Michael J. Heap
Microstructural and petrophysical properties of the Permo-Triassic sandstones (Buntsandstein) from the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site (France)
Heap, Michael J.; Kushnir, Alexandra R.L.; Gilg, H. Albert; Wadsworth, Fabian B.; Reuschlé, Thierry; Baud, Patrick
Authors
Alexandra R.L. Kushnir
H. Albert Gilg
Dr Fabian Wadsworth fabian.b.wadsworth@durham.ac.uk
Associate Professor
Thierry Reuschlé
Patrick Baud
Abstract
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 m2, 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 m2) 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.
Citation
Heap, M. J., Kushnir, A. R., Gilg, H. A., Wadsworth, F. B., Reuschlé, T., & Baud, P. (2017). Microstructural and petrophysical properties of the Permo-Triassic sandstones (Buntsandstein) from the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site (France). Geothermal Energy, 5(1), Article 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-017-0085-9
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Nov 15, 2017 |
Online Publication Date | Nov 21, 2017 |
Publication Date | Nov 21, 2017 |
Deposit Date | Mar 20, 2018 |
Publicly Available Date | Apr 18, 2018 |
Journal | Geothermal Energy |
Electronic ISSN | 2195-9706 |
Publisher | SpringerOpen |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 5 |
Issue | 1 |
Article Number | 26 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-017-0085-9 |
Public URL | https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1337276 |
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Copyright Statement
© 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.
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