Natural seismicity as a prospecting and monitoring tool for geothermal energy extraction

 

Grant No.:

TO01000198

Grant Agency:

Technology Agency of the Czech Republic

Resolved in:

2021 - 2024

Principal investigator:

Dr. Josef Horalek
Institute of Geophysics of the CAS

Co-investigators:

Gylfi Páll Hersir
Iceland GeoSurvey
Jiří Málek
Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the CAS
Tomáš Fischer
Charles University, Faculty of Science

Description:

Objectives of the project are:

- to create new knowledge of the physical processes that cause earthquakes with special - emphasis on the role of fluids, geothermal operations and tectonic plate movements; - apply the results to develop guidelines for underground operations in seismically active areas; - test and develop seismic methods as a prospecting tool in geothermal exploration; - increase and strengthen the scientific capacity of research entities in the participating countries.

The target area in Iceland has intensive seismicity due to variety of geodynamic processes and human activities, such as plate movements in rift segments, volcanos, active hydrothermal areas with production/reinjection. The results are transformable to other areas with potential geothermal sources and micro-earthquake activity.