EASYGO training week Aachen - April 2022
Mission Statement
The Geothermal Energy & Geofluids group is endowed by the Werner Siemens Foundation and investigates reactive fluid (water, CO2, CxHy, N2) and (geothermal) energy (heat, pressure) transfer in the Earth’s crust employing computer simulations, laboratory experiments and field analyses to gain fundamental insights and to address a wide range of societal goals and concerns. ➞ Read More
GEG News
16.06.2022
First Prize Geoverbund ABC/J Young Academics Award 2022 – Dr. Paromita Deb
© Geoverbund ABC/J- Kurt Steinhausen
Paromita Deb has been awarded 1st prize by the Geoverbund ABC/J Young Academics Award 2022 for her doctoral dissertation.
Read more – Geoverbund ABC/J Webpage
31.05.2022
Research program of Dr. Maren Brehme supported by Energi Simulation organization
© Energi Simulation
We are pleased to announce the formation of a new group, to conduct research into the safe, effective and efficient exploration and operation of geothermal energy systems.
Read more – Energi Simulation Webpage
Read more – ETH Foundation
02.05.2022
Doctoral Examination Hoda Javanmard
On Friday, April 29th, Hoda Javanmard has successfully defended her PhD thesis, titled: “Hydromechanical processes in natural and 3D printed fractures”
11.04.2022
SASEG Student Grant
Dario SchwendenerFor his ongoing Master Thesis Project, “Velocity Quantification of Two Phase Drainage and Imbibition Processes in Rough Wall Fractures”, Dario Schwendener was awarded with the SASEG student grant of 1’000 CHF provided by the Swiss Association of Energy Geoscientists.
Within a 3D-printed, transparent fracture model, phase velocities are directly determined using the optical approach of particle image velocimetry (PIV).
The thesis is currently in the experimental stage and supervised by Dr. Xiang-Zhao Kong, PhD student Isamu Naets and Dr. Jérõme André Roland Noir.
31.01.2022
2nd place in SPE GeoHackathon 2021
3 GEG PhD students together with PhD students from RWTH Aachen achieved 2nd Place in the 2021 SPE GeoHackathon. As part of the Hackathon, they were tasked with creating a field development plan for a site in the Netherlands to provide heat to local demand points at a minimum levelised cost of heat over a 20 year period.
Experience of PhD students – hover over arrow 
22.07.2021
New GEG XRCT Website published
The GEG XRCT system of ETH Zurich provides resources and services in Xray-CT imaging as well as direct access to state-of-the-art CT scanner, dedicated software, and in-situ imaging equipment.
03.06.2021
ETH Medal: Distinction of Doctoral Thesis – Edoardo Rossi
Dr. Edoardo Rossi received the ETH Medal (Auszeichnung von Doktorarbeit) for his doctoral thesis: “Combined Thermo-Mechanical Drilling Technology to Enhance Access to Deep Geo-Resources”.
Edoardo Rossi is currently a research associate at the Geothermal Energy and Geofluids (GEG) group and former doctoral student at GEG and the Laboratory for Transport Processes and Reactions (LTR) at D-MAVT.
20.05.2021
EASYGO Project granted
We want to congratulate Dr. Maren Brehme (TU Delft) with the granted ITN EASYGO ‘Efficiency & Safety in Geothermal Operations’ which creates 13 PhD positions within our network. A prestigious 3.4M€ fund has been awarded by the European Commission to her project entitled ‘EASYGO: Efficiency and Safety in Geothermal Operations’
3 out of 13 EASYGO PhD students will do their research at the GEG Group: Nicolas Rangel Jurado, Anna Kotsova and Tristan Leonar Merbecks.
Read more – ITN EASYGO Webpage
Read more – ITN EASYGO Webpage
Videos
CO2-Plume Geothermal (CPG) power plants combine geologic CO2 storage with geothermal energy extraction.
© Shannon Gilley
© Shannon Gilley
Inexhaustible resource of clean, renewable Geothermal Energy.
© ETH Zurich
By 2050, geothermal energy can cover 25% of Switzerland’s heating needs in a CO2-neutral way. © Daniel Stegmann
Grimsel rock laboratory, safer drilling methods.
