Overview of the Soultz geothermal project - Geoelec · Overview of the Soultz geothermal project Dr Albert Genter [email protected] GeoElec Visit Kutzenhausen, 09 th November 2012

Overview of the Soultz geothermal project

Dr Albert Genter

[email protected]

GeoElec Visit

Kutzenhausen, 09th November 2012

Soultz geothermal power plant

OUTLINE

• Project organization

• Scientific achievements

• Technical achievements

• On-going activities on site

• Geothermal activity and dissemination

– Other EGS projects in the URG

– Dissemination

3

Soultz Drilling Rig

The Soultz geothermal conceptHot Dry Rock

• Acronym HDR

• Heat exploitation from deep hard rocks

• High temperatures at great depth

• Not dependent from the location

• Create artificially a heat exchanger at depth

• Closed system

EGS

• Enhanced Geothermal System

• Natural brine 100g/l, NaCl, pH~5

• Naturally Fractured and Altered Granite

• Connection between geothermal well to the reservoir by stimulation

• Forced fluid circulation during exploitation

4

Large reservoir with similar fluid composition: open system

Geothermal fluid

Artificial heat exchanger

WHO WE ARE?

5

Industrial Partners

Public Funding

Scientific Partners

European Economic Interest Grouping

“Exploitation Minière de la Chaleur” GEIE EMC

CONTRACTUAL PROJECT PHASES

6

Deep Drilling & Stimulation29M€

2001 Phase I 2005

2004 Phase II 2009

Power plant construction25M€

2010 Phase III 2012

Scientific and Technical monitoring5M€

Geothermal life cycle

7

Site Selection

DrillingStimulation

TestingConcept

Build & testpower plant

Operate andcirculation

Site abandonment

Fracture onoutcrops

Concessionalscale

BoreholeImage

Micro-seismiccloud structure

Power plant exploitation

Power plant dismantlement

Geothermal Development

Soultz Project presentation

Location

• Geothermal anomaly in the Upper Rhine Graben (URG)

Technology

• 4 deep geothermal wells (3,6 and 5 km): 200οC @ 5 km depth

• 1st binary geothermal plant in France

• Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology: 1.5 MWe

• Down-hole pump tests: Long Shaft Pump (LSP)

Feed-in tariff

• New decree 23 July 2010 in France

• Geothermal electricity 20 c€ per kWh

• Bonus for heat of 8 c€ per kWh

• At Soultz, selling of electricity started early 2011

• No heat application on site

One of the highest geothermal anomaly in Western Europe 8

Sediments

Granite

GPK2

GPK1 GPK4

GPK3

Pump

ORC plant

Down-hole Pump

SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

9

WEST RIFT EUROPEAN SYSTEM

10

Soultz

Dèzes et al., 2004

11

UPPER RHINE GRABEN (URG)

Soultz Horst

Transverse Seismic line

Geothermal target is a deep crystalline rock

FRACTURE NETWORK BASED ON 2D SEISMIC DATA

12

Sediments

Granite

Renard & Courrioux, 1994; Valley, 2007

Major fault system in the sediments

Need for imaging the deep fractured granite

The main project steps

13

1987 – 1991

Explorationphase

1991 – 1998

Creation of the 2 wells system GPK1/GPK2

at - 3600 m

1999 – 2007

Creation of the 3 wells system GPK2/GPK3/GPK4

at - 5000 m

2007 – 2009

Construction of the first production unit

ORC - 1.5 MWe

• Drilling GPK1 at - 2000 m

• Coring EPS1 at- 2227 m

• Deepening of GPK1 at- 3600 m and stimulation

• Drilling of GPK2 at - 3880 m and stimulation

• Circulation test between the 2 wells (4 months)

• Deepening of GPK2 at - 5080 m and stimulation

• Drilling of GPK3 at- 5100 m and stimulation



• Complementary stimulations (chemical)

• Installation of surface equipment (turbine and generator, heat exchangers, cooling systems …)

• Installation of the LSPin GPK2 at - 350 m

• Inauguration of the power plant 13.06.2008

• Installation of the ESPin GPK4 at - 500m

2010-2012

GEOTHERMAL MAP (1929)

14

50°C at 400 m depth

STANDARD GRANITE

15

Core K21, GPK-1 (3510 m)

Monzogranite

Crystals of FK (1 to 4 cm)

