| Abstract |
Fracture stimulation (also known as hydraulic stimulation) involves pumping water at high pressure into a well, which causes fracturing of the rock. This additional fracturing enhances the permeability of the hot dry rock in order to create an efficient hydraulic loop for the purposes of harnessing geothermal energy. The process of fracturing the rock can also give rise to seismicity events – that is, it can induce small earthquakes which have the potential to damage property and infrastructure not only within the exploration licence area but also on adjacent land and further afield. |