Exploration Concepts & Risk Analyses

Geological and geotechnical data are an essential basis for the exploration, development, and ultimately the energy-related use of the subsurface. These data sets are used to create geoscientific models and resulting simulations for the analysis and evaluation of underground processes for heat generation, material (e.g., H₂ and CO₂) and energy (e.g., heat and cold) storage, and the extraction of georesources (e.g., lithium), but also for risk assessment. Our geoscientists collect, integrate, and evaluate a wide range of geodata sets to prepare and support exploration and development measures such as drilling and geophysical measurement campaigns, and evaluate them for the feasibility and implementation of underground utilization scenarios. To this end, you can rely on the services of Fraunhofer IEG own geolaboratories, our field geologists, and our exploration team.

Models based on geodata are the fundamental basis for understanding the geological situation, the tectonic stress field, and the hydraulic regime in the subsurface. They are also used to analyze and evaluate the usability and necessary measures for utilizing the subsurface, so that locations for drilling and production sites can be derived and possible material and energy production rates or storage capacities and risks can be assessed.

Our geoscientists can create models for your exploration and development campaign from large and diverse data sets, convert them into simulations, and evaluate them in a useful way. Our teams contribute expertise in structural geology, geomechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and geochemistry to realize your energy and material extraction and storage projects.

Especially in regions with low density of subsurface data, the exploration, development, and utilization of the subsurface often involves operational and economic risks. Our experts at Fraunhofer IEG are skilled at reviewing and evaluating your project in terms of its economic viability and potential operational and investment risks. Existing concepts from the hydrocarbon industry are adapted to your specific challenges and continuously refined. This allows specific risks to be identified and taken into account at an early stage, even during the project design phase.

This includes collecting data on the genesis, safety, and damage prevention of underground use and integrating the management and control of potential geohazards. Part of the risk assessment of ongoing projects is also preventive and accompanying seismological monitoring, for which the IEG provides you with its own team of experts.

Simulations based on data and models, especially those of processes in open, hydrothermal, and closed probe-based geothermal systems, material and energy cavern and aquifer storage facilities, post-mining uses, and georesource production sites before and during production, are essential enablers in the transition from exploration and development to underground utilization. Simulations consider the temporal and spatial dynamics of important parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow rates, stresses, and deformations in the subsurface.

Our experts at Fraunhofer IEG use simulations to make quantitative and qualitative statements about production and storage processes and can assess operational risks, economic efficiency, and the resilience of your underground infrastructure. Our modern in-house simulation software also enables the precise simulation of seismic wave propagation in 3-dimensional heterogeneous media. These simulations can be used to characterize representative reservoir rocks at the pore scale, to optimize seismic measurement systems, e.g., in boreholes and pipelines, and for deterministic seismic hazard assessment throughout the entire reservoir.

New or additional 2D and/or 3D seismic data is required in many regions to explore the subsurface and test its local suitability for heat extraction, storage, or resource production, as well as for assessing the risks of production or injection under mining law. Our geophysicists at IEG plan and support your geophysical measurement campaign in collaboration with our mining law attorneys and geoscientists.

Our experts have many years of experience in the acquisition of 2D seismic lines through to large-scale 3D measurements, and are trained to accompany you through all steps of your projects, from the design and approval of the measurement series to the evaluation of the data obtained.

The most valuable data for analyzing and evaluating the usability and utilization of the subsurface are drilling data and accompanying geophysical logging. To this end, our drilling engineers plan and supervise local exploratory drilling or entire drilling campaigns for your geothermal, heat, or material (H₂, CO₂) storage projects. The data obtained in this way provides you with information about the potential for heat generation, material and energy storage, and the extraction of raw materials. Shallow to medium-depth drilling up to 1000 m can also be carried out by our drilling team using the Fraunhofer IEG Bo.Rex drilling rig, which can operate even in confined spaces (e.g., between existing buildings).