© 3sat nano
GEG Events
29.06.2022 12:10-12:25 (local time)
Deep Plasma-Pulse Geo-Drilling (PPGD) PerformanceMohamed Ezzat (contributed talk)
48th EPS Plasma Conference 2022, Online
30.06.2022 09:00-16:00 (local time)
Reaktoro v2: an overview of its geochemical modeling capabilities and its use as a geochemical solver in reactive transport simulationsAllan M. M. Leal (invited talk)
Workshop on Reactive transport in porous materials: Current trends and challenges, Online (ETH Zurich, EMPA, Oregon State University)
NEXT EVENT
14.07.2022 14:15-15:15
CO2 Plume Geothermal in Partially Depleted Oil ReservoirsSerhat Kucuk (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
09.08.2022 14:15-15:15
Verification of numerical tools for EGS design using benchmark laboratory-scale experimentsParomita Deb (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
16.08.2022 14:15-15:15
Reaktoro v2: an overview of its geochemical modeling capabilities and its use as a geochemical solver in reactive transport simulations23.08.2022 14:15-15:15
Doctoral defense practice talkPowei Huang (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
30.08.2022 14:15-15:15
Update progress / Practice research plan defenceAnna Kottsova (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
06.09.2022 14:15-15:15
Overview AEGIS-CH Innosuisse Flagship Project Speakers: Martin Saar, Andreas Reinicke, Jasper de Reus
Martin Saar (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
12.09.2022
Sensitivity of phase tensors to absolute resistivities in a 3-D worldLuise Dambly (poster presentation)
EM induction workshop, Cesme, Turkey
12.09.2022
The formation of geothermal systems in the context of magma-assisted continental rifting: Magnetotelluric models from the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER)Luise Dambly (poster presentation)
EM induction workshop, Cesme, Turkey
13.09.2022 14:15-15:15
GEG 2022/2023 academic year kickoff meeting + Apero afterwardsMartin Saar (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
21.09.2022 10:05-11:10 (local time)
How CO2-based geothermal energy extraction and utilization can accelerate storage of the entire CO2 - true CCUSMartin Saar (invited talk)
CO2GeoNet Open Forum, San Servolo Island – Venice – Italy
04.10.2022 14:15-15:15
Secondment SummaryTristan Merbecks (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
11.10.2022 14:15-15:15
Practice: Ph.D defenseIsamu Naets (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
01.11.2022 14:15-15:15
Using magnetotellurics for capturing geological controls on the formation of intermediate-temperature geothermal resourcesBatmagnai Erdenechimeg (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
15.11.2022 14:15-15:15
Update progress : history production matching modelLily Suherlina (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
06.12.2022 14:15-15:15
MT studies in EthiopiaLuise Dambly (GEG group presentation)
GEG Meetings, ETH Zurich
13.12.2022 14:15-15:15
A new chemical kinetics algorithm in Reaktoro v2Newest GEG Papers
Refereed journal papers accepted the last 6 months
Underlined names are links to current or past GEG members
Using CO2-Plume Geothermal (CPG) Energy Technologies to Support Wind and Solar Power in Renewable-Heavy Electricity Systems
van Brummen, A.C., B.M. Adams, R. Wu, J.D. Ogland-Hand, and M.O. Saar, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, (in press). [Download PDF] [View Abstract]CO2-Plume Geothermal (CPG) technologies are geothermal power systems that use geologically stored CO2 as the subsurface heat extraction fluid to generate renewable energy. CPG technologies can support variable wind and solar energy technologies by providing dispatchable power, while Flexible CPG (CPG- F) facilities can provide dispatchable power, energy storage, or both simultaneously. We present the first study investigating how CPG power plants and CPG-F facilities may operate as part of a renewable- heavy electricity system by integrating plant-level power plant models with systems-level optimization models. We use North Dakota, USA as a case study to demonstrate the potential of CPG to expand the geothermal resource base to locations not typically considered for geothermal power. We find that optimal system capacity for a solar-wind-CPG model can be up to 20 times greater than peak- demand. CPG-F facilities can reduce this modeled system capacity to just over 2 times peak demand by providing energy storage over both seasonal and short-term timescales. The operational flexibility of CPG-F facilities is further leveraged to bypass the ambient air temperature constraint of CPG power plants by storing energy at critical temperatures. Across all scenarios, a tax on CO2 emissions, on the order of hundreds of dollars per tonne, is required to financially justify using renewable energy over natural-gas power plants. Our findings suggest that CPG and CPG-F technologies may play a valuable role in future renewable-heavy electricity systems, and we propose a few recommendations to further study its integration potential. (Paper accepted 2022-06-16) Relating Darcy-scale chemical reaction order to pore-scale spatial heterogeneity
