Sedimentary Basins Jena 2013 · Sedimentary basins are the Earth’s main depositional environments and host the most important re-sources of mineral, hydrocarbons, and ﬂuids. However,

Sedimentary Basins Jena 2013

Friedrich Schiller University JenaInstitute of Geosciences

23th - 25th September 2013

DisclaimerFriedrich Schiller University Jena

Meeting "Sedimentary Basin Jena 2013"

Contact: [email protected]

http://www.sedbas2013.uni-jena.de

Title: Arvid Kühl

Text: Annett Habisreuther, Alexander Malz, Nina Kukowski, Matthias Pietzsch

Abstractlayout: Markus Schiffler

Layout: Annett Habisreuther, Martin Krause, Arvid Kühl, Alexander Malz

Contents

1 Preface 5Host of the Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Organizing Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Aims of the Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2 General Information 9Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Registration Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

How to reach the congress venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Conference site plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Preparation of Posters and Talks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Conference Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3 Programme 13Confirmed Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4 Sessions and Abstracts 25(1) BIO - Organic-inorganic interactions and microbial activity in fluid-sediment systems . 26

(2) GPH - Geophysical exploration of sedimentary basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

(3) TEC - Tectonics in sedimentary basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

(4) HYD - Hydrogeology of interacting groundwater systems from reservoir to basin scale 61

(5) BOR - Borehole geophysics and geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

(6) FLS - Fluid-sediment interactions and hydrocarbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

(7) SED - Sediment architecture and source-to-sink estimations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

(8) MIN - Mineralizing fluids and geogenic sources of fluid-enrichment . . . . . . . . . . 114

(9) RES - Reservoirs in foreland basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Author index 133

3

4 Contents

Meeting: Friedrich Schiller University, Campus Ernst-Abbe-Platz, 07743 Jena

Dinner: Bauhaus Mensa, Philosophenweg 20, 07743 Jena

1 Preface

Host of the Meeting

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Institute of Geosciences

INFLUINS – Integrated Fluid Dynamics in Sedimentary Basins

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Nina Kukowski and Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Totsche

Burgweg 11

07749 Jena

Germany

Phone: +49 3641 9-48600

Fax: +49 3641 9-48602

Mail: [email protected]

http://www.influins.uni-jena.de

Scientific and Organizing Committee

Prof. Dr. Nina Kukowski ([email protected])

Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Totsche ([email protected])

Dr. Michael Abratis ([email protected])

Dr. Michaela Aehnelt ([email protected])

Dr. Carita Augustsson ([email protected])

Daniel Beyer ([email protected])

Stephan Donndorf ([email protected])

Annett Habisreuther ([email protected])

Martin Krause ([email protected])

Arvid Kühl ([email protected])

Cindy Kunkel ([email protected])

Dr. Martin Lonschinski ([email protected])

Alexander Malz ([email protected])

Pascal Methe ([email protected])

Markus Schiffler ([email protected])

For general information please write to: [email protected].

5

6 1 Preface

1 Preface 7

Dear Participants,

On behalf of the organizing committee, we would like to welcome you to Sedimentary Basins Jena

2013!

We are very happy that you came to Jena to participate in this topical meeting. Since more than 450

years, Friedrich Schiller University makes Jena a town of education and science. Further, Jena is

shaped in a unique way by dynamic economic structures, the success of scientific innovation centres,

growing and young population, vibrant student life, and an intellectually active cultural scene. Jena

also houses a University of Applied Sciences as well as a large number of non-university research

institutions. This broad scientific landscape and its cooperation with industry make the city of Jena

the long-standing high-tech centre of Thuringia.

Jena is located close to the Thuringian Basin, which is - for nearly 4 years now - the “geolab” of the

project “Integrated fluid dynamics in sedimentary basins - INFLUINS”. Funded by Federal Ministry

of Education and Research, INFLUINS investigates the coupled dynamics of near surface and deep

fluid systems in the Thuringian Basin as well as their dissolved, colloidal, and biological components.

