The distribution, orientation, and characteristics of natural fractures for experiment 1 of the EGS collab project, Sanford underground research facility

EGS Collab Team

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The EGS Collab project is focused on understanding and predicting permeability enhancement and evolution in crystalline rocks. To accomplish this, the project is creating a suite of intermediate-scale (~10-20 m) field test beds coupled with stimulation and interwell flow tests that will provide a basis to better understand the fracture geometries and processes that control heat transfer between rock and stimulated fractures. As part of the site characterization effort for the first experimental test bed, our team has worked on mapping the distribution, orientation, and nature of open and healed fractures exposed along the drift wall and within the eight bore holes drilled for this test bed. The fractures have been characterized through detailed description of continuous cores obtained from these boreholes, evaluation of televiewer logs, and mapping of fractures and seeps exposed along the drift wall. The fracture data are being compiled and interpreted for slip and dilation tendencies, and will be incorporated into coupled-process geomechanical flow and transport models to better constrain the planned flow and tracer tests.

Original languageEnglish
StatePublished - 2018
Event52nd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium - Seattle, United States
Duration: Jun 17 2018Jun 20 2018

Conference

Conference52nd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle
Period06/17/1806/20/18

Funding

This material was based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Technology Development, Geothermal Technologies Program, under Award Number DE-AC02-05CH11231 with LBNL and other subcontracts. The United States Government retains, and the publisher by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The research supporting this work took place in whole or in part at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The assistance of the Sanford Underground Research Facility and its personnel in providing physical access and general logistical and technical support is acknowledged. We thank Kathy Hart of SURF for providing data from the Homestake Vulcan database to help construct our geologic model. The color shaded stereonet plots were generated using Golder’s FracMan software. The earth model output depicted in Figs. 2 and 4 was generated using Leapfrog Software. Copyright © Aranz Geo Limited. Leapfrog and all other Aranz Geo Limited product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of Aranz Geo Limited.

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