Lithosphere tectonics and thermo-mechanical properties: An integrated modelling approach for Enhanced Geothermal Systems exploration in Europe

Knowledge of temperature at drillable depth is a prerequisite in site selection for geothermal exploration and development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Equally important, the thermo-mechanical signature of the lithosphere and crust provides critical constraints for the crustal stress field and basement temperatures where borehole...

Influence of surface temperatures on source rock maturity - An example from the Arctic

Using paleontological and geochemical techniques the long-term temperature development of the central Arctic was documented from sedimentary records for the first time. With the help of the new paleo-climatic evolution a tectonic paleo heat flow prediction of the Kara Sea area was performed to show the influence of paleo temperatures on the...

Probabilistic tectonic heat flow modeling for basin maturation: Assessment method and applications

Tectonic modeling is often neglected in the basin modeling workflow and heat flow is most times considered a user input. Such heat flows can, therefore, result in erroneous basin modeling outcomes, resulting in false overoptimistic identification of prospective areas or failure to identify prospects. This is particularly true for areas with...

Lithosphere tectonics and thermo-mechanical properties: An integrated modeling approach for enhanced geothermal systems exploration in Europe

For geothermal exploration and the development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) knowlegde of temperature at drillable depth is a prerequisite for site selection. Equally important is the thermo-mechanical signature of the lithosphere and crust which allow to obtain critical constraints for the crustal stress field and basement temperatures...

Tectonic heat flow modelling for basin maturation - Implications for frontier areas in the mediterranean

Basement heat flow is one of the most influential parameters on basin maturity. Although rapid progress has been made in the development of tectonic models capable of modelling the thermal consequences of basin formation, these models are hardly used in basin modelling. To better predict heat flows we have developed a multi-1D probabilistic...

A Bayesian belief network approach for assessing the impact of exploration prospect interdependency: An application to predict gas discoveries in the Netherlands

Prospect interdependencies, if present and positively correlated, result in a higher standard deviation of the portfolio volumetric expectation curve, compared to a portfolio with independent prospects. This wider uncertainty range offers options for companies to increase the expected cumulative net present value (NPV) of the exploration...

Pre-screening tectonic heat flows for basin modelling - Some implications for deep water exploration in the mediterranean

Basin modelling results can be very sensitive to (paleo-)temperature uncertainties. For frontier basins, in particular for deep water settings, the thermal signature of the basin is poorly constrained, as data from wells are lacking. This may lead to wrong heat flow assumptions if these are extrapolated from the shallow offshore or onshore....

Effects of CO2 solubility on the long-term fate of CO2 sequestered in a saline aquifer

Sequestering CO2 in aquifers is an attractive option for reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The success of CO2 sequestration during the Statoil Sleipner injection project proves that under the right conditions large volumes of CO2 can be stored in a water-bearing subsurface formation. In general, we know most of the injected CO2 will...

Tectonics and subsidence evolution of the Sirt Basin, Libya

Backstripping analysis of 225 wells located within the Sirt Basin (Fig. 1) provide new constraints on the Sirt Basin development. Four coherent tectonic phases from Late Jurassic to present. The presentation of contour maps of subsidence and crustal stretching allows to visualize spatial and temporal stretching migration. A close match is...

Building a 3D geomechanical model of a gas field for geohazard prediction

Land subsidence, triggered earthquakes and wellbore instabilities are some examples of geohazards caused by or related to the production of subsurface natural resources and storage of energy residues in the deep subsurface. The main objective of geomechanical modelling is to effectively predict surface and subsurface deformation and damage due...

Geomechanical modelling of compressive stress and overpressures in inverted basins.

Until now there is a lack of knowledge on quantified compressive tectonic stress and the impact on the development of overpressures. In this study geomechanical modelling of basin inversion was done to asses the feasability of the modelling tool DIANA for improved quantitative insight in the magnitude of horizontal stresses in a compressive...

Integrated geomechanical modelling for deep subsurface damage

Government, E&P and mining industry increasingly demand fundamental insight and accurate predictions on subsurface and surface deformation and damage due to exploitation of subsurface natural resources, and subsurface storage of energy residues (e.g. CO2). At this moment deformation is difficult to assess and prove, although economical,...

Integrated geomechanical modelling for prediction of subsidence and induced seismicity due to hydrocarbon extraction