Foci of INFLUINS are scientifically challenging and socially highly relevant topics: these include

besides a strong emphasis on fundamental science, insights into the scientific and technical require-

ments for the use of near-surface and deep geothermal energy, CCS, safe storage of compressed-air

and natural gas as well as reliable water supply under conditions of climate change. Geology, hy-

drogeology, mineralogy, geophysics, basin analysis, geo-biology, remote sensing, and meteorology

cooperate within the framework of INFLUINS in an innovative strategic way. Through this, IN-

FLUINS adds cutting-edge scientific value by integrating results and expertise across various fields of

geosciences.

The interdisciplinary approach of INFLUINS is reflected in the aims of the meeting “Sedimentary

Basins Jena 2013”. Our conference focuses on the interdisciplinary and interconnected research on

geo-processes in sedimentary basins in a wide field of geosciences. We welcome participants from

geophysics, geology, structural geology, mineralogy, hydrogeology, geography, geo-biology, etc. and

hope to enhance the interdisciplinary exchange of multidisciplinary approaches in Research, Mod-

elling and Exploration of sedimentary basins.

Warm thanks to all who have contributed to the meeting with their personal commitment or financial

support.

Enjoy your stay in Jena!

Best regards & Glückauf!

Nina Kukowski and Kai Uwe Totsche

8 1 Preface

Aims of the Meeting

Sedimentary basins are the Earth’s main depositional environments and host the most important re-

sources of mineral, hydrocarbons, and fluids. However, both, actual and fossil sedimentary basins

are complex systems. Hence, research on sedimentary basins, especially their evolution, is important

for future observation, exploration and utilisation of resources. Basin development, their structural,

thermal and stratigraphic evolution, is one of the most fundamental steering factors for their today’s

appearance. The composition and mechanical behaviour of strata at different scales, in different tec-

tonic regimes associated to the subsidence of the basin as well as interactions between fluids, rocks

and even microbial organisms affect basin evolution, their resources and energy potential. To ade-

quately address these research questions of paramount importance, methodological advance is neces-

sary. Large-scale surveys like remote sensing and geophysical imaging methods enable the look on

an entire basin and its surroundings. Geophysical measurements enhance the methods of exploration,

shed light in the deeper subsurface and help to understand the distribution and composition of geo-

logical features. On the other hand, e.g. geo-biology and mineralogy are interested in non-processes

within sedimentary basins. Whereas most disciplines provide their best results and expertise on a

certain scale, their importance on all scales from a single pore to entire basins makes fluids crucial to

understand sedimentary basin evolution and processes.

ResearchSedimentary basins and their valuable resources are affected by both internal and external factors, e. g.

basin structure, fluid circulation, tectonics, and climate. Pre-depositional to post-depositional mineral-

chemical, biochemical, and thermodynamic processes cause compositional and textural variations

both in time and space. These are influenced by layer-bound fluid transport as well as fluids in fault

systems. Most of these factors are caused by, and also affect, fluid interactions between atmosphere,

aquifer, and lithosphere.

ModellingModelling can lead to a better understanding of the structure and functionality of sedimentary basins.

For instance, 2D and 3D structural modelling and geophysical imaging bring insight into their ge-

ometry. The basin evolution and former geometry is aided by the additional knowledge of the burial

history, including fossil mineral-fluid interactions within the sedimentary rocks. Numerical modelling

that base on such geometrical data may generate a better understanding both for present-day and

paleo-capacities of fluid, saline, and colloid transport. Hence, only with the combined consideration

of several factors, reliable models for the evolution of fossil and recent basins can be made.

ExplorationThe circulation of fluids within and into sedimentary basins along or cross-cutting sedimentary struc-

tures can lead to anomalous thermal gradients, formation of mineral resources, hydrocarbon storage,

and the formation of drinkable ground-water. Hence, fluids play a key role as the transport agent for

dissolved and non-dissolved substances, such as ions and hydrocarbons. The possibilities to explore

and sustainably exploit so far hidden basin reservoirs are only possible with the availability of suitable

technologies and survey methods.

2 General Information

Venue

The conference will be held at the former Carl-Zeiss-Jena factory site, the Ernst-Abbe-Platz, which

today is the main campus of the Friedrich Schiller University.

