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Permeability Enhancement From a Hydraulic Stimulation Imaged With Ground Penetrating Radar
Author(s) -
Shakas A.,
Maurer H.,
Giertzuch P.L.,
Hertrich M.,
Giardini D.,
Serbeto F.,
Meier P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl088783
Subject(s) - borehole , ground penetrating radar , geology , permeability (electromagnetism) , hydraulic fracturing , geotechnical engineering , radar , petrology , seismology , telecommunications , membrane , biology , computer science , genetics
We present evidence of permeability enhancement from hydraulic stimulation experiments in fractured crystalline rock. A total of 9.49 m 3 was injected in two fractured intervals of a 300 m long borehole. Repeated Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) measurements in the same borehole were carried out prior to and following the stimulation. The initial measurements revealed fractures in the vicinity of the borehole that could be traced up to distances of 50 m away. The data measured post‐stimulation were used in a difference‐imaging approach to illuminate changes in the GPR reflections caused by the stimulations. The changes delineate the enhancement of a large and complex fracture network. These changes likely correspond to changes in local aperture, thus permeability. Our results indicate that borehole GPR yields unique information on subtle changes in hydraulic properties within a relatively large volume and provides a new perspective on the characterization and monitoring of deep geothermal reservoirs.