Deep groundwater and geothermics
Effluents from industry and agriculture as well as pollutants originating from accidental spills and environmental disasters endanger the quality of shallow groundwaters. But deep groundwater reserves are not subjected to such kind of contamination and the effect of dry periods on such systems is minimum, making them important sources in the case of water shortage. The activities of this research area concentrate on exploration, development, sustainable utilisation and protection of deep groundwaters using both hydro(geo)logical and geophysical methods, including reflection seismics and well logging. The results from these investigations also provide an important decision-making basis for assessing the geothermal potential of an area. The studies performed in this research area cover the whole range of geothermics, extending from the determination of geothermal potentials to the utilisation of geothermal energy from shallow and deep systems.
Competences
Optimum use of deep waters
Groundwater from great depths can be used as mineral, thermal or drinking water, and as a source of geothermal energy. The Institute elaborates the knowledge required to manage these valuable water resources in order to preserve them for the long term. The services range from exploration and assessment of thermal water reserves, to development of management concepts for thermal, curative and mineral waters, to elaboration of action plans for emergency water supply from deep water resources.
Solutions
Deep waters for emergencies
Efficient use of thermal and mineral water, spas
Reflection seismics for identifying structures and characterising reservoirs
Artificially generated seismic waves allow conclusions to be drawn about the geological structure of the subsurface. The Institute has refined this method, originally developed for the mineral oil industry, to such a degree that it can now be used for investigating water-bearing layers underground. The expert interpretation of the seismic data can provide information about the depth, thickness and structure of the individual layers. It is thanks to the quality of the measurement results and the prediction accuracy achieved that the Institute has enjoyed market leadership in the field over the past few years.
Solutions
Investigation and development of deep groundwaters
Reprocessing – new information from old data
Borehole geophysics and petrophysics
Almost the entire range of geophysical measurement techniques can be applied not only at the surface but also directly in the borehole itself. Special probes are used to measure the most important physical parameters in the drilled hole, providing precise information about the structure, porosity and saturation of the individual layers and the properties and flow characteristics of the water.
The range of activities is supplemented by petrophysical measurements in the laboratory, providing reliable starting figures for calibration and interpretation of the data measured in the field. These investigations form an important basis for the joint interpretation of the results from seismic and geophysical borehole logs.
Solution
Borehole logs for clean wells