Hydrothermal characterization of wells GRT-1 and GRT-2 in Rittershoffen, France: Implications on the understanding of natural flow systems in the rhine graben

Baujard, C.; Genter, Albert; Dalmais, Éléonore; Maurer, Vincent; Hehn, Régis; Rosillette, R.; Vidal, Jeanne; Schmittbuhl, Jean

doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2016.11.001

Cited by 120 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

158

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Between 2012 and 2014, at Rittershoffen, two new geothermal boreholes-GRT-1 and GRT-2-were successfully drilled into the granitic basement to final depths of 2562 and 2707 m vertical depth, respectively (Baujard et al 2015). This doublet was the subject of particular attention in the acquisition of a very precise stratigraphic profile (Aichholzer et al 2015).…”

Section: Major Oilfields Geothermal Gradientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New stratigraphic interpretation of the Soultz-sous-Forêts 30-year-old geothermal wells calibrated on the recent one from Rittershoffen (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

Aichholzer

Duringer

Orciani³

et al. 2016

Geotherm Energy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Soultz-sous-Forêts site (Alsace, France) is the first pilot geothermal project in the world that furnished the proof of concept of enhanced geothermal systems by producing energy from a deep-seated granite. The Alsace region, with its hundreds of previous drillings and seismic history related to both oil and potash exploitation, has been shown to have high subterranean temperatures. In the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal project, most attention has focused on the basement and the sedimentary cover/basement interface. Thus, the sedimentary portion of the well (approximately 1.4 km thick) has never been fully investigated. The only available data on the Soultzsous-Forêts sedimentary cover are from an old masterlog (GPK-1) with interpretations of the tops and bases of the main geological formations, and from some other less well-documented well logs (EPS-1 and GPK-2). The main challenge of this work is therefore to re-interpret the old well data to provide precise and detailed chronolithostratigraphic logs for GPK-1 and GPK-2, especially in their sedimentary portions. These new investigations of the GPK wells have been possible due to the new data collected in the recent geothermal wells at Rittershoffen (GRT-1 and GRT-2, located 6.5 km from Soultz-sous-Forêts), which are characterized by a quite complete stratigraphic succession. Both sites have been explored by deep drilling operations aiming to exploit the heat extracted from a deep granitic basement (Palaeozoic) covered by a stack of 1.4-and 2.2-km-thick sedimentary rocks (Mesozoic to Cenozoic) at Soultz-sous-Forêts and Rittershoffen, respectively. Thus, the Rittershoffen chrono-lithostratigraphic logs have been used as a baseline to interpret the sedimentary succession in GPK-1 and GPK-2. In conclusion, all the well logs are compared for stratigraphic comparisons. With approximately 1400 m of sedimentary cover at Soultz-sous-Forêts instead of 2200 m at Rittershoffen, the correlation between the two sites showed many differences exist in the sedimentary columns: layers missing due to erosion, lateral thickness variations in formations, and-above all-the occurrence of at least four major fracture zones affecting the units. In addition, a structural analysis was made to more precisely define the limits of the geological formations observed and to present more arguments for the presence of fracture zones or faults.

show abstract

Section: Major Oilfields Geothermal Gradientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New stratigraphic interpretation of the Soultz-sous-Forêts 30-year-old geothermal wells calibrated on the recent one from Rittershoffen (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

Aichholzer

Duringer

Orciani³

et al. 2016

Geotherm Energy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Gérard and Kappelmeyer 1987;Kappelmeyer et al 1991;Baria et al 1999;Gérard et al 2006), Rittershoffen (France) (e.g. Baujard et al 2017), Brühl (Germany), Landau (Germany), Insheim (Germany), Bruchsal (Germany), and Riehen (Switzerland). Two sites are currently in development close to Strasbourg, in Illkirch and Vendenheim (both in France).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microstructural and petrophysical properties of the Permo-Triassic sandstones (Buntsandstein) from the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site (France)

