Solid Earth, 12, 35–58, 2021 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-35-2021 © Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Characterization of discontinuities in potential reservoir rocks for geothermal applications in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area (Germany) Martin Balcewicz1,2, Benedikt Ahrens3, Kevin Lippert3,2, and Erik H. Saenger1,3,2 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Am Hochschulcampus 1, 44801 Bochum, Germany 2Institute of Geology, Mineralogy, and Geophysics, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany 3Fraunhofer IEG, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems, Am Hochschulcampus 1, 44801 Bochum, Germany Correspondence: Martin Balcewicz (
[email protected]) Received: 21 April 2020 – Discussion started: 6 May 2020 Revised: 20 November 2020 – Accepted: 20 November 2020 – Published: 13 January 2021 Abstract. The importance of research into clean and renew- entation analysis indicated three dominant strike orientations able energy solutions has increased over the last decade. in NNW–SSE, NW–SE, and NE–SW directions within the Geothermal energy provision is proven to meet both con- target horizon of interest. This compacted limestone layer ditions. Therefore, conceptual models for deep geothermal (Massenkalk) is approximately 150 m thick and located at applications were developed for different field sites regard- 4000 to 6000 m depth, dipping northwards at a dip angle of ing different local conditions. In Bavaria, Germany, geother- about 30 to 40◦. An extrapolation of the measured layer ori- mal applications were successfully carried out in carbonate entation and dip suggests that the carbonate reservoir could horizons at depths of 4000 to 6000 m.