DOE Geothermal

Program Briefing
March 20, 2003
Earth Sciences Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Mack Kennedy
 Geothermal Energy Program
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Mission: Develop and integrate state of the art scientific

methods to assist industry in finding, characterizing, and
producing geothermal fields.

 Core Strengths
 Reservoir Engineering

 Geophysics (Seismic, EM, MT, Remote Sensing)

 Isotope Geochemistry

 Rock Mechanics

 Geology
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Programmatic Goals Addressed by LBNL’s Geothermal

Program
 Resource Expansion

 Advance fundamental understanding of geothermal

systems
 Advance reservoir characterization technologies

 Resource assessment

 Exploration

 Evaluate and develop new innovative techniques

 Reduce drilling costs – improved well-siting

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Collaborations
 Industry: Calpine; Caithness; Unocal; Exxon-Mobil; CalEnergy;
EMI; EPDC, Japan
 Government: USGS; LLNL; SNL; INEEL
 Academic: EGI, Univ. of Utah; Univ. of Nevada, Reno; UC
Berkeley; Stanford; New Mexico Tech.; Ohio State Univ.;
Southern Methodist Univ.

 Accomplishments
 Publications in Refereed Journals (2001 – Present) -- 25
 Conference Abstracts/Presentations (2001 – Present) -- 25
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Research Programs

 Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics ($375K)

 Geophysical Methods for Resource Exploration and

Monitoring ($265K)

 Innovative Geothermal Exploration Techniques

($260K)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics

 Reservoir Modeling ($195K, K. Pruess)

 Isotope and Geochemical Studies ($100K, M. Kennedy,

M. Lippman, with A. Truesdell)

 Technical Programmatic Assistance ($80K, M.

Kennedy, M. Lippmann)
Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics

 Reservoir Modeling

 Objective: Enhance and apply reservoir simulation codes

 Multi-phase fluid and heat flow

 Rock-fluid interaction, including mineral precipitation,
dissolution, and rock mechanics
 Behavior of phase partitioning tracers in geothermal systems.
 Reservoir Modeling
 TOUGHREACT
 TOUGH2 coupled to a fully-featured reaction path code and thermodynamic database
 Multiphase fluid and heat flow, plus rock-water-gas chemistry

 TOUGH-FLAC
 TOUGH2 coupled to commercial rock mechanics code FLAC3D
 Non-isothermal stress-strain analysis, with porosity and permeability change
 Movement along faults and fractures
 Uplift due to episodes of magmatic activity and degassing
 Injection response, growth of EGS reservoir

 TOUGH2/EOSN
 Fluid property module for noble gases and saline brines (including non-saline water)
 Realistic temperature dependence of noble gas solubility and diffusivities
 Design and analysis of tracer tests (natural or introduced)

 TOUGH2 SYMPOSIUM
 May 12-14, 2003
Fluid Flow and Diffusion in Fractured-Porous
Medium

 The lighter noble gases

 Partition more strongly into the gas (vapor) phase
 Have larger diffusivity
 Have stronger diffusive exchange with the rock matrix
 As a consequence, the lighter noble gases have…
 Slower peak arrival
 Reduced peak concentrations
 Stronger tails
 A Measure of Fracture Spacing

140 0.018 Increased fracture spacing...

Decay time 0.016
120

Relative Peak Value

0.014
100
0.012  reduces fracture-matrix
Time (day)

80 0.010 interaction
60 0.008

40
Peak time 0.006  accelerates peak arrival
0.004
20 Relative peak value 0.002
 increases peak
0 0.000 concentrations
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
FS (m )  accelerates decay of tail
 Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics

 Isotope and Geochemical Studies

 Objective: Baseline isotope and geochemical data sets

in preparation for monitoring injection to enhance
production.