Friedrich Schiller University

Campus Ernst-Abbe-Platz

07743 Jena

Germany

Registration Fees

The Early Bird registration rate is applicable until 31 July 2013. Please pay at the latest by this date.

Thereafter the late fee applies. The Conference Fee includes: Icebreaker, Conference Dinner and

coffee breaks.

Early Bird Late Fee Conference Dinner

Regular participants 145 Euro 185 Euro inclusive

Students 95 Euro 135 Euro inclusive

How to reach the congress venue

By plane / train:

From the airports Halle / Leipzig, München and Berlin directly by train to the railway station JenaParadies: 800 m (10 minutes) walk to Ernst-Abbe-Platz in central Jena or 4 minutes with tram line 5

(jump off at the end station Ernst-Abbe-Platz).

By Foot from Jena Paradies: Cross the Knebelstrasse and continue stright ahead in the street AmVolksbad, cross the tram rail and follow it along Kronengasse, turn left and follow the tram rail under

the vault to the Ernst-Abbe-Platz.

From Erfurt-Weimar airport by tram (line 4) to Erfurt main railway station: Continue with the train to

the railway station Jena West. Walk 800 m (10 minutes) to Ernst-Abbe-Platz in central Jena or take

the bus (3 minutes with line 15 to the end station Teichgraben, turn 180° and follow the tram line for

100 m under the vault to Ernst-Abbe-Platz).

9

10 2 General Information

From Frankfurt airport by train to the railway station Jena West: Walk 800 m (10 minutes) to Ernst-Abbe-Platz in central Jena or go 3 minutes by bus (line 15 to the end station Teichgraben, turn 180°

and follow the tram line for 100 m under the vault to Ernst-Abbe-Platz).

By foot from Jena West: Follow the Westbahnhofstrasse to the left. Turn right at the next crossing -

this is the continuation of the Westbahnhofstrasse. Follow the street until it changes it name into the

Schillerstrasse, turn left in the 2nd block and follow the tram rail under the vault to Ernst-Abbe-Platz.

By car:

Parking possibilities in downtown Jena: At the crossing Am Anger / Steinweg (800 m east of Ernst-

Abbe-Platz), Schlossgasse (600 m NE of Ernst-Abbe-Platz), Eichplatz (200 m east of Ernst-Abbe-

Platz; as central as is possible), Holzmarkt (central parking house 200 m east of Ernst-Abbe-Platz),

Ernst-Abbe-Strasse (under the Goethe-Galerie adjacent to the congress venue)

Conference site plan

Lecture Room (1): Hörsaal 3, ground floor

Lecture Room (2): SR 2.06, 2nd floor

2 General Information 11

Lunch

For the participants of the meeting „Sedimentary Basins Jena 2013“ the university offers the pos-

sibility to have Lunch to reduced prices at the „Mensa Ernst-Abbe-Platz” right next to the Campus

building. Just show your name tag at the cash point.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is available in the conference building. With your registration at the conference office you will

get the access information which is valid for the time of the meeting. There are no computers for

Internet access available.

Preparation of Posters and Talks

Specifications for posters:

The poster dimensions may have a maximum size of:

Width 1.18 m

Heigth 1.46 m

We recommend the following format:

DIN-A0 size 841 x 1189 mm (max.)

Posters can be installed on Monday, September 23rd and will remain for the entire conference. Posters

remaining after 12:30 on Wednesday will be removed by the conference staff.

Specifications for talks:

Time: 15 minutes (12 minutes talk, 3 minutes discussion)

We recommend as file format MS Powerpoint or PDF.

Authors should bring their presentations on a removable media (memory stick, CD) and run it from

the permanently installed presentation PC in each room. The use of personal computers will not be

allowed. All speakers should bring their presentation into the room where they will give their talk at

the latest during the break before the beginning of the session. There will be no installation/uploading

during the session. Therefore, we recommend to test your presentation during the break. At the

Conference Office an additional computer similar to the presentation PC will be installed to test your

presentation.

12 2 General Information

Conference Dinner

Within our meeting a Conference Dinner is included. The Dinner will be on Tuesday Evening (7 pm)

at the Bauhaus-Mensa Philosophenweg.