Huang, P.-W., B. Flemisch, C.-Z. Qin, M.O. Saar, and A. Ebigbo, Transport in Porous Media, (in press). [View Abstract]Due to spatial scaling effects, there is a discrepancy in mineral dissolution rates measured at different spatial scales. Many reasons for this spatial scaling effect can be given. We investigate one such reason, i.e., how pore-scale spatial heterogeneity in porous media affects overall mineral dissolution rates. Using the bundle-of-tubes model as an analogy for porous media, we show that the Darcy-scale reaction order increases as the statistical similarity between the pore sizes and the effective-surface-area ratio of the porous sample decreases. The analytical results quantify mineral spatial heterogeneity using the Darcy-scale reaction order and give a mechanistic explanation to the usage of reaction order in Darcy-scale modeling. The relation is used as a constitutive relation of reactive transport at the Darcy scale. We test the constitutive relation by simulating flow-through experiments. The proposed constitutive relation is able to model the solute breakthrough curve of the simulations. Our results imply that we can infer mineral spatial heterogeneity of a porous media using measured solute concentration over time in a flow-through dissolution experiment. (Paper accepted 2022-06-08) Inverse chemical equilibrium problems: General formulation and algorithm
Leal, A.M.M., and W. R. Smith, Chemical Engineering Science, 252/28, pp. 1-20, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]In a forward chemical equilibrium problem (FCEP), the state of minimum Gibbs energy for a chemical system is sought, in which temperature, pressure, elemental amounts, and thermodynamic model parameters are prescribed. We herein present a mathematical framework for characterizing and solving inverse chemical equilibrium problems (ICEP), a class of problems for which one or more of those prescribed conditions in a FCEP are unknown in advance. In an ICEP, complementary conditions must be imposed, which are referred to here as equilibrium constraints. Examples of ICEPs include those in which a certain property is known at equilibrium (e.g., volume is specified instead of pressure; enthalpy is specified instead of temperature; pH is specified instead of the amount of element H). The equilibrium constraints may also be specified by equations that govern the relationship between several equilibrium properties (e.g., the equations relating temperature, pressure, density, energy, and velocity of the gases produced during the detonation of an explosive). (Paper accepted 2022-04-28) Implementing an Equation of State without Derivatives: teqp
H. Bell, I., U. K. Deiters, and A.M.M. Leal, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 61/17, pp. 6010-6027, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]This work uses advanced numerical techniques (complex differentiation and automatic differentiation) to efficiently and accurately compute all the required thermodynamic properties of an equation of state without any analytical derivatives─particularly without any handwritten derivatives. It avoids the tedious and error-prone process of symbolic differentiation, thus allowing for more rapid development of new thermodynamic models. The technique presented here was tested with several equations of state (van der Waals, Peng–Robinson, Soave–Redlich–Kwong, PC-SAFT, and cubic-plus-association) and high-accuracy multifluid models. A minimal set of algorithms (critical locus tracing and vapor–liquid equilibrium tracing) were implemented in an extensible and concise open-source C++ library: teqp (for Templated EQuation of state Package). This work demonstrates that highly complicated equations of state can be implemented faster yet with minimal computational overhead and negligible loss in numerical precision compared with the traditional approach that relies on analytical derivatives. We believe that the approach outlined in this work has the potential to establish a new computational standard when implementing computer codes for thermodynamic models. (Paper accepted 2022-04-26) Shear induced fluid flow path evolution in rough-wall fractures: A particle image velocimetry examination
Naets, I., M. Ahkami, P.-W. Huang, M. O. Saar, and X.-Z. Kong, Journal of Hydrology, 127793, (in press). [Download PDF] [View Abstract]Rough-walled fractures in rock masses, as preferential pathways, largely influence fluid flow, solute and energy transport. Previous studies indicate that fracture aperture fields could be significantly modified due to shear displacement along fractures. We report experimental observations and quantitative analyses of flow path evolution within a single fracture, induced by shear displacement. Particle image velocimetry and refractive index matching techniques were utilized to determine fluid velocity fields inside a transparent 3D-printed shear-able rough fracture. Our analysis indicate that aperture variability and correlation length increase with the increasing shear displacement, and they are the two key parameters, which govern the increases in velocity variability, velocity longitudinal correlation length, streamline tortuosity, and variability of streamline spacing. The increase in aperture heterogeneity significantly impacts fluid flow behaviors, whilst changes in aperture correlation length further refine these impacts. To our best knowledge, our study is the first direct measurements of fluid velocity fields and provides insights into the impact of fracture shear on flow behavior. (Paper accepted 2022-04-03) The Importance of Modeling Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Geologic Storage in Energy System Planning Tools
