DGGV-E-Publikationen
Title: Revised and improved geological model of the Waiwera geothermal reservoir, New Zealand
Authors:
Andreas Grafe1,2, Thomas Kempka2,3, Michael Schneider1, Michael Kühn2,3
Institutions:
1Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Geological Sciences, Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany; 2GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany; 3University of Potsdam, Institute of Geosciences, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Event: GeoKarlsruhe 2021
Date: 2021
DOI: xxx
Summary:
Following a thermal and photogrammetric outcrop mapping campaign undertaken at the Waiwera geothermal reservoir in 2019, a pre-existing 3D hydrogeological model was revised in the present study to assess the impact of the updated structural and lithological interpretation on the existing numerical model calibration. For the latter, well data comprising measured temperature and salinity profiles were employed to reconstruct the reservoir’s natural thermal state and spatial distribution of salinity, supported by numerical simulations of density-driven fluid flow coupled with the transport of heat and sodium chloride. In this context, the previously applied fluid equations of state were extended to consider all relevant parameters as functions of temperature and salinity. Our simulation results demonstrate that the undertaken revisions of the static model and fluid properties substantially improve the agreement between the simulated and observed temperature profiles in the monitoring wells, while the achieved match of the simulation results with early recordings on seawater intrusion emphasizes the general model validity. Ongoing work focusses on applying the newly calibrated numerical model to support the sustainable management of the reservoir and to investigate the reappearance of natural seeps at the Waiwera beach, triggered by a decrease in the past excessive groundwater abstraction.
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