Adress:

Mensa Philosophenweg

Philosophenweg 20

07743 Jena.

3 Programme

Confirmed Speakers

• Prof. Ralf Littke, RWTH Aachen, Germany

– Session 6-FLS (Monday, September 23th, 9:00 am - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Geochemistry and Petroleum System Modelling as Keys towards Understand-ing of Unconventional Reservoirs

• Prof. Jürgen Kusche, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany

– Session 2-GPH (Monday, September 23th, 1:30 pm - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Earth observation with gravimetric satellite missions: lessons learned and theway forward

• Prof. Gregor Markl, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany

– Session 8-MIN (Monday, September 23th, 4:45 pm - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Hydrothermal vein mineralizations as monitors of changing fluid reservoirs:the Schwarzwald case

• Prof. Charlotte Krawczyk, Leibniz-Institut für Angewandte Geophysik (LIAG), Hannover, Ger-

many

– Session 3-TEC (Tuesday, September 24th, 8:30 am - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Understanding sub-/seismic deformation distribution within an evolving sedi-mentary basin

• Prof. Sierd Cloetingh, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands

– Session 3-TEC (Tuesday, September 24th, 11:15 am - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Sedimentary basins and continental topography: an integrated approach

13

14 3 Programme

• Prof. Martin Sauter, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany

– Session 4-HYD (Tuesday, September 24th, 1:30 pm - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Characterisation of Georeservoirs – A hydrogeologist’s view

• Prof. Georg Dresen, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Potsdam, Germany

– Session 5-BOR (Tuesday, September 24th, 4:45 pm - Lecture Room 2)

– Title: on short notice

• Prof. Michael Schlömann, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany

– Session 1-BIO (Wednesday, September 25th, 8:45 am - Lecture Room 1)

– Title: Microbial communities in the terrestrial deep subsurface in the context of car-bon capture and storage

3 Programme 15

Sessions

Monday, September 23rd, Morning-Session - Lecture room 1

Time Title Authors

8:30 Conference-Opening

FLS Fluid-sediment interactions and hydrocarbons

9:00 Geochemistry and Petroleum System Modelling as Keystowards Understanding of Unconventional Reservoirs

Littke (Keynote) &

Uffmann

9:45 Fluid flow in the pre-Zechstein of the Southern Permian Basin

(Central Europe)

Gaupp

10:00 Coffee-Break

10:30 Fluid-rock interaction related to pore space evolution: case

study in Permosilesian and Mesozoic sandstones (Thuringian

Basin, Central Germany)

Aehnelt et al.

10:45 Deep-seated sedimentary rocks as a potential for fluid storage

in the Free State of Thuringia?

Zander

11:00 Geochemistry of geothermal reservoirs in the Northern Ger-

man Basin: Triassic Buntsandstein and Cretaceous Wealden

sandstones - experimental data from the geothermal well Groß

Buchholz Gt1, Hannover

Hesshaus et al.

11:15 The influence of facies and diagenesis on aquifer properties

in Buntsandstein sandstones of the Thuringian Syncline (Ger-

many)

Beyer et al.

11:30 Telodiagenetic processes and their influence on petrographic

properties in Middle Buntsandstein sandstones of Central Ger-

many

Hilse et al.

12:00 Lunch

16 3 Programme

Monday, September 23rd, Afternoon-Session - Lecture room 1

Time Title AuthorsGPH Geophysical Exploration of sedimentary basins

13:30 Earth observation with gravimetric satellite missions:lessons learned and the way forward

Kusche (Keynote)

14:15 JESSY Star - an airborne full tensor magnetic gradiometer for

near surface exploration

Queitsch et al.

14:30 New processing methods for high-resolution magnetic gradi-

ent tensor data

Schiffler et al.

14:45 Long-term gravimetric observation at the center of the

Thuringian Basin: gravity signals induced by various fluid

processes

Jahr

15:00 Coffee-Break / Poster-Presence-Time

16:00 Interpretation of gravitational and magnetic anomalies for 3D

structure of the Thuringian Basin, Germany

Prutkin et al.