Ogland-Hand, J.D., S.M. Cohen, R.M. Kammer, K.M. Ellett, M.O. Saar, and J.A. Bennett, Frontiers, 10/855105, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]Energy system planning tools suggest that the cost and feasibility of climate-stabilizing energy transitions are sensitive to the cost of CO2 capture and storage processes (CCS), but the representation of CO2 transportation and geologic storage in these tools is often simple or non-existent. We develop the capability of producing dynamic-reservoir-simulation-based geologic CO2 storage supply curves with the Sequestration of CO2 Tool (SCO2T) and use it with the ReEDS electric sector planning model to investigate the effects of CO2 transportation and geologic storage representation on energy system planning tool results. We use a locational case study of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region. Our results suggest that the cost of geologic CO2 storage may be as low as $3/tCO2 and that site-level assumptions may affect this cost by several dollars per tonne. At the grid level, the cost of geologic CO2 storage has generally smaller effects compared to other assumptions (e.g., natural gas price), but small variations in this cost can change results (e.g., capacity deployment decisions) when policy renders CCS marginally competitive. The cost of CO2 transportation generally affects the location of geologic CO2 storage investment more than the quantity of CO2 captured or the location of electricity generation investment. We conclude with a few recommendations for future energy system researchers when modeling CCS. For example, assuming a cost for geologic CO2 storage (e.g., $5/tCO2) may be less consequential compared to assuming free storage by excluding it from the model. (Paper accepted 2022-02-25) Review: Induced Seismicity during Geoenergy Development - a Hydromechanical Perspective
Ge, S., and M.O. Saar, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127/e2021JB02314, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]The basic triggering mechanism underlying induced seismicity traces back to the mid-1960s that relied on the process of pore-fluid pressure diffusion. The last decade has experienced a renaissance of induced seismicity research and data proliferation. An unprecedent opportunity is presented to us to synthesize the robust growth in knowledge. The objective of this paper is to provide a concise review of the triggering mechanisms of induced earthquakes with a focus on hydro-mechanical processes. Four mechanisms are reviewed: pore-fluid pressure diffusion, poroelastic stress, Coulomb static stress transfer, and aseismic slip. For each, an introduction of the concept is presented, followed by case studies. Diving into these mechanisms sheds light on several outstanding questions. For example, why did some earthquakes occur far from fluid injection or after injection stopped? Our review converges on the following conclusions: (1) Pore-fluid pressure diffusion remains a basic mechanism for initiating inducing seismicity in the near-field. (2) Poroelastic stresses and aseismic slip play an important role in inducing seismicity in regions beyond the influence of pore-fluid pressure diffusion. (3) Coulomb static stress transfer from earlier seismicity is shown to be a viable mechanism for increasing stresses on mainshock faults. (4) Multiple mechanisms have operated concurrently or consecutively at most induced seismicity sites. (5) Carbon dioxide injection is succeeding without inducing earthquakes and much can be learned from its success. Future research opportunities exist in deepening the understanding of physical and chemical processes in the nexus of geoenergy development and fluid motion in the Earth’s crust. (Paper accepted 2022-02-21) Wetting Dynamics of Spontaneous Imbibition in Porous Media: from Pore Scale to Darcy Scale
Qin, C.-Z., X. Wang, M. Hefny, J. Zhao, S. Chen, and B. Guo, Geophysical Research Letters , 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]Spontaneous imbibition is an important fundamental process due to its significance in many subsurface and industrial applications. Unveiling pore-scale wetting dynamics, and particularly its upscaling to the Darcy model, are still unresolved. We conduct image-based pore-network modeling of cocurrent spontaneous imbibition and the corresponding quasi-static imbibition, in homogeneous sintered glass beads and heterogeneous Estaillades carbonate. We show the influence of pore-scale heterogeneity on wetting dynamics and nonwetting entrapment. We illustrate the influence of wetting dynamics on capillary pressure and relative permeability curves. More importantly, we propose a non-equilibrium model for the wetting relative permeability that incorporates flow dynamics. We further implement the non-equilibrium model into two-phase Darcy modeling of spontaneous imbibition in a 10 cm long medium. Sharp wetting fronts are numerically predicted, which are in good agreement with experimental observations. Our studies provide insights into developing two-phase imbibition models with measurable material properties of capillary pressure and relative permeability.
