In-situ Stimulation and Circulation Experiment (ISC)
In-situ Stimulation & Circulation Experiment (ISC) - Introduction
- Details
- By McKie David
- Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
- Category: In-situ Stimulation and Circulation Experiment (ISC)
The ISC Experiment is a geothermal research project initiated by the SCCER-SoE (Swiss Competence Centre for Energy Research – Supply of Electricity) and scientifically directed by the ETH Zurich.
The primary goal is to improve our understanding of geomechanical processes underpinning permeability creation during hydraulic stimulation and related induced seismicity as well as to evaluate the efficiency of the generated underground heat exchanger. The experimental site is located in the southern part of the GTS between the VE-Drift and the Main Access Tunnel. In this area, three shear-zones are present dipping south to south-east at steep angles.
The project tasks are grouped in three phases.
Pre-Stimulation Phase (2015/16)
- Drilling and investigation of 15 boreholes
- Hydraulic & geophysical characterisation
- Determination of the stress regime -> derive slip tendencies and fracture reactivation pressures
- Installation of seismic monitoring network in galleries
- Installation of monitoring systems for pore pressure, temperature, strain
Stimulation Phase (2017)
- Hydraulic stimulation of existing shear-zones
- Stimulation of newly hydraulic fractured rock
- Real-time monitoring of near-field effects: seismic emissions, displacement and changes in pressure and strain.
Post-Stimulation Phase (2017)
- The aim of the post-stimulation phase is to investigate and document the changes in hydraulic and geophysical properties provoked by the previous stimulation activities.
- Circulation phase: study of thermal effects on fracture flow, efficiency of newly created heat exchanger
Links
SCCER SoE geo-energy http://www.sccer-soe.ch/research/geo-energies/overview/
Demo-1: Flagship stimulation experiment in the deep underground laboratory http://www.sccer-soe.ch/research/pilot-and-demonstration-projects/
ISC Project description http://www.sccer-soe.ch/export/sites/sccersoe/news/.galleries/dwn_news/2015_Agreement_NAGRA.pdf
ETH Globe Magazine article: The rock crackers http://www.sccer-soe.ch/export/sites/sccersoe/news/.galleries/dwn_news/2016_ETH_Globe_Grimsel_EN.pdf
ISC Boreholes
|
Prefix |
Primary purpose |
Acitivities / Instrumentation |
Number of |
|
GEO |
Geophysical investigation borehole |
|
4 |
|
FBS |
Strain monitoring |
|
3 |
|
INJ |
Injection borehole |
|
2 |
|
PRP |
Pore pressure monitoring borehole |
Multi-interval pore pressure and temperature monitoring in shear-zones near to the intersection points of INJ-boreholes |
3 |
|
SBH |
Stress measurement borehole |
|
3 |
All boreholes were cored, geophysically logged and hydraulically characterized using multi-packer systems.
Source: Micro-seismic monitoring during hydraulic-shearing experiments at the Grimsel Test Site
Villiger,L, Gischig,V., Doetsch, J, Krietsch, H., Jalali, M., Amann, F., Evans, K., Valley, B., Wiemer, S. Schatzalp Workshop on Induced Seismicity, 2017.
Geophone array and high precision tilt meter (foreground) in the VE-Tunnel to monitor seismic micro-events and ground movement during hydraulic stimulation in the ISC Injection Boreholes.
Images
Seismic investigation of GEO-boreholes
Hydraulic stimulation works
Assembling multi-packer system for hydraulic characterisation of boreholes
Seismic sensor placed in recess of tunnel wall
40 years of Experience
40 Years experience
2014 marked a significant milestone in the history of the Grismel Test Site with the running of experiments which have spanned more than 30 years. Read more about the close to 40 years of scientific exploration in the 40 Years of History at the Gimsel Test Site section.
Grimsel 2010 - English (PDF 1,119 kb )
Grimsel 2010 - Deutsch (PDF 989 kb )
