By comparing long term lithospheric strength to seismicity patterns across the Alpine region, we show that most seismicity occurs where strengths are highest within the crust. The lower crust appears largely aseismic due to energy being dissipated by ongoing creep from low viscosities. Lithospheric structure appears to exert a primary control on seismicity distribution, with both forelands display a different distribution patterns, likely reflecting their different tectonic settings.

We have developed a first Germany-wide 3D data-based density and temperature model integrating geoscientific observations and physical processes. The model can serve as a reference for local detailed studies dealing with temperature, pressure, stress, subsidence and sedimentation. Our results help to improve subsurface utilization concepts, reveal current geomechanical conditions crucial for hazard assessment and gather information on viable resources such groundwater and deep geothermal energy.

In this study we investigate groundwater flow in the deep subsurface of the Upper Rhine Graben. We make use of a 3-D numerical model covering the entire Upper Rhine Graben. The deep hydrodynamics are characterized by fluid flow from the graben flanks towards its center and in the southern half of the graben from south to north. Moreover, local heterogeneities in the shallow flow field arise from the interaction between regional groundwater flow and the heterogeneous sedimentary configuration.

The study presented in this paper aims at reproducing findings from chemical and isotopic groundwater sample analysis along with quantifying the influence of regional (cross-boundary) flow for the area of Berlin, Germany. For this purpose we built 3-D models of the subsurface, populating them with material parameters (e.g. porosity, permeability) and solving them for coupled fluid and heat transport. Special focus was given to the setup of boundary conditions, i.e. fixed pressure at the sides.

In projects based on enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology, knowledge of the in situ stress state is of central importance to predict the response of the rock mass to different stimulation programs. We propose a characterization of the in situ stress state from the analysis of ultrasonic borehole imager (UBI) data acquired at different key moments of the reservoir. We discuss a significant stress rotation at depth and the absence of a significant change in the stress magnitude.

Accuracy of well inflow modelling in different numerical simulation approaches was compared for a multi-lateral well with laterals of varying diameter. For homogeneous cases, all simulators generally were reasonably close in terms of the total well flow (deviations smaller than 4 %). The distribution of the flow over the different laterals in a well can vary significantly between simulators (> 20 %). In a heterogeneous case with a fault the deviations between the approaches were much larger.

The main goal of this study was to understand how different realizations of the impact of groundwater pumping activities in a major urban center would affect the results of 3-D numerical models. In detail we looked at two model scenarios which both rely on the same geological structural model but differ in the realization of the groundwater boundary conditions. The results show, that it is necessary to use groundwater wells as an active parameter to reproduce local movement patterns.

The paper describes theory and numerical implementation for coupled thermo–hydraulic–mechanical processes focusing on reservoir (mainly related to geothermal energy) applications.

The Kenya Rift is a zone along which the African continental plate is stretched as evidenced by strong earthquake and volcanic activity. We want to understand the controlling factors of past and future tectonic deformation; hence, we assess the structural and strength configuration of the rift system at the present-day. Data-driven 3-D numerical models show how the inherited composition of the crust and a thermal anomaly in the deep mantle interact to form localised zones of tectonic weakness.