(Paper accepted 2022-02-07) On the validation of mixed-mode I/II crack growth theories for anisotropic rocks
Sakha, M., M. Nejati, A. Aminzadeh, S. Ghouli, M.O. Saar, and T. Driesner, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 241/111484, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]We evaluate the accuracy of three well-known fracture growth theories to predict crack trajectories in anisotropic rocks through comparison with new experimental data. The results of 99 fracture toughness tests on the metamorphic Grimsel Granite under four different ratios of mixed-mode I/II loadings are reported. For each ratio, the influence of the anisotropy orientation on the direction of fracture growth is also analyzed. Our results show that for certain loading configurations, the anisotropy offsets the loading influence in determining the direction of crack growth, whereas in other configurations, these factors reinforce each other. To evaluate the accuracy of the fracture growth theories, we compare the experiment results for the kink angle and the effective fracture toughness with the predictions of the maximum tangential stress (MTS), the maximum energy release rate (MERR), and the maximum strain energy density (MSED) criteria. The criteria are first assessed in their classical forms employed in the literature. It is demonstrated that the energy-based criteria in their classical formulation cannot yield good predictions. We then present modified forms of the ERR and SED functions in which the tensile and shear components are decomposed. These modified forms give significantly better predictions of fracture growth paths. The evaluation of the three criteria illustrates that the modified MSED criterion is the least accurate model even in the modified form, while the results predicted by MTS and modified MERR are well matched with the experimental results. (Paper accepted 2022-01-31) On the applicability of connectivity metrics to rough fractures under normal stress
Javanmard, H, M. O. Saar, and D. Vogler, Advances in Water Resources, 161/104122, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]Rough rock fractures have complex geometries which result in highly heterogeneous aperture fields.
To accurately estimate the permeability of such fractures, heterogeneity of the aperture fields must be quantified.
In this study heterogeneity of single rough rock fractures is for the first time parametrized by connectivity metrics, which quantify how connected the bounds of a heterogeneous field are.
We use 3000 individual realizations of synthetic aperture fields with different statistical parameters and compute three connectivity metrics based on percolation theory for each realization.
The sensitivity of the connectivity metrics with respect to the determining parameter, i.e the cutoff threshold, is studied and the correlation between permeability of the fractures and the computed connectivity metrics is presented.
The results show that the $\Theta$ connectivity metric predicts the permeability with higher accuracy.
All three studied connectivity metrics provide better permeability estimations when a larger aperture value is chosen as the cutoff threshold.
Overall, this study elucidates that using connectivity metrics provides a less expensive alternative to fluid flow simulations when an estimation of fracture permeability is desired. (Paper accepted 2022-01-06) Techno-economic analysis of Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS)
Malek, A.E., B.M. Adams, E. Rossi, H.O. Schiegg, and M.O. Saar, Renewable Energy, 2022. [Download PDF] [View Abstract]Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS) generate electric power through a closed-loop circuit, after a working fluid extracts thermal energy from rocks at great depths via conductive heat transfer from the geologic formation to the working fluid through an impermeable wellbore wall. The slow conductive heat transfer rate present in AGS, compared to heat advection, makes AGS uneconomical to this date. To investigate what would be required to render AGS economical, we numerically model an example AGS using the genGEO simulator to obtain its electric power generation and its specific capital cost. Our numerical results show that using CO2 as the working fluid benefits AGS performance. Additionally, we find that there exists a working fluid mass flowrate, a lateral well length, and a wellbore diameter which minimize AGS costs. However, our results also show that AGS remain uneconomical with current, standard drilling technologies. Therefore, significant advancements in drilling technologies, that have the potential to reduce drilling costs by over 50%, are required to enable cost-competitive AGS implementations. Despite these challenges, the economic viability and societal acceptance potential of AGS are significantly raised when considering that negative externalities and their costs, so common for most other power plants, are practically non-existent with AGS. (Paper accepted 2022-01-04)