Research

 GEISER: Geothermal Engineering Integrating Mitigation of Induced Seismicity in Reservoirs
(2010-2013) 3.5 years
13 partners: GFZ (Coordinator), BRGM, ÍSOR, TNO, ETHZ, STHY, GEOWATT AG, NORSAR, ARMINES, EOST, KNMI, AMRA, INGV

http://www.geiser-fp7.eu

Coordinator at ÍSOR: Kristján Ágústsson

Geothermal resources have been used successfully and economically in some locations in Europe where geological conditions are exceptionally favourable (e.g. Italy and Iceland), but they can play a much more important role at the European scale, if they can be made accessible at other places.
One of the key issues addressed by this call and the project is the need to inject fluids to enhance productivity of a geothermal well (Enhanced Geothermal Systems, EGS), which often induces seismicity.
The aim of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the concept of Enhanced Geothermal Systems by addressing the need to investigate the role of induced seismicity, which is twofold:

• as an instrument to image fluid pathways induced by hydraulic stimulation treatments, which has been done to some extent in previous projects
• as an implication of such treatments to potential seismic hazards

THERMOMAP: Area Mapping of Superficial Geothermic Resources by Soil and Groundwater Data
(2010-2013)
12 partners: ÍSOR, Freidrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (coordinator), Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, BRGM, Magyar Allami Foldtani Intezet, Institutul Geologic al Romaniei, Natural Environment Research Council, Europian Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC), Institut Royal Des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Rehau Ag, Gesellschaft Beratender Ingenieure für Bau und EDV mbH, Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg and Instituto Geologikon Kai Metalleytikon Ereynon

http://www.thermomap-project.eu/
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Skúli Víkingsson

Variations of temperature and heat flow in depth up to 10 m are prediminantly controlled by external variables like sun radiation and infiltration of rainfall and internal soil conditions like soil grain size, soil matter and mixture of soil substances, absorbtive methods with an amortisation of the invested budget in a relatively short time period.  ThermoMap will combine and analyse already existing data collections (geological, hydrogeological, geophysical and pedological geodata, climate, land use, land cover, solar inslulation, slope and aspect (both as maps and as digital data)) to calculate a value for the geothermal potential in low depths on a large to medium scale. The analysis of the geodata will be performed in a GIS environment with standardized methods, valid for the entire EU. These methods will be intensely tested, verified and finally documented in a manual for geodata processing and analysis as future standards. The resulting geothermal potential as a georeferenced information value will be intergrated in a WebGIS with a server side and a geovisualization and information front-end. ThermoMap will provide different user-groups with an interactive information tool running in a web-browser. Private users may check the potential of their entire administrative unit. Researchers, participating in ThermoMap, will have access to the entire geo-data pool.
ThermoMap will be established for several participating EU member countries in a first step. Therefore each project partner will define a test area in its country. The processing methods developed for the geodata in these thest areas and the analysis standards developed in ThermoMap can lated be adapted to the area of the entire EU and may provide a significant value for energy saving.

Mapping interaction between magmatic and hydrothermal system with fluid inclusion analysis
(2010-2012)
5 participants: ÍSOR, Landsvirkjun, USGS Denver USA, Ormat Technologies Reno USA and University of Iceland. 
Supported by GEORG, GEOthermal Research Group: http://www.georg.hi.is/node/165
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Anette K. Mortensen

Through analyses of hydrothermal alteration and chemical analysis of fluid inclusions (major, trace, gasses and isotopes) of cuttings from wells that have reached parts of a geothermal reservoir impacted by magmatic gasses the project seek to constrain the chemical processes and model the magmatic fluxes at the transition zone between the magmatic and hydrothermal system.

Renewability of Geothermal Resources
(2009-2012)
4 participants: ÍSOR, University of Iceland, HS-orka and GNS – New Zealand
Supported by GEORG, GEOthermal Research Group: http://www.georg.hi.is/node/150
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Guðni Axelsson

The purpose of the project proposed here is to develop methods to study the recharge and mass balance and apply them to the Reykjanes-Svartsengi geothermal region in Iceland. The proposed project aims to join together the results of several different scientific methods or disciplines to address the issue in question, in particular:
 

1. high-resolution 3-D surface deformation monitoring (InSAR and GPS monitoring)
2. micro-gravity monitoring
3. repeated TEM resistivity surveying
4. reservoir pressure- and temperature monitoring
5. chemical content monitoring and
6. dynamic geothermal reservoir modelling

Combining surface elevation and gravity data has been used to estimate the mass balance of geothermal systems during production, resistivity surveying has been used for exploration and chemical data has been used to study processes in geothermal systems and their recharge. Detailed numerical modelling of geothermal systems has also been used extensively to simulate the response of geothermal reservoirs to production. The innovative aspect of this proposal involves joining together the results of the different methods through unified modelling of aspects (1) through (5).

