This paper presents a road map for providing training to experienced geoscientists, engineers, an... more This paper presents a road map for providing training to experienced geoscientists, engineers, and data scientists who seek to participate in geothermal energy exploration, development, and integration. The road map starts by identifying the foundational skills and knowledge base of experienced geoscientists and engineers, and then specifically discusses which elements are of direct value in geothermal energy development. The paper then discusses the best strategies for upscaling skills and closing knowledge gaps, as well as pathways for immediate implementation of the knowledge in the form of planning documents and projects. The final stage of the road map includes assessment and designing collaborative challenges so that teams learn how best to work together and achieve their goals. The final section of the paper includes brief case studies of two examples of retooled geothermal education offered by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).
In this study, interaction between fluids and deformation during the final stages of magma-poor r... more In this study, interaction between fluids and deformation during the final stages of magma-poor rifting was investigated. The Tasna Ocean-Continent transition, located in the Swiss Alps, was studied and a large data set was obtained from profiles oriented perpendicular to two detachment faults. One of these juxtaposed serpentinized mantle against continental crust and the other exhumed both mantle and continental crust to the seafloor. Deformation associated with detachment faulting showed many common features but also some phenomena which were unique to each fault, confirming their sequential activity and differing roles in the exhumation process. Oxygen isotopes indicated the presence of both pervasive and channeled fluid phases, either accompanying or post-dating serpentinization. Deformation in the fault zone occurred in previously serpentinized mantle indicating that serpentinization pre-dated final exhumation. Most strain localization and displacement occurred in fault cores which are narrow zones beneath the detachments. These are underlain by wide zones characterized by more distributed strain. Transitional fabrics as well as reactivated and/or overprinted deformation structures indicated that the final phase of rifting is complex. Fault cores acted as fluid conduits or barriers. Thus, the most deformed zones may become the least permeable. Hence the coupling between deformation and fluid flow is complex in a study area subjected to several phases of deformation and fluid flow. Finally the importance of serpentinization in the evolution of magma-poor rifting was investigated. It was found that serpentinization is the consequence rather than the reason for strain localization at magma-poor margins. However, serpentinization may be an important process which can accelerate exhumation rates in the very latest stages of magma-poor rifting. The pre-existing deformation history of the crust may also be of importance for the development and location of margins.
We did multi-stage triaxial compressive strength tests in conjunction with 3D in situ stress dete... more We did multi-stage triaxial compressive strength tests in conjunction with 3D in situ stress determinations (applying the RACOS® technique) on Middle Jurassic silt- and sandstones from the North Sea Basin which are the caprock of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The achieved data served as basis for a geomechanical safety model of a hydrocarbon reservoir / hypothetical underground gas storage. The rock mechanical tests revealed the siltstone to be slightly stronger and stiffer than the sandstone. Of particular interest for the geomechanical model (based on the centroid model of Finkbeiner et al. 2001) are the angles of internal friction measured at post-failure conditions (φresidual) which lie between 27° (siltstone) and 32° (sandstone). RACOS® investigations showed that the stress field in the reservoir is of normal faulting nature with a total vertical stress S1 of ca 61 MPa and the minimum total horizontal stress S3 of ca 49 MPa (oriented NNW-SSE). For our geomechanical model we applied beside φresidual , S1 and S3 the pore pressure within the caprock Ppc of roughly 32 MPa. Based on these data our model shows that pore pressure within the reservoir can be up to 10 MPa above Ppc without reactivating inactive faults within the caprock.
We propose a new method for earthquake forecasting based on the "prediction in hindsight... more We propose a new method for earthquake forecasting based on the "prediction in hindsight" of a Mw 5.8 earthquake on Iceland, on September 16, 2002. The "prediction in hindsight" is based on geochemical monitoring of geothermal water at site HU-01 located within the Tj''rnes Fracture Zone, northern Iceland, before and after the earthquake. During the 4 weeks before the earthquake
We carried out a centrifuge experiment to model the diapiric rise of a stratified PDMS layer from... more We carried out a centrifuge experiment to model the diapiric rise of a stratified PDMS layer from three perturbations through a non-Newtonian, ductile overburden. The experiment carried out at 700 g resulted in three composite diapirs fed by different PDMS layers. The three resulting diapirs represent two different stages of diapirism. One of the diapirs (diapir 1), which reached its level of neutral buoyancy and extruded at the surface of the model, was tabular in profile and copied by an internal intrusive body. The other two diapirs (diapirs 2 ...
