Achronym: SECURE

Project title:
Sustainable Eployment and Conservation of Underground Reservoirs and Environment (SECURE)

Duration:
1 July 2017 to 30 September 2020

Involved scientists GFZ Section 2.1:
T. Dahm, F. Maccaferri, S. Cesca, S. Hainzl, E. Rivalta, T. Walter, G. Richter, F. Silverii, P. Niemz (2.6)

Project partners:
DGMK Hamburg (D. Soyk, coordinator),
GFZ Section 2.6 (A. Zang),
Univ. Mainz (B. Kaus),
LMU München (J. Wassermann, T. Megies),
Univ. Potsdam (G. Zöller)

Cooperation partners:
DEA (Germany), ENAGAS S. A. (Spain), INGV (Italy), KNMI (The Netherlands), NAM (The Netherlands), NORSAR (Norway) Funding: BMBF (GEO:N, FONA3 programme)

Description:
SECURE aims to develop versatile monitoring, characterization and modeling tools for the sustainable use of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs and geothermal systems. We plan to implement probabilistic approaches for the description and the development of microcracks, in order to image and model the stability and integrity of different reservoir systems. We focus our research on hydromechanical processes, which are accompanied by crack formation and growth, combining physical multi-phase models with fracture mechanics. The microseismicity, expression of fracturing processes, is monitored and characterized implementing and further developing latest waveform based techniques. The applicability of our developments is supported by a close cooperation with industrial partners based in Germany and Europe, as well by a collection of case studies interesting different processes, such as geothermal production, conventional hydrocarbon exploitation, hydraulic fracturing and gas storage. An improved process understanding of the stability and integrity of reservoir systems will contribute to the characterization and sustainable use of subsurface resources as well as to better assessment possible environmental hazards. At this respect, SECURE intends to contribute to the further development of guidelines for the sustainable use of underground resources and thus to increase the public acceptance. Civil protection, licensing authorities, and industrial partners are potential users of the project outcomes.