16:15 A 3D traveltime tomography reveals the shallow subsurface of

the Thuringian Basin

Krause et al.

16:30 The integration of HEM, SkyTEM, borehole and seismic data:

an efficient tool for sedimentary basin analysis

Steinmetz et al.

MIN Mineralizing Fluids and geogenic sources of fluid-enrichment

16:45 Hydrothermal vein mineralizations as monitors of chang-ing fluid reservoirs: the Schwarzwald case

Markl (Keynote)

3 Programme 17

Tuesday, September 24th, Morning-Session - Lecture room 1

Time Title AuthorsTEC Tectonics in sedimentary basins

8:30 Understanding sub-/seismic deformation distributionwithin an evolving sedimentary basin

Krawczyk (Keynote)

9:15 Structural evolution of the Triassic within the German North

Sea sector

Jähne et al.

9:30 Salt flow and pillow growth due to basement faulting and dif-

ferential loading - insights from analogue modelling

Warsitzka et al.

9:45 Building a small scale 3D geological model of the Thuringian

Basin

Sattler

10:00 Coffee-Break

10:30 3D structure and gravity modelling of the North Alpine Fore-

land Basin

Przybycin et al.

10:45 Western Canada Sedimentary Basin Stress Map 2.0: Moving

to 3D

Schmitt et al.

11:00 Hydrocarbon generation in the northern Austral Basin and its

relation to the Andes tectonics

Sachse et al.

11:15 Sedimentary basins and continental topography: an inte-grated approach

Cloetingh (Keynote)

12:00 Lunch

18 3 Programme

Tuesday, September 24th, Afternoon-Session - Lecture room 1

Time Title AuthorsHYD Hydrogeology of interacting groundwater systems from reservoir to basin scale

13:30 Characterisation of Georeservoirs – A hydrogeologist’sview

Sauter et al. (Keynote)

14:15 Saltwater-Freshwater interface delineated in the centre of the

North German sedimentary basin by re-interpreting 300 well

logs

Voss & Baumann

14:30 Combined geophysical and petrophysical characterization al-

lows classification of groundwater layers at different depth

levels

Burschil et al.

14:45 Coupled reservoir and geomechanical simulations demon-

strate fault and caprock integrity at the Ketzin pilot site after

almost five years of operation, Germany

Kempka et al.


16:00 3D numerical simulations to inverstigate brine displacement

along a permeable fault zone (study area: Northeast German

Basin)

Schöne et al.

16:15 Mechanisms of Salt transport in the Thuringian Basin Zech

16:30 Multi-stage and regional-scale characterisation of potential

CO2 storage formations with particular focus on brine migra-

tion risks - an integrated natural and social science approach

Kissinger & Class

16:45 Groundwater dynamics in the Baltic Basin as a response to

glacial and interglacial cycles

Saks et al.

17:00 Formations and alteration processes of Fe phases from mine

discharge water

Händel et al.

3 Programme 19

Tuesday, September 24th, Morning-Session - Lecture room 2

Time Title AuthorsRES Reservoirs in foreland basins

8:30 Geothermal systems in deep foreland basins in the Canadian

Cordillera

Majorowicz & Weides

9:00 New insights into the underground storage potential in the

German North Sea sector

Kaufmann et al.

9:15 Squeegee flow and TSR in the Devonian Southesk Cairn car-

bonate sour gas play, Alberta, Canada

Machel

9:30 Facies relation and depth dependency of thermo-physical rock

properties of the Upper Jurassic geothermal reservoirs of the

Molasse Basin, Germany

Homuth & Sass

9:45 The identification of clay bearing fractures form well logs and

their implications for rock mechanics

Meller

10:00 Coffee-Break

10:30 The impact of fault zones on the permeability of Upper Juras-

sic carbonate rocks (Bavaria, Germany)

Wolfgramm

11:00 Stratigraphy related fault throw analysis in the Malm forma-

tion of the Molasse Basin, Mauerstettet geothermal prospect,

SW Bavaria

Jentsch et al.

