Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Networks for Mesoscale Underground Experiments: Advances in the Bedretto Reservoir Project
Abstract
The Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies (BULGG) allows the implementation of hectometer (>100 m) scale in situ experiments to study ambitious research questions. The first experiment on hectometer scale is the Bedretto Reservoir Project (BRP), which studies geothermal exploration. Compared with decameter scale experiments, the financial and organizational costs are significantly increased in hectometer scale experiments and the implementation of high-resolution monitoring comes with considerable risks. We discuss in detail risks for monitoring equipment in hectometer scale experiments and introduce the BRP monitoring network, a multi-component monitoring system combining sensors from seismology, applied geophysics, hydrology, and geomechanics. The multi-sensor network is installed inside long boreholes (up to 300 m length), drilled from the Bedretto tunnel. Boreholes are sealed with a purpose-made cementing system to reach (as far as possible) rock integrity within the experiment volume. The approach incorporates different sensor types, namely, piezoelectric accelerometers, in situ acoustic emission (AE) sensors, fiber-optic cables for distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed strain sensing (DSS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS), fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, geophones, ultrasonic transmitters, and pore pressure sensors. The network was realized after intense technical development, including the development of the following key elements: rotatable centralizer with integrated cable clamp, multi-sensor in situ AE sensor chain, and cementable tube pore pressure sensor. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000607309Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
SensorsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
MDPISubject
in situ rock experiments; geothermal exploration research; Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies; multi-discipline monitoring; fiber-optic monitoring; microseismic monitoring; ultrasonic monitoringOrganisational unit
02334 - BULGG - Bedretto Underground Lab / BULGG - Bedretto Underground Lab02818 - Schweiz. Erdbebendienst (SED) / Swiss Seismological Service (SED)
03476 - Giardini, Domenico / Giardini, Domenico
03953 - Robertsson, Johan / Robertsson, Johan
Funding
189632 - Monitoring and scientific equipment for the Bedretto Deep Underground Laboratory for Geoenergies (SNF)
691728 - Demonstration of soft stimulation treatments of geothermal reservoirs (SBFI)
More
Show all metadata