On the connectivity anisotropy in fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifers and its influence on geothermal doublet performance

Willems, C.J.L.; Nick, Hamidreza M.; Donselaar, M.E.; Weltje, Gert Jan; Bruhn, David

doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2016.10.002

Cited by 50 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…McKenna and Smith, 2004;Larue and Friedmann, 2005;Larue and Hovadik, 2006;Hovadik and Larue, 2007;Liu and Atan, 2008;de Jager et al, 2009;Burns et al, 2010;Jha et al, 2016;Peter et al, 2017). Realistic reproduction of sandbody connectivity in fluvial aquifers and reservoirs is crucial to several applications, for example when predictions need to be made relating to the efficiency of hydrocarbon production, the behavior of contaminant plumes, spatial variability in groundwater drawdown, the viability of programs of carbon capture and storage, or optimal geothermal exploitation of hot sedimentary aquifers (e.g., Keogh et al, 2007;Ronayne et al, 2008;Giambastiani et al, 2012;Norden and Frykman, 2013;Issautier et al, 2014;Jeong and Srinivasan, 2016;Nguyen et al, 2017;Willems et al, 2017;Marini et al, 2018). In this regard it is significant that object-based models are considered inherently realistic, thanks to their ability to reproduce complex predefined geometries and to leverage on analog data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geometry of fluvial channel bodies: Empirical characterization and implications for object-based models of the subsurface

et al. 2019

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geometry of fluvial channel bodies: Empirical characterization and implications for object-based models of the subsurface

et al. 2019

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“…This should be taken into account in doublet design and doublet placement as it will have an impact on possible interference between adjacent doublets and flowpath formation between injection- and production wells of individual doublets (e.g. Willems et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional geothermal aquifer architecture of the fluvial Lower Cretaceous Nieuwerkerk Formation – a palynological analysis

Willems

Vondrak²,

Munsterman³

et al. 2017

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences

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The primary challenge for efficient geothermal doublet design and deployment is the adequate prediction of the size, shape, lateral extent and thickness (or aquifer architecture) of aquifers. In the West Netherlands Basin, fluvial Lower Cretaceous sandstone-rich successions form the main aquifers for geothermal heat exploitation. Large variations in the thickness of these successions are recognised in currently active doublet systems that cannot be explained. This creates an uncertainty in aquifer thickness prediction, which increases the uncertainty in doublet lifetime prediction as it has an impact on net aquifer volume. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of the thickness variations and regional aquifer architecture of the Nieuwerkerk Formation geothermal aquifers. For this purpose, new palynological data were evaluated to correlate aquifers in currently active doublet systems based on their chronostratigraphic position and regional Maximum Flooding Surfaces. Based on the palynological cuttings analysis, the fluvial interval of the Nieuwerkerk Formation was subdivided into two successions: a Late Ryazanian to Early Valanginian succession and a Valanginian succession. Within these successions trends were identified in sandstone content. In combination with seismic interpretation, maps were constructed that predict aquifer thickness and their lateral extent in the basin. The study emphasises the value of palynological analyses to reduce the uncertainty of fluvial hot sedimentary aquifer exploitation.

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“…Another core of well Q13-09 contains a rare example of a complete fining-upward sequence of c.4 m, which could be related to palaeo bank-full flow depth. Willems et al (2017a) used this to estimate the associated bank-full palaeo-flow width of 40 m and meander belt width. Following Williams (1986), they proposed a 40 m bank-full flow width, and a meander belt width of c.1-2 km.…”

Section: Aquifer Sedimentologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous geothermal aquifers in the West Netherlands Basin – an overview

Willems

Vondrak²,

Mijnlieff³

et al. 2020

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences

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In the past 10 years the mature hydrocarbon province the West Netherlands Basin has hosted rapidly expanding geothermal development. Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata from which gas and oil had been produced since the 1950s became targets for geothermal exploitation. The extensive publicly available subsurface data including seismic surveys, several cores and logs from hundreds of hydrocarbon wells, combined with understanding of the geology after decades of hydrocarbon exploitation, facilitated the offtake of geothermal exploitation. Whilst the first geothermal projects proved the suitability of the permeable Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones for geothermal heat production, they also made clear that much detail of the aquifer geology is not yet fully understood. The aquifer architecture varies significantly across the basin because of the syn-tectonic sedimentation. The graben fault blocks that contain the geothermal targets experienced a different tectonic history compared to the horst and pop-up structures that host the hydrocarbon fields from which most subsurface data are derived. Accurate prediction of the continuity and thickness of aquifers is a prerequisite for efficient geothermal well deployment that aims at increasing heat recovery while avoiding the risk of early cold-water breakthrough. The potential recoverable heat and the current challenges to enhance further expansion of heat exploitation from this basin are evident. This paper presents an overview of the current understanding and uncertainties of the aquifer geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata and discusses new sequence-stratigraphic updates of the regional sedimentary aquifer architecture.

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On the connectivity anisotropy in fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifers and its influence on geothermal doublet performance

Cited by 50 publications

References 31 publications

The geometry of fluvial channel bodies: Empirical characterization and implications for object-based models of the subsurface

The geometry of fluvial channel bodies: Empirical characterization and implications for object-based models of the subsurface

Regional geothermal aquifer architecture of the fluvial Lower Cretaceous Nieuwerkerk Formation – a palynological analysis

Geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous geothermal aquifers in the West Netherlands Basin – an overview

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