 NW Geysers (Aidlin and Ottoboni Ridge)

 Coso EGS Project

 Technical Programmatic Assistance

 Geophysical Methods for Resource
Exploration and Monitoring

 Seismic Imaging ($175K, E. Majer)

 Electromagnetic Imaging ($30K, K-H. Lee)
 Integrated Seismic and EM Imaging ($30K, E.
Majer, K-H. Lee)
 Geodetic Imaging ($30K, D. Vasco)
 3-D Seismic Imaging of Geothermal Reservoirs
 Program Goals
 Detection & Mapping of Fluid Paths
 Work Objectives Shot No. 2

 Adaptation and Application of Modern

3-D Seismic Imaging for Reservoir
Definition
 Work Scope
 3-D Seismic Field Data Acquisition
 State-of-the-Art Data Processing
 3-D Numerical Modeling Model Data
 Integrated Seismic with other
Geophysical Field Data
 Accomplishments
 Seismic Studies at Rye Patch Completed
 Numerical Modeling of Fractured
Reservoir Initiated for Field Design Fracture Events
 Geophysical Methods for Resource
Exploration and Monitoring

 Electromagnetic Imaging

 Objective: Develop efficient numerical inversion codes for

mapping high-permeability zones using single-hole EM data in 3-
D.

 Complete inversion codes for analyzing 3-D electrical

structures in the vicinity of a borehole
 Analyze data acquired with the Geo-BILT (EMI), Dixie Valley
field test
 Conduct field test in The Geysers.
 Geo-BILT System
Transmitter
EMI (Schlumberger) Electronics

• Induction coils:
3-Component
– 3 component inductive source Transmitter
– Two 3-component inductive receivers
spaced 2 and 5 meters 3-Component
Receiver, 2m
• Operates at four frequencies: 2, 6, 3-Component
16 and 42 kHz Receiver, 5m

• Operating conditions: 260 C, 5 km

Receiver
Electronics
 Comparison of 3-D Inversions of
Single-hole EM Data
Integral equation
Resistivity
(Ohm-m)
-1400 -1400
3.6 3.6
3.4 3.4

Northing -1500 3.2

-1500 3.2 Easting
3 3
2.8 2.8
2.6 2.6
-1600 -1600
2.4 2.4
2.2 2.2
2 2
-1700 -1700
1.8 1.8
1.6 1.6
1.4
-1800 1.4 -1800
1.2 1.2
ft
-20 0 20 -20 0 20

Finite-difference
Imaging Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics using
High Resolution Satellite Observations
 Program Goals:
 Advance understanding of reservoir dynamics.
 Enhance geothermal recovery
 Objectives:
 Develop techniques and software for imaging of reservoir dynamics
 Applications to existing and potential geothermal fields
 Budget:
 LBNL 30K
 LLNL 150K
 Organization and Personnel:
 Don Vasco (LBNL) – Software development, application to geothermal fields
 Bill Foxall (LLNL) - InSAR imaging, interpretation
 Charles Wicks (USGS) – InSAR data reduction and processing
 Accomplishments:
 2001 – Application to Coso geothermal field, publication in Geophysical Journal
 2002/2003 – Application to Dixie Valley geothermal field
 Imaging Geothermal Reservoir Dynamics using High
Resolution Satellite Observations

Space-borne synthetic
aperture radar
Image deformation over
geothermal reservoir

Constrain reservoir
dynamics
 Innovative
Geothermal Exploration Techniques

 Objective: Evaluate and develop new techniques for assessing existing and
finding new “hidden” geothermal systems.

 Integrated approach calling on core LBNL scientific strengths: reservoir

engineering, geophysics, isotope geochemistry, geology, and remote sensing.

 Active Projects:

 Soil gas signatures of hidden systems ($15K, C. Oldenburg, A. Unger)

 Isotope geochemistry ($165K, M. Kennedy)
 3-D magnetotellurics ($30K, M. Hoversten)
 Feasibility studies and technical oversight ($50K. M. Kennedy)
• e.g. Moderate to high temperature H2 extraction from organics
 Soil Gas Signatures of Hidden Geothermal
Systems

Objective:
Use coupled subsurface-surface layer modeling to predict expected
locations and strength of maximum surface gas concentrations from a
sub-surface source.

Model Development:
T2CA

(TOUGH2, CO2, Air with atmospheric dispersion capability).

