Geothermal Synthesis of the Upper Rhine-Graben

Abstract

In the alsatian and badean part of the upper Rhine graben, four water bearing formations display characteristics suitable for geothermal energy, which are the Rauracian-Sequanian formations, the Great-Oolite, the upper Muschelkalk and the Bundsandstein.

The shape of these aquifers has been obtained with the help of more than 300 basic bore-logs, of data from geophysical investigations, of geological maps and reports, and is represented on maps with their depth, thickness, lithology, temperature and salinity, at scale 1/250.000. The maps of temperature distribution as well as of mineral content of the flowing fluids have been produced from data obtained in oil and thermal water wells. All other available data referring to porosity, permeability and piezometric head are given in tables. The Bundsandstein offers in the northern part of the investigated area, due to its depth and its thickness, the best geothermal reservoir conditions. In the South on the opposite, the Great Oolite and, in part the upper Muschelkalk, are the formations with the main geothermal potential.