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Geothermal projects in the Upper Rhine Graben aim to harness thermal anomalies that have arisen due to hydrothermal circulation within the granitic basement and the overlying Permo-Triassic sedimentary units. We present here a systematic microstructural, mineralogical, and petrophysical characterisation of the lowermost unit of this Permo-Triassic sedimentary succession-the Buntsandstein-sampled from exploration well EPS-1 at the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site (France). Twelve depths were sampled (from 1008 to 1414 m) and cylindrical cores were prepared perpendicular and parallel to bedding. These cores were described in terms of their microstructure, grain size and shape, specific surface area, pore size and pore throat size distribution, mineral content, porosity, P-wave velocity, and permeability. The Buntsandstein sandstones are predominantly feldspathic sandstones, often characterised by pores filled or partially filled (with clays (R3 illite-smectite), dolomite, siderite, and barite) as a consequence of diagenesis, tectonics, and the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. The porosity, dry P-wave velocity, and permeability of these sandstones vary from ~ 0.03 to 0.2, ~ 2.5 to 4.5 km s −1 , and ~ 10 −18 to 10 −13 m 2 , respectively. Our data show that P-wave velocity decreases and permeability increases as porosity increases. P-wave velocities are significantly higher when measured parallel to bedding (by about 10 to 25%), and that saturation with water increases P-wave velocity (by about 5 to 50%, depending on sample orientation). The pervasive pore-filling precipitation has significantly reduced the permeabilities of the Buntsandstein sandstones, which are orders of magnitude less permeable than similarly porous unaltered sandstone. We also find that their permeability can be up to an order of magnitude more permeable when measured parallel to bedding than perpendicular to bedding. Although Buntsandstein units with low matrix permeabilities (as low as ~ 10 −18 m 2 ) require macroscopic fractures to attain the high permeability required to sustain regional hydrothermal circulation, matrix permeability is important for units with low fracture densities and high matrix permeabilities. We anticipate that these data will aid future fluid flow modelling and seismic investigations at geothermal sites within the Upper Rhine Graben. Open Access© The Author(s) 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

show abstract

“…The extensive geological, geophysical and deep drilling data collected in the Soultz and Rittershoffen geothermal wells have led to a better understanding of the deep-seated geothermal resources located at the interface between the sediments and the basement of northern Alsace (Baujard et al 2017;Dezayes et al 2010, Ledésert et al 1999Pribnow and Schellschmidt 2000;Sanjuan et al 2016;Sausse et al 2010;Vidal et al 2016Vidal et al , 2017.…”

Section: Geothermal Wells Of the Central Rhinegraben (Soultz And Rittmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on several geothermal wells at Soultz and Rittershoffen in northern Alsace, the occurrences of natural brines circulating via the fracture and fault system (Baillieux et al 2013) and topography (in km) of the Moho derived from refraction and reflexion seismic sections (e.g., Edel et al 2006). K is the 17 Ma Kaiserstuhl volcano have been clearly demonstrated (Baujard et al 2017;Genter et al 2010) (Fig. 3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and nature of the Palaeozoic basement based on magnetic, gravimetric and seismic investigations in the central Upper Rhinegraben

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hydrothermal characterization of wells GRT-1 and GRT-2 in Rittershoffen, France: Implications on the understanding of natural flow systems in the rhine graben

Cited by 120 publications

References 17 publications

New stratigraphic interpretation of the Soultz-sous-Forêts 30-year-old geothermal wells calibrated on the recent one from Rittershoffen (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

New stratigraphic interpretation of the Soultz-sous-Forêts 30-year-old geothermal wells calibrated on the recent one from Rittershoffen (Upper Rhine Graben, France)

Microstructural and petrophysical properties of the Permo-Triassic sandstones (Buntsandstein) from the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site (France)

Structure and nature of the Palaeozoic basement based on magnetic, gravimetric and seismic investigations in the central Upper Rhinegraben

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About