• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2014

In order to generate electricity from geothermal energy for non-volcanic region, the concept of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) is introduced which forms an artificial reservoir by injecting high pressure fluid to 5 km deep and circulating geothermal fluid through the reservoir. Demonstration studies have been conducted in various countries and regions for determining the feasibility of EGS. In this technical note, experiences, errors, and implications of EGS demonstration projects in UK Rosemanowes and Australia Cooper Basin which have been carried out since 2002 are introduced to be used for the EGS demonstration project in Korea.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.506-520
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• 2013

While geothermal energy provides the only base-load power among renewable energy sources, its development has been carried out predominantly in volcanic area. EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) is a ubiquitous technology that can allow the geothermal power generation virtually in any area. This manuscript introduces the current state-of-the-art of EGS development in the world and presents the hydraulic stimulation technology and associated microseismicity which are key technical component in EGS. Finally this paper suggests the key research areas required in Korea for further development of EGS.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2015

Self-potential (SP) is sensitive to groundwater flow and there are many causes to generate SP. Among many mechanisms of SP, pore-fluid flow in porous media can generate potential without any external current source, which is referred to as electrokinetic potential or streaming potential. When calculating SP responses on the surface due to geothermal fluid within an engineered geothermal system (EGS) reservoir, SP anomaly is usually considered to be generated by fluid injection or production within the reservoir. However, SP anomaly can also result from geothermal water fluid within EGS reservoirs experiencing temperature changes between injection and production wells. For more precise simulation of SP responses, we developed an algorithm being able to take account of SP anomalies produced by not only water injection and production but also the fluid of geothermal water, based on three-dimensional finite-element-method employing tetrahedron elements; the developed algorithm can simulate electrical potential responses by both point source and volume source. After verifying the developed algorithm, we assumed a simple geothermal reservoir model and analyzed SP responses caused by geothermal water injection and production. We are going to further analyze SP responses for geothermal water in the presence of water production and injection, considering temperature distribution and geothermal water flow in the following research.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.547-560
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• 2013

The importance of renewable energy has increased continuously due to the energy insecurity and the necessity of reducing carbon dioxide which is causing global climate change. In such a situation, the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) power plant project which is launched in December 2010 shall be a new opportunity for the development of EGS related technologies in Korea. In this paper, the case studies of Fenton Hill project in the USA and Hijiori project in Japan are introduced in order to help a part of the domestic EGS demonstration project. As a result, it could be helpful to minimize the trial and error of the domestic EGS project by acquiring the achievements and limitations of existing EGS projects.

• Korea Journal of Geothermal Energy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.43-49
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• 2012

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.197.1-197.1
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• 2011

Target generation capacity of geothermal power generation pilot plant project through the Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) with a doublet system down to 5 km depth was estimated. Production and re-injection temperatures of geothermal fluid were assumed $160^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively, based on reservoir temperature of $180^{\circ}C$ calculated from the geothermal gradient of $33^{\circ}C$ in Pohang area. In this temperature range, 0.11 of thermal efficiency of the binary generation cycle is a practical choice. Assuming flow rates of 40 kg/sec, which is possible in current EGS technology, gross power generation capacity is estimated to reach 1.848 MW. Net generation considering auxiliary power including pumping power for geothermal fluid and condensing (cooling) energy of working fluid can be 1.5 MW.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 2013

Various experiences on enhanced geothermal system (EGS) has been accumulated from the Soultz project through various scientific experiments and research activities for more than 20 years since it started in the year of 1984 until the 1.5 MW Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) binary power plant has been built up in Soultz-sous-$\hat{e}$ area, France. They have been applied to Cooper basin in Australia, Landau and Insheim in Germany and so forth. This report summaries the experiences from Soultz in the aspect of artificial reservoir creation, expecting to be helpful for reducing any trial and errors or unnecessary expenses in ongoing Korean EGS project in Pohang area, where the geological features are similar to Soultz area.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.572-580
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• 2013