11:15 3D geomechanical numerical modelling of the absolute stress

state in the Alberta Foreland Basin

Reiter et al.

11:30 Slip and dilation tendency analysis: Implications for geother-

mal exploration in the Upper Rhine Graben

Meixner et al.

12:00 Lunch

20 3 Programme

Tuesday, September 24th, Afternoon-Session - Lecture room 2

Time Title AuthorsBOR Borehole geophysics and geology

14:15 Drilling the centre of the Thuringian Basin to decipher poten-

tial interrelation between shallow and deep fluid systems

Abratis et al.

14:30 Coring the Thuringian Syncline: processing of cores and cut-

tings during the INFLUINS scientific drilling campaign

Aehnelt et al.

14:45 Downhole geophysics along the INFLUINS deep hole Methe et al.


16:00 Online gas monitoring during drilling of the INFLUINS bore-

hole EF-FB 1/12

Wiersberg et al.

16:15 Well-log based prediction of thermal conductivity: Is there a

universally applicable approach for sedimentary rocks?

Fuchs & Förster

16:30 Magnetostratigraphic investigations on drill cores from the

Heidelberg Basin: a time frame for Pliocene and Pleistocene

sediments

Scheidt et al.

16:45 on short notice Dresen (Keynote)

19:00 Conference Dinner

3 Programme 21

Wednesday, September 25th, Morning-Session - Lecture room 1

Time Title AuthorsBIO Organic-inorganic interactions and microbial activity in fluid-sediment systems

8:45 Microbial communities in the terrestrial deep subsurfacein the context of carbon capture and storage

Schlömann et al.

(Keynote)

9:30 Strata-specific bacterial diversity in aquifers of the Thuringian

Basin/Germany

Beyer et al.

9:45 Aquifer-specific hydrochemical signatures in groundwater of

the Thuringian basin, Germany

Lonschinski et al.

10:00 Microbial life in Muschelkalk - activities in calcification Weist et al.

10:15 Atomic force and scanning electron microscopy investigation

of extracellular polymeric substances and hematite interac-

tions in colloids and aggregates

Wieczorek et al.

10:30 Coffee-Break

SED Sediment architecture and source-to-sink estimations

11:00 A lithological and facial 3D-model of the Buntsandstein in the

German North Sea

Wolf et al.

11:15 3D-small scale modeling of facies development and varia-

tions of the Lower and Middle Buntsandstein formations in

the Thuringian Syncline

Kunkel et al.

11:30 Depositional system and hinterland evolution of the Neogene

Tajik Basin

Klocke et al.

11:45 Quantifying carbonate mobilisation in the Saale drainage area

during the Quaternary

Kirstein & Gaupp

12:00 Lunch

22 3 Programme

Field Trips

After the meeting several field trips are planned. If you want to join us on one of the trips, please

register for the field trips in advance. Please note that for organizational reasons for all field trips a

minimum and maximum number of participants is required. Fees for field trips should be paid with

your registration fees.

We offer half-day and one-day field trips. Our field trips will take place as follows:

Field trips A-C: Half-day field trips (Wednesday 25 th of September 2013 - afternoon till evening)

Field trips D-E: One-day field trips (Thursday, 26th of September 2013)

A. Mineralogical Museum of the University Jena - from Goethe to crystal growth (in Jena)The Mineralogical Collection was founded in 1797 and is one of the oldest and largest uni-

versity collections in Germany. With a portfolio of approximately 80,000 objects it is heavily

involved in both research and teaching in the field of geo-and biogeosciences. In addition to the

regional focus (minerals from the Triassic around Jena) and a systematic collection of global

discovery locations with special focus on Thuringian occurrence, the collection also contains a

considerable number of meteorites and tektites.

Guide: Dr. Birgit Kreher-Hartmann - curator of the museum

Persons: a minimum of 5 persons, a maximum of 20 persons

Fee: for free

Duration: 1.5-2 h

Meeting point: Conference Office, Campus Foyer, 1:30 pm

B. The Geodynamic Observatory Moxa - press your ear on the Earth (in Moxa)The Geodynamic Observatory Moxa belongs to the Friedrich Schiller University, it is located

in the Thuringia Slate mountains about 30 km beeline south of Jena. At Moxa we aim to study

geodynamic effects of the earth regarding deformations of the crust and the whole earth’s body.

