related to the sedimentary facies and thus influence the basic direction of geothermal field development and applied technology. Permeability and thermal conductivity are key parameters in geothermal reservoir characterization and the data gained from outcrop samples serve to understand the reservoir system. New thermophysical data from the Meso-and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks of Budapest include carbonates and siliciclastics of Triassic, Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene age as well as Pleistocene travertine, exposed on the western side of the river Danube in the Buda Hills. Field and laboratory analyses revealed distinct horizons of different geothermal potential and thus, enable to identify and interpret corresponding exploration target horizons in geothermal prone depths in the Budapest region as well as in sub-basins of the Pannonian Basins System exhibiting geothermal anomalies.

Modelling Methods Attached to the Research of Groundwater Flow in Fractured Rocks – Theories, Laboratory and Numerical Modelling

“…The most typical Triassic formation of the Rózsadomb area is the Main Dolomite (Hauptdolomit) Formation which is partly covered by Mátyáshegy Limestone Formation [40]. After the erosion of the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Palaeocene sediments shallow self carbonate layers were formed in Eocene Age [41]. The Szépvölgy Limestone Formation is the host rock of the extended cave system under the Rózsadomb (Pál-völgy Cave, Molnár János Cave, Mátyás-hegy Cave, Szemlő-hegy Cave, Ferenchegy Cave, József-hegy Cave) [40].…”

“…Coastal sandstones and shallow marine limestone were formed in Oligocene-Miocene Age. The freshwater limestone from the Quaternary occurred in isolated patches at the area of the Rózsadomb [40,41].…”

“…Modified from [41] the spring water is used by Lukács Thermal Bath; the other part flows in the lake and after flowing across a sluice it is led to the Danube. The cave system and its surroundings can be seen in Fig.…”

From oil field to geothermal reservoir: assessment for geothermal utilization of two regionally extensive Devonian carbonate aquifers in Alberta, Canada

“…The Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) is a large geological feature that is located mainly in Alberta east of the Rocky Mountains and in the adjacent provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as in the northern United States and in northeastern British Columbia (Grasby et al, 2012). The WCSB basin is divided into the Alberta Basin and the Williston Basin, the border of which roughly coincides with the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.…”

“…For Canada to meet or at least approach the targets of the Paris Accord from 2015 regarding the reduction of CO 2 emissions, geothermal energy should become part of the energy mix in Alberta. This appears feasible because, although this province is characterized as a "low enthalpy region" (Grasby et al, 2012;Jones et al, 1985;1986) with a moderate average geothermal gradient of 33.2 • C km −1 and an average heat flow of 60.4 W m −2 in the WCSB, recent studies using data from several tens of thousands of oil and gas wells suggest that at least some of the Upper Devonian carbonate aquifers are suitable for geothermal utilization .…”