This research focuses on the estimation of the HPAI recovery technique feasibility for the target field. Consequent laboratory-scale experiments and their further numerical modeling were performed. A kinetic model of reactions occurring during combustion was validated against experimental results. Important parameters obtained during the numerical simulation were used for the field upscaling. Four different field-wide development scenarios were considered to maximize oil production.

In order to better understand both the fixation and migration of gases in evaporites, investigations were performed in five horizontal boreholes drilled in an underground potash seam. According to the He-isotopes, a small contribution of mantle gas can be found in the geogenic salt gas. We assume that CO₂ and CH₄ are related to volcanic activity, where they isotopically equilibrated at temperatures of 513 °C to 519 °C about 15 to 16 Ma ago.

A circular city is built upon the principles of circular economy, which key concepts are reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. However, the sources, types and available quantities of insufficiently used resources in cities are currently not well documented. A site resource inventory of infrastructural and building-specific parameters has the potential to enhance the circular city’s information flow and thus support both companies in their site decisions and municipalities in the planning process.

Selecting suitable configurations is a key step for Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys. The paper proposes two selection criteria which have been tested on numerical resistivity models, developed for a CO₂ injection experiment at the Svelvik CO₂ field lab in Norway. After the CO₂ injection took place schedule performance is revalued using revised reservoir models. The study shows opportunities and challenges associated with small scale CO₂ injection monitoring using ERT.

This study endeavours to improve marine spatial planning abilities and the productivity of potential offshore renewable energy developments by creating a unique geological dataset that can be incorporated into common GIS assessments. To accomplish this, a dataset of 1,858 new and existing points is compiled and used to build a series of gridded outputs. The final model reveals areas of probable seabed stability that could provide useful information to future planning activities.

The TRANsport Simulation Environment (TRANSE) has been developed to improve the flexibility for coupling chemical libraries with fluid flow and the transport of heat and chemical species. The Python-based implementation of TRANSE enables users not experienced in low-level programming languages (e.g., C, C++ or FORTRAN) to undertake required code modifications and integrate chemical modules as required. TRANSE has been successfully verified against benchmarks on density-driven fluid flow.

In this study, we apply the Genetic Algorithm technique that mimics the natural selection process observed in nature to design optimal layouts for massive wind farms off the southeastern coast of India using real wind data. Our results show that layout optimization leads to large improvements in power generation (up to 28 %), efficiency (up to 34 %), and cost (up to 25 %) due to the reduction in wake losses.

Understanding and predicting of subsurface geophysical and geotechnical processes, such as hydrothermal flows and oil and gas production, is limited by the fact that such processes cannot be directly observed. Limited monitoring can often be done only through surface observations including gravimetry and ground uplift or subsidence. The article describes the software that allows to constrain subsurface parameters by the observations at surface.

The ROBOMINERS project develops an innovative technology for the future exploitation of small and difficult to access mineral deposits. A bioinspired robotic miner prototype, able to navigate, explore and mine under several work conditions, makes the exploration of many mineral deposits economically feasible, while reducing social and environmental impacts associated with conventional mining methods. A new mining system tailored to this new technology line is also under development.

The UNEXUP project aims to improve, test, and commercialize the robotic technology developed within the UNEXMIN project, which is already equipped with enough navigation and geoscientific instrumentation to perform exploration missions in flooded mines. The UNEXUP robot-based service intends to address the needs and requirements from mining companies, geological surveys and other sectors that can benefit this technology.

In this work we describe the integrated application of 3D diagnostic methods, i.e. Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), close range photogrammetry (CRP) and ultrasonic tomography supported by petrographic investigations. They were used to implement the diagnostic process of the conservation state of a column of a colonnade in the ancient church of Saints Lorenzo and Pancratio, dating to about the second half of the thirteenth century and located in the old town of Cagliari (Italy).

We investigate the microseismicity occurred at Hengill area, a complex tectonic and geothermal site, where the origin of earthquakes may be either natural or anthropogenic. We use a very dense broadband seismic monitoring network and apply full-waveform based method for location. Our results and first characterization identified different types of microseismic clusters, which might be associated to either production/injection or the tectonic activity of the geothermal area.

Storm Xaver in December 2013 had a high gust field that caused transportation and energy infrastructure impacts in northern Europe. There was a strong storm surge across the North Sea basin that was higher than the 1 Feb 1953 surge in certain places. For some stations in the UK and Denmark, water levels exceeded the 1000 year return period level. Similar to previous winter storms, there is an indication of large waves in coastal areas with potential impacts on offshore energy infrastructure.

Fracture networks are often self-similar and are defined by a fractal dimension. However, two such networks with the same fractal dimension may have subtle differences in their clustering attributes that lead to distinct connectivity and flow behavior. This research shows that rather than the fractal dimension, lacunarity, a parameter quantifying scale-dependent clustering, is a better proxy for fracture connectivity as well as flow responses and, is relatively easy to compute than connectivity.

As national regulator within the German siting process, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) performs own research on, e.g., geo-scientific questions, methodological aspects of the implementation of the site selection process, and public participation aspects. The results support BASE to fulfil its task according to state-of-the-art science and technology, ensure highest safety-level and are also relevant to other stakeholders of the siting process.

Utilization of geothermal reservoirs as alternative energy source is becoming increasingly important worldwide. Here, we studied the surface expression of a warm water reservoir in Waiwera, New Zealand, that has been known for many centuries but remained little explored. Using thermal infrared cameras we were able to show renewed activity of the hot springs on the beachfront and identified faults and fractures as important fluid pathways, as well as individual fluid conducting lithologies.

Energy supply in Germany is subject to a profound change. The present paper addresses the German potential of storing excess energy from renewable power sources in the geological subsurface. Wind and solar electricity can be transformed into hydrogen, and with carbon dioxide subsequently into methane. The current potential for combined subsurface storage of methane and carbon dioxide allows to store far more than required to date and is estimated to provide the entire coverage in 2050.

This study presents a framework for regional smart energy planning for the optimal location and sizing of small hybrid systems. By using an optimization model – in combination with weather data – various local energy systems are simulated using the Calliope and PyPSA energy system simulation tools. The optimization and simulation models are fed with GIS data from different volunteered geographic information projects, including OpenStreetMap.

The wettability of reservoir rock is one of the most critical factors affecting the residual saturation and transport properties. In this work, we investigated the wettability of target rock samples using a nuclear magnetic resonance, vapor adsorption, and wetting contact angle technique. Results provided an initial assessment of rock surface wettability and showed correlations between wettability index, rock lithology, and organic matter morphology for target shale formation.

In our study, we investigate the variability of potential offshore wind power over Europe on time scales of more than 10 years. Detailed spectral analysis of potential offshore wind power capacities over the last century indicates a strong coupling to large climate patterns such as the NAO. Furthermore, combining the wind power potential at the German North Sea and the Portuguese Atlantic coast shows that the variability can be mitigated.

Mineral precipitation in filters and heat exchangers can impede geothermal plant operation and cause expensive losses of efficiency. To prevent scaling a biodegradable inhibitor has been applied in a geothermal plant. Water monitoring revealed no significant chemical changes, but an adaption of the microbial community as well as a higher abundance of Bacteria after heat extraction. Laboratory experiments under anaerobic conditions showed that the inhibitor can be almost completely metabolized.

In this study, a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model is implemented to simulate the processes of heat extraction, reservoir deformation, and groundwater flow in the fractured rock reservoir. The results show that the growth of the number and spacing of fracture zones can effectively decrease the pore pressure difference between injection and abstraction wells; it also increases the production temperature at the abstraction, the service life-spans, and total heat production rate.