| Title | Testing the Effectiveness of Leapfrog Geothermal 3D Integrated Geological Modelling as a Geothermal Resource Exploration and Management Tool |
|---|---|
| Authors | Massiot, C.; Bignall, G.; Alcaraz, S.; Rae, A.; Sepulveda, F.; van Moerkerk, H. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | 3D geological modelling; geothermal exploration; Leapfrog Geothermal; Ohaaki Geothermal Field; New Zealand |
| Abstract | Improved well targeting is crucial to reduce risk and drilling costs during geothermal resource exploration and delineation, and subsequent field development. A flexible exploration drilling strategy evolves from a conceptual model based on a range of geophysical data, geochemical interpretation and geological insights. Each new well provides new information on the stratigraphy and structure, hydrothermal alteration, thermal profile and controls on permeability, but a combined interpretation of the different data sets remains challenging. 3-D modelling is an inexpensive and efficient tool to combine the different data set into a single platform, and helps provide a combined interpretation that has value to ongoing exploration and development. In this paper, we present Leapfrog Geothermal 3D geological models of the Ohaaki Geothermal Field (New Zealand) at five stages of its development. The comparison of the different models against proposed interpretations made by previous workers reveals the effectiveness of 3D geological modelling to produce robust and consistent interpretations, which can be easily updated and refined, and the potential for better decisions around exploration and management strategies. Leapfrog Geothermal is characterised by its flexibility and consistency between all geological data. It can quickly and effectively add well data to the model after each well completion, and test a range of geological scenarios to establish the most reliable interpreted model, as well as to refine interpretations on the character and controls on permeability in the reservoir. |