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Geothermal Field and Reservoir Monitoring

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Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology

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Definition of the Subject and Its Importance

Geothermal systems are dynamic entities in which the liquid and vapor phases of water are the main mobile constituents. In their natural state these are generally in a quasi steady-state condition, when considered over a long period of time (>1,000 years). However, when fluid is withdrawn for the purpose of extracting energy then changes may occur within the system. These changes can result in a variety of environmental effects some of which are undesirable and so to manage the extraction of energy in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way it is necessary to monitor the changes. By monitoring the changes with time it is possible to understand and model the effects these changes may have on the environment and take steps to minimize any undesirable effects in a timely manner. Changes may also have engineering implications for a geothermal development, especially for a power station. One example is a decrease in the pressure of...

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Abbreviations

Anchor grouting:

Concrete pumped into the rocks around the upper part of the well to anchor the well and well cellar to the near-surface rock formations.

Aquiclude:

A geological formation (or formations) which will not transmit water; a barrier to vertical movement of geothermal fluid.

Aquifer:

A geological formation (or formations) which contains water or geothermal fluid and will allow fluid movement.

Baseline:

Data set acquired before exploitation begins, against which any future measurements are compared.

Benchmark:

Permanent survey mark, often consisting of a stainless steel pin set in a concrete block or in the concrete base of a pipeline support.

Bleed:

A well that is throttled back to a minimum flow is said to be “on bleed.” It is often risky to completely shut down a geothermal production well because it may be difficult to restart. Bleeding also keeps the wellbore heated which minimizes corrosion.

Deep liquid level:

Boundary between the two-phase and deep liquid zones.

Deep liquid zone:

Region of single phase liquid conditions below a two-phase (liquid and vapor) zone.

Developer:

Company or organization which locates or uses geothermal energy for domestic or industrial purposes.

Dryout:

The process whereby liquid saturation in the pores decreases and the vapor saturation increases, as a result of a decrease in pressure.

Epicenter:

The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the hypocenter or focus of an earthquake.

Geothermal system:

A body of hot water and rock within the Earth.

Go-devil:

A tool for determining wellbore clearances or for scraping out obstructions from a well or pipeline.

Groundwater:

Water, generally cold and of meteoric origin, which resides in near-surface aquifers and is often used for domestic and industrial purposes.

High-temperature system:

A geothermal system, or part thereof, containing fluid having a temperature greater than 150°C; c.f. low-temperature system in which the temperature is less than 150°C. Note, however, that this temperature value is arbitrary and that different authorities adopt different values, or divide the range into low, intermediate, and high temperature.

Hypocenter:

The focus or focal point of an earthquake (x, y, z) c.f. epicenter (x, y).

Injection (syn. reinjection):

The process of returning waste water from a geothermal power station or industrial process back into the ground. This generally occurs around the edges of the field and may not be into the production aquifer from which fluid is drawn off to the power station.

Injection aquifer:

The formation into which injected fluid is put. Generally this has high porosity and permeability.

Liquid-dominated system:

A geothermal system, or part thereof, in which the pressure is hydrostatically controlled; c.f. steam (vapor)-dominated system, where the pressure is steam-static.

Make-up well:

Well drilled to replace production lost from an existing production well, due to decreases in fluid temperature or pressure.

Perched aquifer:

An aquifer of limited lateral extent which is separated from an underlying body of groundwater by unsaturated rock.

Permeability:

A measure of the capacity of a geological rock formation to transmit a fluid.

Production zone:

That region (depth) of the geothermal reservoir from which most of the production of fluid occurs.

Reservoir:

The region of a geothermal system from which geothermal fluid is withdrawn, or is capable of being withdrawn.

Residual (liquid) saturation:

The amount of liquid that remains in the pores (as % of pore volume) which decreases in pressure will not vaporize. The liquid saturation level below which vaporization of liquid will not occur.

Steam zone:

A region of the reservoir in which steam (vapor) is the pressure-controlling phase.

Trigger point:

A measured value at which it is considered action needs to be taken to prevent or avoid some detrimental occurrence happening, or exceeding some predetermined limit.

Two (2)-phase zone:

A region where the liquid and vapor (steam) phases of water coexist in pores or fractures.

Vadose zone:

The region of unsaturated rock and soil between the ground surface and the shallow groundwater level.

Waste water:

Geothermal water from which energy has been extracted and is no longer required. This may be separated water, or steam which has passed through turbines or a binary plant and been condensed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GNS Science, Wairakei Geothermal Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand

    Dr. Trevor M. Hunt

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  1. Dr. Trevor M. Hunt
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Correspondence to Trevor M. Hunt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, Larkspur, CA, USA

    Robert A. Meyers

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Hunt, T.M. (2012). Geothermal Field and Reservoir Monitoring . In: Meyers, R.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_298

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