Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEGTo achieve the energy policy goals of the federal government for the heat transition, modelling concepts are to be developed that enable well-founded statements about the structure and properties of geothermal reservoirs to be made largely independent of existing data. The ProGRes project aims to consolidate state-of-the-art exploration approaches into one workflow and make them available for geothermal exploration. To this end, a workflow is to be developed that is based on an efficient, seamless integration of process-based forward models on geological timescales.
ProGRes- Geological process modeling and play-based potential analysis for the evaluation of geothermal reservoirs
Objective
In geothermal exploration, geostatistical interpolation methods are used to capture the spatial heterogeneities of reservoir parameters. The validity of these methods strongly depends on the availability and spatial density of subsurface data. Consequently, concepts for exploring geothermal potentials in areas with low data density are associated with significant uncertainties. Exploration risks are difficult to predict, and costs cannot be reliably estimated, which hinders the development of poorly explored areas with high potential.
Part of the project focuses on the development of innovative and partially automated methods for evaluating existing data using machine learning approaches to provide calibration data for forward modelling. Furthermore, the development of process-based forward models for the time- and cost-effective identification and quality assessment of geothermal reservoirs in areas with insufficient data will be advanced. In addition, together with the industry partner, a play-based potential analysis based on the regional forward models will be created.
Funding
The project was funded by the BMBF as part of the specialist programme Geo Research for Sustainability (GEO:N) for the thematic focus “Improved Reservoir Characterization” on the topic “Reservoir Characterization: Development of Methods and Procedures for Improved Characterization of Geothermal Reservoirs”.
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