Granite matrix:plagioclase, quartz, biotite and hornblende

Accessory minerals: magnetite, zircon, apatite, titanite, hematite, leucoxene,

7 cm

ILLITE AND CALCITE WITHIN FRACTURED GRANITE

16

1mm

50mm

GPK1 wellK5-20

GPK1 wellK5-20

GPK1 wellK19-12

THE MAIN PROJECT STEPS

17

1987 – 1991

Explorationphase

1991 – 1998


at - 3600 m

1999 – 2007


at - 5000 m

2007 – 2009


ORC - 1.5 MWe















2010-2012

18

WELL COMPLETION

SITE MAP

19

Since 1987:

• EPS1 fully cored ➨ exploration well

• GPK1 ➨ Injection well

• GPK3 ➨ Injection well

• GPK2 & GPK4 ➨ Production wells

BHT=200°C

700m 700m

σHmax

THERMAL PROFILES IN THE SOULTZ WELLS

20

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

temperature [°C]

true

ver

tical

dep

th [

m]

Temperature Logs Equilibrium

GPK-2GPK-3GPK-4

Natural circulation within hydrothermally altered and fractured zones

Convection

Triassic sandstone

Paleozoic granite

Conduction

ConductionFractured

SandstoneFractured

Altered Granite

DEEP GEOLOGY

• Methodology:

– Fracture network with borehole image logs

– Petrography and hydrothermal alterations with cuttings, cores and geophysical logs analyses

• Geological model:

– 2 granites (U/Pb dating)

– Normal faults, graben

– Fracture zones with low natural permeability

21Dezayes et al., 2004

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRINE

– Representative chemical composition: Na-Cl brine, pH ≈ 4.8-5.0

– TDS ≈ 97 g/l and density = 1.065 g/cm3 (20°C)

22

27,5

3,25

6,9

0,125

59,0

0,190 0,0850,427

0,220,45

0,14

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

conc

entra

tion

(g/l)

Na K

Ca

Mg Cl

SO

4

HC

O3

SiO

2 Br

Sr Li

speciesSanjuan et al., 2008

23

HYDRAULIC STIMULATION

GPK2, 2000µseismic events M>1

GPK3, 2003µseismic events M>1

Pre

sure

TimeDorbath et al., 2009Cuenot et al., 2008

24

SEISMOLOGICAL NETWORKS

25

MICROSEISMIC CLOUDS

� Several thousands of microseismic events during each stimulation test

� Several felt earthquakes (M > 2)

� Maximum magnitudes- 2000 : 2.6- 2003 : 2.9, 2.7- 2004 : 2.0- 2005 : 2.6

PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE

26

� growing fear due to:

• the largest earthquakes (vibration, sound, moving objects )

• repetition of felt earthquakes (within a short period)

� lots of phone calls (complain or ask for information)

� complaints to local authorities from individuals or associ ations

� articles in local newspapers

� around 70 complaints for presumed damages, which were evalu ated by experts frominsurance companies

� long-term risk of strong opposition to the project

TRACER TEST IN 2005

PRODUCTION GPK2 & INJECTION GPK3

27

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

07/07/05 27/07/05 16/08/05 05/09/05 25/09/05 15/10/05 04/11/05 24/11/05 14/12/05 03/01/06

Time (days)

SN

fluo

resc

ein

conc

entr

atio

n (µ

g/l)

EGI data (Fluorimetry

on site)

injection of 150 kg of SN fluorescein dissolved in

950 l of fresh water

BRGM data (HPLC)

Inflow of Inflow of geothermal brine geothermal brine

GPK3 GPK4GPK2

12

3(?)

Sanjuan et al., 2006

Strong hydraulic dissymetry between GPK3/GPK2 & GPK 3/GPK4

70% of external water: open system

THE MAIN PROJECT STEPS

28

1987 – 1991

Explorationphase

1991 – 1998


at - 3600 m

1999 – 2007


at - 5000 m

2007 – 2009


ORC - 1.5 MWe















2010-2012

TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

29

Power plant construction

Down hole pump technologies

MOVIE

30

www.geothermie-soultz.fr

31

HEAT EXCHANGERS

Preheater 1 Preheater 2

Evaporator

Demister

Geothermal

water inlet

Geothermal

water outlet

Isobutane

inletIsobutane

oulet

32

LSP (LINE SHAFT PUMP) IN GPK2

• 250 m• Max power ~ 300 kW

LSP PUMP DISMANTLING – SCALING (CARBONATES)

TURBINE RADIALE (CRYOSTAR)

34

A turbine is a rotating machine that converts energy from a process stream into mechanical energy.

At Cryostar, this equipment is a radial inflow expansion turbine.

Gas, at a high pressure level, is expanded through a turbine wheel to a lower pressure level.

Thus, the power generated, can

drive a compressor or a generator.

