4D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for aquifer thermal energy storage monitoring

[en] In the context of aquifer thermal energy storage, we conducted a hydrogeophysical experiment emulating the functioning of a groundwater heat pump for heat storage into an aquifer. This experiment allowed the assessment of surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) ability to monitor the 3D development over time of the aquifer thermally affected zone. The resistivity images were converted into temperature. The images reliability was evaluated using synthetic tests and the temperature estimates were compared to direct temperature measurements. Results showed the capacity of surface ERT to characterize the thermal plume and to reveal the spatial variability of the aquifer hydraulic properties, not captured from borehole measurements. A simulation of the experiment was also performed using a groundwater flow and heat transport model calibrated with a larger set-up. Comparisons of the simulation with measurements highlighted the presence of smaller heterogeneities that strongly influenced the groundwater flow and heat transport.

Disciplines :

Geological, petroleum & mining engineering

Author, co-author :

Lesparre, Nolwenn; Université de Strasbourg > École et observatoire des sciences de la Terre

Robert, Tanguy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement

Nguyen, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Géophysique appliquée

Boyle, Alistair; University of Ottawa > School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Hermans, Thomas ; Universiteit Gent - UGent > Department of Geology

Language :

English

Title :

4D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for aquifer thermal energy storage monitoring

Publication date :

January 2019

Journal title :

Geothermics

ISSN :

0375-6505

Publisher :

Elsevier, United Kingdom

Volume :

Pages :

368-382

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Name of the research project :

SUITE4D & ATHENA

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
BEWARE Academia 1510466

Available on ORBi :

since 25 January 2019

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