3-D visualization of a fractured geothermal field: the exemple of the EGS Soultz site (northern Upper Rhine Graben, France)

Chrystel Dezayes (1) , Laurent Beccaletto (1) , Gwénolé Oliviero (1) , Paul Bailleux (2) , Eva Schill (2)

1 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
2 CHYN - Centre d'Hydrogéologie et de Géothermie [Neuchâtel]

This present paper describes a 3-D geological model in the Upper Rhine Graben, around the EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) Soultz site (France). This model is a 30x20x6 km geological model built from the surface to the crystalline basement. The goal is to visualize the complex fault network of the graben by federating the knowledge on this specific area. The building of the 3-D geological model is based on two main kinds of data: (1) seismic profile interpretations and (2) borehole data. The seismic profiles have been acquired for oil exploration in the 70-80's, and reprocessed recently in the framework of various projects. The 2-D information is interpolated to the whole 3-D space using a geostatistical analysis. For our model, a network of 26 fault has been built. The orientation of the major faults is NNE-SSW (i.e. Rhenish direction), with a main eastward dipping. Secondary, principally antithetic faults, trend N-S to NNW-SSE, with an average dip of 60°. This 3-D geological model could be now used as a basis for many exploration investigations and different kinds of modelling.

Domains: Earth Sciences

Chrystel Dezayes, Laurent Beccaletto, Gwénolé Oliviero, Paul Bailleux, Eva Schill. 3-D visualization of a fractured geothermal field: the exemple of the EGS Soultz site (northern Upper Rhine Graben, France). 36rd Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Jan 2011, Stanford, California, United States. pp.SGR-TR-191. ⟨hal-00582896⟩