TURBINE =

EXPANSION

+

POWER RECOVERY

SUCTION

DISCHARGE

T1

T2<T1

High pressure

(radial flow inlet)

Low pressure

(axial flow outlet)

THE SOULTZ POWER PLANT

35

36

On-going activities

GEOTHERMAL SOULTZ SITE

37

Power plant

Max 1,5MWe

Organic Rankine Cycle

Geothermal system

Production Well GPK2

26L/s @157°C 19bar

26L/s

13L/s

10L/s

Sediments

Granite

GPK2

GPK1 GPK4

GPK3

Pump

38

Environment

ReservoirPerformance

Power planttechnology

Corrosion/scalingDown-hole pumps

NoiseVibration

Natural radioactivityVisual impact

Micro-seismicity activityLow pressure re-injection

Well production enhancement

PHASE III: CHALLENGES DURING EXPLOITATION

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

01/05/10 00:00 31/05/10 00:00 30/06/10 00:00 30/07/10 00:00 29/08/10 00:00 28/09/10 00:00

Time (day)

1,3,

5-ts

n co

ncen

trat

ion

(µg/

l)

39

ReservoirPerformance

Micro-seismicity activityLow pressure re-injection

Well production enhancement

CHALLENGES DURING EXPLOITATION: RESERVOIR

• Power Plant Monitoring

• Well measurements

• Induced Seismicity

• Seismology

• Reservoir modelling

• 3D modelling/Exploration

Physico-chemical monitoring

Geothermal fluid

Inter-well tracer Micro-seismicity monitoring

Tracer modellingIn fractured media

3D fault modelling

Longest hydraulic circulation test never done at Soultz: >10 months

Low induced micro-seismicity activity

Average rate is less than 2 µevents/day from January 2010

Maximum magnitude was 2.3, none felt

40

RESERVOIR: MICRO-SEISMICITY ACTIVITY

41

RESERVOIR: INDUCED MICRO-SEISMICITY ACTIVITY AT DEPTH

During recent circulation tests, micro-seismicity developed always in the same areas

In green, October events

RESERVOIR: HYDRAULIC MONITORING

Induced micro-seismicity activity at depth, December 2009 – August 2010:

RESERVOIR: TRACER TEST BETWEEN 2 WELLS

- Tracer test between GPK3 and GPK2 in stable hydraulic conditions at 18l/s

- Organic non-reactive tracer (1,3,5 nts) injected on May 4th 2010

43Field data, Sanjuan, 2011 Tracer modelling

Gentier et al., 2011

Fluid monitoring at production (165°C)

44

- Physico-chemical fluid monitoring: Cl, HCO3, SiO2, pH, conductivity, Redox

Fluid data: Native brine

45

83.5%

11.6%

0.76% 0.4%2.46%

CO2

N2

He

H2

CH4

- Gas and geothermal water analyses

Gas sample collected on February 22, 2011GLR (Gas Liquid Ratio) = 104% vol. = 0.18% mass

δ13C value (-3.9‰) suggests a mixed sedimentary-magmatic CO2 signature

Isotopic δD value: - 41.3‰

Isotopic δ18O value: -2.5‰

Closer from the Native Geothermal Brineit remains less than 1% of injected freshwater in February 2011

Fluid monitoring at reinjection (70°C)

46

47

Power planttechnology

CHALLENGES DURING EXPLOITATION: TECHNOLOGY

• Corrosion

• Scaling

• Down-hole pumps

• Heat exchangers, filters

• ORC, air cooling

Corrosion by-passScaling: mineral deposits

Heat exchanger Down-hole Pump

Low Temperature Skid : LTS

On-going corrosion study at on-site

reinjection conditions (70°C) and in

laboratory (EIfER)

Different steels are currently tested

Casing: P110 & N80

Surface pipe: P265GH, P235GH, …

48

Longest on-site corrosion test in reinjection conditions (70°C) between May and October 2010

Corrosion rate ~0.2 mm/year

SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES: CORROSION STUDY (LTS)

Designed, constructed & tested in 2008 by GEIEOperational conditions of the LTS:

T = 50 - 70˚CP = 20 barFlow = 0.9 m/s

SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES: CORROSION STUDY (HTS)

49

High Temperature Skid (HTS)Designed in 2010 by GEIE In construction since July 2011First experiments expected in 2012 Operational conditions of the HTS

Height: 2.2m, width: 1.5mT = 155 - 165˚CP = 20 barflow = 2 m/s

Coating experiments

50

N80 coupon Chemical maps

Sr

As

Pb

Ga

Ba

Barito-Celestine deposit (Ba,Sr)SO4: Ba, Sr

Galena deposit PbS: Pb, As, Ga

CORROSION STUDY: CHEMICAL RESULTS

51

• Scaling characterization

– Mineralogical and geochemical studies with KIT/EnBW

• Main minerals: Barite-Celestine (Ba, Sr) SO4 & Galena (PbS) and trace

minerals (other sulfides)

SEM - MicroscopyBarite-Celestine dominated.