Resistivity survey of Grímsvötn
(2009-2012)
3 participants: ÍSOR, University of Iceland, HS-orka and GNS – New Zealand.
Supported by GEORG, GEOthermal Research Group: http://www.georg.hi.is/node/152
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Knútur Árnason

The main objectives of a LOTEM survey of Grímsvötn are:

• To map the spatial extent and depth span of resistivity anomalies in the upper crust under Grímvötn, allowing comparison with other high-temperature geothermal areas.
• Map the location and extent of magma bodies in the uppermost 3-5 km of the crust under the volcano.
• Use the data and comparisons with other areas to assess the reasons why a pristine geothermal area has heat release similar to that of a large thermal area under full exploitation (e.g. Nesjavellir, Hengill, Krafla).

The project is planned for three years. In the first year the PhD student will study electromagnetic methods in geothermal exploration. He will also carry out model calculations to optimize the survey setup to ensure sufficient depth of exploration and resolution. Two three weeks long field missions for data collection are planned in conjunction with the annual missions of the Icelandic Glaciological Society.After the first field mission, a processing sequence will be set up and inversion. From the results, the field strategy will be further developed for the second mission. After the second mission all collected data will be processed and inverted. Finally the resulting 3D resistivity model and other data (gravity and seismic data) will be interpreted jointly to build a conceptual model of the Grímsvötn volcano and its high-temperature geothermal system.

Advanced 3D Geophysical Imaging Technologies for Geothermal Resource Characterization
(2009-2012)
7 participants: ÍSOR, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) USA,  Massachusetts  Institute of Technology (MIT) USA, Reykjavik University (RU), Landsvirkjun Power, Reykjavík Energy and HS-Orka. 

Supported by GEORG, GEOthermal Research Group:
http://www.georg.hi.is/efni/advanced_3d_geophysical_imaging_technologies_geothermal_resource_characterization
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Knútur Árnason

This project is the Icelandic part of a comprehensive Icelandic/USA cooperative project under the IPGT agreement. The USA partners are LBL and MIT.  The focus is on the development of joint geophysical imaging methodologies using complimentary data for geothermal site characterization and demonstrate their potential in three areas: Krafla, the Reykjanes-Hengill areas and Coso in the USA.  The emphasis is on Electro-Magnetic, gravity and earthquake data.  The joint inversion will be made in an innovative paradigm of joint geometry rather than parametric correlation.  It is divided into four increasingly ambitious stages, from state of the art to fully joint inversion.

The Hengill geothermal reservoir. Evaluation of subsurface geologic data
(2009-2010)
3 participants: ÍSOR, Reykjavik University (RU) and University of Iceland. 

Supported by GEORG, GEOthermal Research Group: http://www.georg.hi.is/node/143
Coordinator at ÍSOR: Hjalti Franzson

The project aims at defining the character of the Hengill geothermal system with special emphasis on integrating the various geological and geophysical borehole data. This includes a 3D model of geological and hydrothermal alteration structures. The work is mainly done as part of MSc studies of seven students each of whom will in addition focus on specialized subjects which will add further to the characterization of the geothermal system.

The HYDRORIFT
(2009-)
4 partners: ÍSOR, HS Orka, the universities of Le Mans Nantes (CNRS) , Ecole et Observatorie des Sciences de la Terre (EOST).

Coordinator at ÍSOR: Ólafur G. Flóvenz

Poster (2.149 Kb)

The HYDRORIFT project is a cooperation between French and Icelandic groups of scientists. It is a subproject of the French project GEOFLUX. The project is supported by the GEOthermal Research Group  GEORG. It is a continuation of a previous successful 5-months seismic experiment in the same area in 2005 (Geoffroy & Dorbath, 2008).The goal of the project is to shed light on the interplay of hydric fluids in the crust and the seismogenic cycle at the plate boundaries. To achieve this, seismic data was collected on the Reykjanes peninsula with emphasis on the geothermal areas in Krýsuvík, Trölladyngja and Sandfell. And to interpret the seismological data jointly with MT/TEM resistivity soundings, results from numeric, analogic and physical models and laboratory experiments as well as other information. The seismic network was in operation from the middle of May until early October 2009. Each group contributed with equipment and personnel for deployment of the seismic network, its maintenance and data collection. During this time, an intensive seismic swarm occurred on the Reykjanes peninsula, mainly within the network, and large amount of high quality data was recorded.

The aim of the project is to provide geophysical and geochemical sensors and methods to evaluate deep geothermal wells up to supercritical conditions (T>380°C). Supercritical geothermal wells are presently non-conventional but may provide a very efficient way to produce electricity from a clean, renewable source. A deep geothermal well is currently being drilled for this purpose into the Krafla volcanic zone, Iceland, as part of the international Iceland Deep Drilling Project and with joint funding from Icelandic industry and science. Tools already built and tested in the HITI project include a high-temperature televiewer and a natural gamma ray detector, with more instruments to be demonstrated in the year 2009. A new geothermometer has been developed up to supercritical temperatures, and a high-temperature pressure chamber has been assembled to simulate the interaction of supercritical fluids with basalt rock cores.