Bachelor Thesis
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Research Collection Bachelor Thesis Geological characterisation of an underground research facility in the Bedretto tunnel Author(s): Meier, Matthias Publication Date: 2017 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000334001 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library Bachelor Thesis 2017 Geological characterization of an underground research facility in the Bedretto Tunnel Presented at the department of earth science at ETH Zurich Institute of Geology Supervised by Dr. Florian Amann ETH Zurich, Scientific Manager Deep Underground Geothermal Lab, SCCER-SoE Dr. Valentin Gischig ETH Zurich, Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research SCCER-SoE Hannes Krietsch ETH Zurich, Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research SCCER-SoE Submitted by Matthias Meier 14-924-476 30.6.2017 Abstract A geological characterization of a cavern in the Bedretto Tunnel is made to support future hydro- mechanical experiments planned by the SCCER – SoE. The main goal is to get information about the persistence of fault zones as well as to ascertain the stress field around the cavern. Based on mapping of the tunnel from Tunnel Metre (TM) 1964 to TM 2130 a 3D model and a horizontal tunnel plan are made. The mapped structures are compared with an aerial image of the ground surface above the tunnel and some measured structures from swisstopo. They show two groups of orientation and especially high persistence in the SW/NE direction. Due to high persistence, an extrapolation of mapped fault zones is made. The influence of topography on the tunnel is illustrated with 2D finite element analysis. Stress trajectories show a vertical orientation of the 휎푍 around the cavern, concluding the influence is negligible. According to the world stress map the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress 휎퐻푚푎푥 should be parallel to the tunnel axis. Based on observed spalling (i.e. stress induced brittle failure) in the tunnel a 2D finite element analysis of a cross section at TM 2035 is made to get the k-value (i.e. the ratio between the vertical stress 휎푣 and the horizontal stress 휎ℎ (perpendicular to the tunnel)). The vertical stress around the test site is 26.89 MPa, the k-value is 0.8-1, which leads to the conclusion that the horizontal stress 휎ℎ is between 21.5 - 26.89 MPa. These results show that 휎푣 > 휎ℎ and 휎퐻푚푎푥 > 휎ℎ. Unclear is the relation between 휎퐻푚푎푥 and 휎푣. The area around the Bedretto Tunnel can be in a normal faulting regime (휎푣 > 휎퐻푚푎푥 > 휎ℎ) or a strike-slip regime (휎퐻푚푎푥 > 휎푣 > 휎ℎ). In conclusion, the existing large fault systems crossing the cavern are ideal targets of a hydro-mechanical experiment. As the stress regime is not entirely defined based on current knowledge, local stress characterization is required. One principal stress component is vertical, which is important for the design of stress characterization boreholes. i Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ i 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Incentive....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Site description............................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Geographical description ...................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Tunnel data ........................................................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Geological description .......................................................................................... 4 2 Methods ............................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Tunnel mapping ........................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Mapping in the tunnel ........................................................................................... 6 2.1.2 3D model .............................................................................................................. 7 2.1.3 Horizontal tunnel plan .......................................................................................... 8 2.1.4 GIS-Data ............................................................................................................... 8 2.1.5 Strike comparison ................................................................................................. 8 2.1.6 Extrapolation of the fault zones ............................................................................ 9 2.2 Stress characterization................................................................................................ 10 2.2.1 World stress map WSM ...................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Focal mechanism ................................................................................................ 11 2.2.3 Area stress information ....................................................................................... 12 3 Results ............................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Tunnel mapping ......................................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 3D model ............................................................................................................ 14 3.1.2 Horizontal tunnel plan ........................................................................................ 16 3.1.3 GIS-Data ............................................................................................................. 20 ii 3.1.4 Strike comparison ............................................................................................... 21 3.1.5 Extrapolation of the fault zones .......................................................................... 24 3.2 Stress characterization................................................................................................ 25 3.2.1 World stress map ................................................................................................ 25 3.2.2 Focal mechanism ................................................................................................ 27 3.2.3 Area stress information ....................................................................................... 29 4 Discussion.......................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Tunnel mapping ......................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Stress characterization................................................................................................ 33 5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 34 iii 1 Introduction 1.1 Incentive To unlock deep geothermal resources for electricity production, the permeability in 4-5 km depth has to be significantly enhanced. Large volumes of water (i.e. 150-200 l/min) need to be circulated at rock temperature of 150-200 °C. High pressure fluid injections are typically used to increase the permeability. These fluid injections are often accompanied by induced seismic events. Unfortunately, seismic events have been felt at the earth surface and caused some minor infrastructure damage (e.g. Basel (Giardini & Deichmann, 2007)). To enable the large-scale utilization of deep geothermal energy in Switzerland, the technologies to enhance permeability must be improved and validated to reduce the risk of felt induced seismic events to a minimum. The Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research – Supply of Energy (SCCER-SOE) currently performs a series of in-situ stimulation experiments, that aim a better understanding of the seismic-hydro-mechanical processes associated with high pressure fluid injections. In a first attempt a decametre-scale in-situ stimulation experiment was recently finalized at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS) with approximately 480 m overburden in crystalline rock. In a second step, a pilot stimulation is planned in the Bedretto Tunnel at approximately 1100 m depth with significantly increased flow rates and volume as compared to the GTS experiment. This experiment will be performed in 2018. Key requirements for a successful planning of this pilot stimulation are a detailed knowledge of the rock structures (e.g. orientations and persistence), the in-situ state of stress (magnitude and orientation) and the associated slip tendency. This thesis focuses on an in-depth analysis of the geological structures within the experimental volume for the second pilot stimulation. This includes mapping of the tunnel and the identification of fault zones and their architecture. Further, this thesis will focus on a review of stress information in the area of the Bedretto Tunnel including the world stress map, analysis of focal mechanism and stress information inferred from stress induced structures around the Bedretto Tunnel. The fact that the tunnel walls