Only traces of sulfidesScaling sample from GPK4 pipe

Geochemical characterization: Trace elements (metals)What are the mineral formation conditions (sulfides) ?

SCALING STUDY: MINERALOGICAL RESULTS

52

• Investigations about anti-scalants with a German company

• Comparison of the effectiveness of several polyphosphonates

• Laboratory experiments with closed bottle tests

• Artificial solutions and original fluid (GPK2)

without inhibitor

orange 3ml orange 5ml red 5ml blue 5ml

Two products selectedAn injection system has been designed for doing a test

in real operational conditions

ANTI-SCALING STUDY

53

DOWN-HOLE PUMP: LSP FAILURE APRIL 2011

Hydraulic part of the LSP Damaged impellers cutting samples

54

New screwing tool used for dismantling the production pump

DOWN-HOLE PUMP IMPROVEMENTS

Hydraulic part of the LSP showing a boronized diffusor

Production well GPK-2

Technical sketch of the well-head showing the location of the vibration sensors

55

DOWN-HOLE PUMP FREQUENCY IN GPK-2 IN 2011

January to April 2011 @ Production wellFrequency, Flow rate, Temperature and Pressure

August to October 2011 @ Production wellFrequency, Flow rate, Temperature and Pressure

56

Environment

NoiseVibration

Natural radioactivityVisual impact

CHALLENGES DURING EXPLOITATION: ENVIRONMENT

• Noise

• Vibrations

• Natural radioactivity

High speed turbine Air cooling system

Geothermal equipment On-site radioprotection measurements

ENVIRONMENT: NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY

• Radioprotection for workers (blue line, dosimeter)

• Maximum legal annual authorized level: 1 mSv permanently

• Regular monitoring on GPK1/GPK2 plate-forms: 350 measurements

• ASN (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire) de Strasbourg

• Max value is 10µSv/h, Average value 2µSv/h

• Reinjection part (low Temp, 70°C) of the geothermal power point shows higher

radiation dose values than the production part (high Temp, 160°C)

57

Research study on anti-scalant productsTest in real conditions

Power production in 2011

58

59GPK1

GPK1 GPK4

GPK4

White compact depositat 80 m depth

View downward of thecasing at 194 m depth

Very local whitedeposit at 327 m depth

View downward of thecasing at 369 m depth

Video tool

Data acquisition system

Video camera: Scaling visible on the internal

surface of the casing

60

PerspectivesNew projectsDissemination

61

< 60°C

60 - 80°C

80 - 120°C

120 - 140°C

140 - 160°C

160 - 180 °C

180 - 200°C

200 - 220°C

220 - 240°C

> 240°C

DEEP TEMPERATURES IN EUROPE

62

ACCEPTABILITY OF DEEP GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: OPINION SURVEY

Kutzenhausen and Soultz villagesAgreement from the 2 mayors

Questionnaire with 80 questions203 interviews

Radioactivity

Visual Impact

Noise

Pollution

Sismicity

Positive feed-back from local population

EGS PROJECTS WITHIN THE UPPER RHINE VALLEY

• In Germany,

– Landau, Insheim

– Bruchsal

• In Northern Alsace, a new company ECOGI started in 2011, a

new geothermal project close to Soultz (Rittershoffen-Hatten)

• Objective is to produce heat for drying cereals by drilling a

well at 2,5 km. Expected temperature is about 150-170°C. First

geothermal drilling, started in September 2012

• Other oil/geothermal companies are looking for geothermal

exploration

• Labex G-EAU THERMIE PROFONDE (EOST Strasbourg)63

DISSEMINATION IN THE GEOTHERMAL COMMUNITY

Dec. 2006

238 peer review papers725 presentations in conferences136 diploma students (51 PhD)

June 2010

DISSEMINATION TO A LARGE AUDIENCE

65

http://www.geothermie-soultz.fr/

Website: English, French German versions on-line

Soultz Geothermal Conference150 participants

Soultz geothermal power plant visits2000 visits per year

Neuchâtel Univ. 14 Sept 2011

66

Merci pour votre attention

67France, Germany, Switzerland French & German Industry

Documents

Overview of the Soultz geothermal project - Geoelec · Overview of the Soultz geothermal project Dr Albert Genter [email protected] GeoElec Visit Kutzenhausen, 09 th November 2012