This paper presents a road map for providing training to experienced geoscientists, engineers, an... more This paper presents a road map for providing training to experienced geoscientists, engineers, and data scientists who seek to participate in geothermal energy exploration, development, and integration. The road map starts by identifying the foundational skills and knowledge base of experienced geoscientists and engineers, and then specifically discusses which elements are of direct value in geothermal energy development. The paper then discusses the best strategies for upscaling skills and closing knowledge gaps, as well as pathways for immediate implementation of the knowledge in the form of planning documents and projects. The final stage of the road map includes assessment and designing collaborative challenges so that teams learn how best to work together and achieve their goals. The final section of the paper includes brief case studies of two examples of retooled geothermal education offered by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).
In this study, interaction between fluids and deformation during the final stages of magma-poor r... more In this study, interaction between fluids and deformation during the final stages of magma-poor rifting was investigated. The Tasna Ocean-Continent transition, located in the Swiss Alps, was studied and a large data set was obtained from profiles oriented perpendicular to two detachment faults. One of these juxtaposed serpentinized mantle against continental crust and the other exhumed both mantle and continental crust to the seafloor. Deformation associated with detachment faulting showed many common features but also some phenomena which were unique to each fault, confirming their sequential activity and differing roles in the exhumation process. Oxygen isotopes indicated the presence of both pervasive and channeled fluid phases, either accompanying or post-dating serpentinization. Deformation in the fault zone occurred in previously serpentinized mantle indicating that serpentinization pre-dated final exhumation. Most strain localization and displacement occurred in fault cores which are narrow zones beneath the detachments. These are underlain by wide zones characterized by more distributed strain. Transitional fabrics as well as reactivated and/or overprinted deformation structures indicated that the final phase of rifting is complex. Fault cores acted as fluid conduits or barriers. Thus, the most deformed zones may become the least permeable. Hence the coupling between deformation and fluid flow is complex in a study area subjected to several phases of deformation and fluid flow. Finally the importance of serpentinization in the evolution of magma-poor rifting was investigated. It was found that serpentinization is the consequence rather than the reason for strain localization at magma-poor margins. However, serpentinization may be an important process which can accelerate exhumation rates in the very latest stages of magma-poor rifting. The pre-existing deformation history of the crust may also be of importance for the development and location of margins.
We did multi-stage triaxial compressive strength tests in conjunction with 3D in situ stress dete... more We did multi-stage triaxial compressive strength tests in conjunction with 3D in situ stress determinations (applying the RACOS® technique) on Middle Jurassic silt- and sandstones from the North Sea Basin which are the caprock of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The achieved data served as basis for a geomechanical safety model of a hydrocarbon reservoir / hypothetical underground gas storage. The rock mechanical tests revealed the siltstone to be slightly stronger and stiffer than the sandstone. Of particular interest for the geomechanical model (based on the centroid model of Finkbeiner et al. 2001) are the angles of internal friction measured at post-failure conditions (φresidual) which lie between 27° (siltstone) and 32° (sandstone). RACOS® investigations showed that the stress field in the reservoir is of normal faulting nature with a total vertical stress S1 of ca 61 MPa and the minimum total horizontal stress S3 of ca 49 MPa (oriented NNW-SSE). For our geomechanical model we applied beside φresidual , S1 and S3 the pore pressure within the caprock Ppc of roughly 32 MPa. Based on these data our model shows that pore pressure within the reservoir can be up to 10 MPa above Ppc without reactivating inactive faults within the caprock.
We propose a new method for earthquake forecasting based on the "prediction in hindsight... more We propose a new method for earthquake forecasting based on the "prediction in hindsight" of a Mw 5.8 earthquake on Iceland, on September 16, 2002. The "prediction in hindsight" is based on geochemical monitoring of geothermal water at site HU-01 located within the Tj''rnes Fracture Zone, northern Iceland, before and after the earthquake. During the 4 weeks before the earthquake
We carried out a centrifuge experiment to model the diapiric rise of a stratified PDMS layer from... more We carried out a centrifuge experiment to model the diapiric rise of a stratified PDMS layer from three perturbations through a non-Newtonian, ductile overburden. The experiment carried out at 700 g resulted in three composite diapirs fed by different PDMS layers. The three resulting diapirs represent two different stages of diapirism. One of the diapirs (diapir 1), which reached its level of neutral buoyancy and extruded at the surface of the model, was tabular in profile and copied by an internal intrusive body. The other two diapirs (diapirs 2 ...
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