• 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.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.458-462
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• 2002

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.693-696
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• 2005

KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) launched a new project to develop the low-temperature geothermal water in the area showing high geothermal anomaly, north of Pohang city, for large-scale space heating. Surface geologic and geophysical surveys including Landsat 1M image analysis, gravity, magnetic, Magnetotelluric (MT) and controlled-source audio-frequency MT (CSAMT), and self-potential (SP) methods have been conducted and the possible fracture zone was found that would serve as deeply connected geothermal water conduit. In 2004, two test wells of 1.1km and 1.5km depths have been drilled and various kinds of borehole survey including geophysical logging, pumping test, SP monitoring, core logging and sample analysis have followed. Temperature of geothermal water at the bottom of 1.5km borehole reached over $70^{\circ}C$ and the pumping test showed that the reservoir contained huge amount of geothermal water. Drilling for the production well of 2 km depth is on going. After test utilization and the feasibility study, geothermal water developed from the production well is going to be provided to nearby apartments.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.303-306
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• 2006

Using a variety of chemical geothermometers we estimate the temperature of a deep geothermal reservoir in relation to thermal groundwater in the Bugok area, southern Korea, in order to assess the potential use of geothermal energy in South Korea. Thermal water at Bugok has been exploited down to about 400 m below the land surface and shows the highest outflow temperatures (up to $78{\circ}C$) in South Korea. Based on the hydrochemical data and occurrence, groundwater in Bugok can be classified into three groups: $Na-SO_4$ type thermal groundwater (CTGW) occurring in the central part (about 0.24 $km^2$) $Ca-HCO_3$ type cold groundwater (SCGW) occurring in shallow peripheral parts of CTGW; and the intermediate type groundwater (STGW). CTGW waters are typical of thermal water in the area, because they have the highest outflow temperatures and contain very high concentrations of Na, K and $SiO_2$ due to the sufficient reaction with silicate minerals in deep reservoir. Their enriched $SO_4$ was likely formed by gypsum dissolution. The major ion composition of CTGW shows the general approach to a partial equilibrium state with rocks at depth. The application of various alkali ion geothermometers yields temperature estimates in the range of 88 to $198{\circ}C$ for the thermal reservoir. Multiple mineral equilibrium calculation indicates asimilar but narrower temperature range between about 100 and $155{\circ}C$. These temperature estimates are not significantly higher than the measured outflow temperatures for CTGW Considering the heat loss during the ascent- of thermal waters, this fact may suggest that a thermal reservoir in the study area is likely located at relatively shallow depths (possibly close to the depth of preexisting wells). Therefore, we suggest a high potential for geothermal energy development around the Bugok area in southern Korea.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.473-476
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• 2004

In this study, hydrochemical studies of thermal waters in the Bugok and Magumsan areas showing geothermal anomalies were carried, and the applicability of ion seothermometers and multiple mineral equilibrium approach was examined to estimate their potential deep reservoir temperatures. Typical thermal waters of the two areas are clearly grouped into two major types, according to water chemistry: Na-Cl type (group A) and Na-SO4 type (group D). Compared to group A, group B and C waters show some modifications in chemistry. Group E waters show the modified chemistry from group D. Geothermal waters from the two areas showed some different chemical characteristics. The thermal waters of group A and B in Magumsan area are typically neutral to alkaline (pH=6.7 to 8.1) and Cl-rich (up to 446.1 mg/L), while the waters of group D and E in Bugok area are alkaline (pH=7.6 to 10.0) and SO$_4$-rich (up to 188.0 mg/L). The group A (Na-Cl type) and group D (Na-SO$_4$ type) waters correspond to mature or partially immature water, whereas the other types are immature water. The genesis of geothermal waters are considered as follows: group A and B waters were formed by seawater infiltration into reservoir rocks along faults and fracture zones and possibly affected by fossil connate waters in lithologic units through which deep hot waters circulate; on the other hand, group D and E waters were formed by the oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) in surrounding sedimentary rocks and/or hydrothermal veins occurring along restricted fracture channels and were possibly affected by the input and subsequent oxidation of S-bearing gases (e.g. H2S) from deep thermal reservoir (probably, cooling pluton). The application of quartz, Na-K, K-Mg geothermometers to the chemistry of representative group A and D waters yielded a reasonable temperature estimate (99-147$^{\circ}C$ and 90-142$^{\circ}C$) for deep geothermal reservoir. Aqueous liquid-rich fluid inclusions in fracture calcites obtained from drillcores in Bugok area have an average homogenization temperature of 128$^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to the results from ion geothermometers. The multiple mineral equilibrium approach yielded a similar temperature estimate (105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$). We consider that deep reservoir temperatures of thermal waters in the Magumsan and Bugok areas can be estimated by the chemistry of typical Na-Cl and Na-SO$_4$ type waters and possibly approach 105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$.

• 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.493-505
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• 2013

This numerical study investigates seismicity and fault slip induced by fluid injection in deep geothermal reservoir with pre-existing fractures and fault. Particle Flow Code 2D is used with additionally implemented hydro-mechanical coupled fluid flow algorithm and acoustic emission moment tensor inversion algorithm. The output of the model includes spatio-temporal evolution of induced seismicity (hypocenter locations and magnitudes) and fault deformation (failure and slip) in relation to fluid pressure distribution. The model is applied to a case of fluid injection with constant rates changing in three steps using different fluid characters, i.e. the viscosity, and different injection locations. In fractured reservoir, spatio-temporal distribution of the induced seismicity differs significantly depending on the viscosity of the fracturing fluid. In a fractured reservoir, injection of low viscosity fluid results in larger volume of induced seismicity cloud as the fluid can migrate easily to the reservoir and cause large number and magnitude of induced seismicity in the post-shut-in period. In a faulted reservoir, fault deformation (co-seismic failure and aseismic slip) can occur by a small perturbation of fracturing fluid (<0.1 MPa) can be induced when the injection location is set close to the fault. The presented numerical model technique can practically be used in geothermal industry to predict the induced seismicity pattern and magnitude distribution resulting from hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoirs prior to actual injection operation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.263-264
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• 2005