Preliminary T2CA Results
 Kilauea 3-D MT Imaging Experiment
 Program Goals
 Detection & Mapping
 Exploration
 Reservoir diagnostics
 Work Objectives
 Push software & hardware development
for fully 3D electrical structure mapping
 Demonstrate geophysical integration in
complex 3D hydrothermal environment
 Work Scope
 Field data acquisition
 3D numerical modeling
 Integrated data interpretation
 Budget (combined LBNL & SNL)
 $80K 2002
 $80K 2003
 Organization & personnel
 LBNL (lead) G. M. Hoversten
 Planning, survey data interpretation
 SNL G. A. Newman
 Massively Parallel modeling
 USGS Jim Kauahikaua
 Field support, data interpretation
 EMI Nestor Cuevas
 Data acquisition systems, support
personnel
 Accomplishments
 2002 40 site MT acquisition
 2002 AGU paper
 Imaging of rift zones and magma
conduit to the mantel
 Demonstrated consistency with seismic
and gravity interpretations
 Demonstrated large scale 3D numerical
modeling and inversion
 First Pass 2D Conductivity Structure
 Depth & location of Vp/Vs
anomaly (Dawson et al.) ties to North
high conductivity beneath
southern Kilauea caldera
 high fracturing and/or partial
melt
 Resistivity image delineates
melt zones in rift system
 Temperature distribution can be
inferred from conductivity
 Program demonstrates that high
quality 3D imaging can be done
in hydrothermal areas in the
presence of rough topography
and complex structure
 Isotope Geochemistry

 Objective: Conservative noble

gases as tracers for studying
fluid processes and heat and
sources in geothermal
systems.
• Locate and define the extent of
hidden geothermal systems –
Basin and Range, Cascades
• Reassessment of geothermal
potential
• Sensitive tracers for
monitoring injectate
• Enhance reservoir simulation
models
Dixie Valley – Heat and Fluid Sources

DV Reservoir: 0.7-0.8 Ra
 Dixie Valley
Helium Abundances and Isotopic Compositions:
Evidence for a Single Deep Fluid

0.9
SE Fum

0.8 36-14
Senator's Toe
0.7

Senator Fum DVGF

0.6 (230)

R/Ra
45-14 27-32 (197)
46-32
0.5 Sou Spr
(195)

Hyder Spr
0.4
GW (160)
(165)
0.3 ??
66-21

0.2
0 50 100 150 200 250
4
F( He)

System must have at least two fluids:

•Young groundwater: F(4He) < 10; R/Ra < 0.4
•Fluid indistinguishable from geothermal
production fluids: F(4He) > 150-200; R/Ra > 0.8

Common deep fluid suggests presence of

larger exploitable resource.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 Future Objectives – Well coordinated integrated collaborative field projects involving

Industry, National Laboratories, Universities, and the USGS

 Resource Expansion
 Reliable high resolution remote fracture mapping

 Couple mechanical properties and local stress to stimulated fracture

geometries and permeability
 Geometry and scale of fluid-rock exchange – thermal and chemical

 Improved drilling technologies – smart drilling, high temperature

 Exploration
 Reassessment of geothermal potential

 Improved understanding of geothermal systems – Basin and Range

 Ground truth assessment of remote sensing techniques

 Geophysical Methods for Resource
Exploration and Monitoring

 Seismic Imaging

 Objective: Extend and adapt multi-component 3-D and 4-D seismic

imaging to identify and separate geologic heterogeneity and
fracture controlled fluid pathways in geothermal reservoirs.

 Develop 3-D models of elastic wave propagation in

fractured/heterogeneous reservoirs
 Integrate surface and borehole seismic imaging methods and
models
 Evaluate cost effectiveness of single vs. multi-component and
VSP vs. surface seismic imaging methods.
 Geophysical Methods for Resource
Exploration and Monitoring
 Integrated Seismic and EM Imaging

 Objective: Integrate seismic and EM imaging technologies for optimum

mapping of geothermal reservoirs.

 Develop an interactive iterative process using velocity structure,

electrical conductivity structure, borehole log, and core analysis for
optimum interpretation imaging data.

 Geodetic Imaging
 Objective: Evaluate and develop techniques using observations of surface
deformation to image reservoir dynamics associated with fluid production.

 Combine high resolution InSAR, GPS, leveling, and tilt meter

observations: Dixie Valley, Coso, and perhaps Long Valley.
 Collaborative effort with LLNL