ALBERT

Description: A successful utilization of deep geothermal resources requires accurate predictions about the reservoir tem-perature distribution as well as an in depth knowledge of the hydraulic processes. The latter exert a direct in-fluence on the subsurface temperature and therefore on the potential productivity of geothermal reservoirs.The aim of this study is to investigate and quantify the influence that regional thermo-hydraulic processes exert on the geothermal configuration of potential reservoirs in the northern Upper Rhine Graben and ad-jacent areas. Specifically, we address the questions of (i) how the regional thermal and hydraulic configura-tions influence local reservoir conditions, and (ii) whether it is possible to improve subsurface predictions iteratively by relying on 3D numerical modeling techniques. Therefore, a highly detailed 3D structural model of the northern part of the Upper Rhine Graben and the adjacent areas was built. The model was then used for coupled 3D thermo-hydraulic simulations of the deep fluid flow and heat transport. By running different simulations, we systematically tested hypotheses for the regional fluid dynamics based on hydro-geochemi-cal analysis results. Springs, mineral and thermal, have been used for the validation process of the flow field and available temperature measurements for the validation of the thermal field. With this knowledge of the thermo-hydraulic mechanisms of heat transport, the next step will be to downscale this process understand-ing and implement it in predictions of geothermal potentials on a local scale for the urban area of Frankfurt am Main