Context

It has been observed that one of the most efficient way to mitigate the geological risk is the collaborative integration of multidisciplinary data and interpretations into geomodel(s) of the subsurface.

Deep geothermal energy allows clean, non-intermittent heat and/or power production regardless of weather conditions at any hour of the day or night. It has very limited environmental impact and will contribute to the decarbonization of our economy reaching its maximum mitigation potential by 2050. However, exploitation of subsurface natural resources is faced with the geological risk. Whatever the geothermal technology - conventional heat mining of deep aquifers, enhanced geothermal systems or power production in magmatic settings – and its maturity level, this feature makes geothermal operations risk to high-risk projects with substantial initial investments related to drilling costs.

It has been observed that one of the most efficient way to mitigate the geological risk is the collaborative integration of multidisciplinary data and interpretations into geomodel(s) of the subsurface. In a geothermal context, the first goal of such conceptual models is the prediction of the spatial distribution of temperature. Then, deep geothermal projects need power levels that require convective exchanges with the reservoir at high flow rate through production/injection wells (typically hundreds of t/h). Parallel to that, there is evidence that transient convective processes control the temperature distribution and the natural state of many geothermal plays. Consequently, aforementioned conceptual models should be dynamic by nature and integrate contributions from hydrogeologists and reservoir engineers whose core skill is the quantitative modeling of subsurface mass and energy transfers.

Much progress has been made during the last decades in static geological modeling, dynamic geothermal reservoir modeling and performance computing with several contributions from CHARMS’ partners. Many developments are still largely independent and confined to academic area and there is no off-the-shelf software that integrate all of them in a consistent framework. The main objective of CHARMS is to take that step further and deliver the foundations components of an open numerical framework so that integrated dynamic conceptual models of geothermal systems in complex geological settings can be produced from the early phases of exploration and evolve continuously through collaborative contributions into operational reservoir models. The project focuses on the modeling of mass and thermal transfers, both diffusive and convective, which are first order parameters to be quantified in order to achieve a successful exploration and sustainable exploitation of deep geothermal resources

Dernière mise à jour le 17.11.2017