In this case study, I examined the microseismic safety management system of Deep Heat Mining Basel (DHMB) as EGS Geothermal Project which was conducted in Basel, Switzerland. EGS Geothermal Power projects which require induced seismic event by stimulation for creation of EGS geothermal reservoir have to be controlled pressure and flow rate of stimulation by establishment of microseismic safety management system. Traffic light system and Communication response procedure of DHMB project to respond step by step corresponding microseismic event intensity through continuous monitoring during stimulation period have been managed and established in advance of stimulation. However, the project was discontinued because of an earthquake to occur larger than expected one due to post-injection seismicity occurring in the geothermal reservoir after completion of injection for stimulation. The result of post analysis, Real-time traffic light system was verified to need a establishment of new microseismic safe management system to be considered post-injection seismicity phenomenon.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.196.2-196.2
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• 2011

지구온난화와 화석연료 고갈에 대한 우려로 전세계적으로 신재생에너지의 개발 및 활용이 본격화되고 있다. 특히, 다양한 신재생에너지원 중에서 날씨 및 계절에 의한 영향, 기저부하 담당, 지상 점유 면적, 소음 등 생활환경 영향, 경제성 등을 고려할 때 지열에너지는 미래 청정에너지원로서 기대와 관심이 집중되고 있다. 화산이 존재하지 않는 우리나라에서의 지열발전은 거의 불가능한 것으로 인식되어 지금까지의 심부 지열에너지 개발 프로젝트는 대부분 지역난방, 시설영농 등 직접이용을 목표로 추진되어 왔다. 그러나, 2003년부터 한국지질자원연구원에서 수행한 포항 심부지열에너지 개발사업의 결과로 얻어진 다양한 지질학적/지열학적 증거들을 토대로 분석한 결과, 국내 일부 지역에서는 지하 5 km 심도에서 최대 약 $180^{\circ}C$의 지온이 예상되어 국내에서도 심부 지열에너지를 이용한 지열발전에 대한 가능성이 제기되어 왔다. 여기에, 유럽과 미국 그리고 호주 등 선진국을 중심으로 비화산 지역에서 지하 심부에 인공적으로 지열저류층(파쇄대)을 생성하고 이를 통해 열매체(물)를 순환시킴으로써 생산된 증기를 발전에 활용하는 EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) 기술이 개발되고 몇몇 성공사례가 발표되었다. 또한, 이러한 기술개발에 힘입어 EGS 지열발전에 대한 선진국의 과감한 연구비 투자가 이어졌다. 이러한 기술적 배경에 발맞추어 우리나라에서도 2010년 12월에 EGS 지열발전 과제가 착수되었다. 이 프로젝트는 아시아에서는 최초로 수행되는 EGS 기술 개발과제로서 2015년까지 약 480억원의 R&D 예산을 투입하여 MW급의 지열발전 pilot plant의 구축을 목표로 하고 있다. 프로젝트가 성공적으로 추진될 경우 국내외적인 파급효과는 매우 클것이다. 특히 2015년까지 1.5 MW의 pilot plant의 구축이 성공적으로 추진될 경우 국내에서는 2017년까지 3 MW 이상, 2020년까지 20 MW이상, 2030년까지 200 MW 이상의 지열발전이 가능할 것으로 기대된다. 또한 축적된 기술개발 경험을 바탕으로 인도네시아, 필리핀 등의 해외의 지열발전 사업에도 진출할 수 있는 계기가 될 것이다. 프로젝트는 넥스지오를 주관기관으로 하고 한국지질자원연구원, 한국건설기술연구원 및 서울대학교 등의 지질자원 관련 연구 및 교육기관과 포스코, 이노지오테크놀로지 등의 산업체가 참여하여 컨소시엄 형태로 추진하고 있으며, 향후 관심있는 여러 기관 및 산업체의 지원과 참여를 기대한다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2012

In many cases, geothemal wells will not be opened up a geothermal reservoir under such conditions that an extraction of geothermal energy is economically viable without any further measures. Geothermal wells often have to be stimulated, in order to increase productivity. For the non-volcanic area, such as Korea, the hydraulic stimulation is necessary to complete geothermal power plant. The analysis of induced seismic event showed that the thermal resource might have a much wider extent and a much higher generation potential than previously assumed. In order to record compressional and shear waves emitted during fracture stimulation, three-component geophones are placed in a seismometer. The recorded data from one seismometer is the convolution of the source magnitude, the transmission media, and the sensitivity of the instrument.