New Publication on the Hydraulic Characterization of a highly heterogeneous carbonate reservoir using simulated pumping tests of a multi-doublet geothermal plant

Deep geothermal reservoirs in the Upper Jurassic (Malm) aquifer are characterized by pronounced structural and facies heterogeneity, including fault zones, karstified intervals, debris facies, and matrix domains. This complexity poses major challenges for reservoir characterization and understanding optimal operating conditions.

In this study, we develop a high-resolution numerical reservoir model of a complex geothermal site in Southeast Germany and use simulated pumping and interference tests to systematically investigate the hydraulic role of individual reservoir components. The workflow combines inverse modeling with global sensitivity analysis, allowing us to identify which parameters and structures most strongly control the observed pressure response.

For geothermal project development, understanding where transmissivity is effectively located and how faults compartmentalize the reservoir is critical for predicting productivity, interference, and long-term operation. The presented methodology offers a transferable approach for improving hydraulic characterization in structurally complex carbonate reservoirs. The model also serves as the foundation for coupled thermo-hydraulic processes, which will be introduced in future work.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103566; https://lnkd.in/dAMewyqk