This includes the monitoring, analysis and interpretation of observations from seismology with

high frequencies up to long-term gravity, tilt, and strain observations.

Guide: Dr. Thomas Jahr - scientific leader of Moxa

Persons: a minimum of 16, a maximum of 24 persons

Fee: 25 Euro / p. P.

Duration: 3-4 h (including transport from Jena)


3 Programme 23

C. Visiting the 3D Visualization Laboratory (VisLab) at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environ-mental Research, UFZ, LeipzigToday, it is virtually impossible to imagine environmental research without complex computer

models. Within the context of the presentation of complex scientific results, 3D-visualization

plays a major role since it provides a clear picture of the problems involved, simulations and

the results. The UFZ´s Visualization Centre works in mainly 3 different project categories -

visualization of scientific data (e.g. from geoscientific simulations), visualization of landscapes

and visualization of urban areas.

Guide: Prof. Dr. Olaf Kolditz - Department of Environmental Informatics in Leipzig





D. Triassic of the Thuringian SynclineThe Thuringian Syncline exposes the tripartite succession (Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk and Ke-

uper) of the Central European Basin. The sediments were deposited in a variety of continental

to marine environments in a marginal basin of the western Tethys. Thick marine evaporites and

continental red beds reflect the arid climate during the Triassic. During the excursion, classic

outcrops of the Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk and Keuper will be visited. Sedimentary facies and

evidence of fluid-rock interactrion will be subject of discussion.

Guide: Dr. Thomas Voigt - Sedimentologist at the University Jena.



Duration: 8-10 h (including transport from Jena).

Meeting point: Conference Office, Campus Foyer, 8:00 am

E. The basement of the Thuringian SynclineThe heterogeneous pre-Zechstein (Latest Permian) basement of the Thuringian Syncline emerges

along its southern margin in the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Thuringian Forest. The Variscan

basement comprises anchi- to low grade metamorphic slates and phyllites of Late Proterozoic

to Paleozoic depositional age in the southeast, and amphibolite-grade metamorphics intruded

by granitoids in the Ruhla crystalline complex to the northwest. The low-grade metasediments

and the Ruhla complex are separated by a basin containing sediments and volcanics of Late

Carboniferous to Permian (Rotliegend) age. Stops will show these different units. Permeability

variations and evidence for fluid flow (e.g., veins) through the basement rocks can be discussed.

Guide: Prof. Dr. Jonas Kley - Department of Structural Geology and Geodynamics at the

University Göttingen




Meeting point: Conference Office, Campus Foyer, 8:00 am

24 3 Programme

4 Sessions and Abstracts

1. BIO - Organic-inorganic interactions and microbial activity in fluid-sediment systems

2. GPH - Geophysical exploration of sedimentary basins

3. TEC - Tectonics in sedimentary basins

4. HYD - Hydrogeology of interacting groundwater systems from reservoir to basin scale

5. BOR - Borehole geophysics and geology

6. FLS - Fluid-sediment interactions and hydrocarbons

7. SED - Sediment architecture and source-to-sink estimations

8. MIN - Mineralizing fluids and geogenic sources of fluid-enrichment

9. RES - Reservoirs in foreland basins

25

26 4 Sessions and Abstracts

BIO - Organic-inorganic interactions and microbial activity in

fluid-sediment systems

Convener: Esther T. Arning, Andrea Beyer, Arkadiusz Wieczorek, Yunjiao Fu, Hans-MartinSchulz, Wolfgang van Berk, Matthias Händel

Organic and inorganic substances coexist in aquifers and sedimentary basins. These fluid-sediment

systems serve as a habitat for a large community of microbes. Importantly, organic matter conversion

is a strong driving force for organic-inorganic interactions which frequently occur in sedimentary

basins from shallow to great depth and microorganisms actively control biogeochemical processes.

Further, natural colloids are involved in a multitude of biogeochemical and physicochemical processes

in aqueous systems. The presence of organic substances during development of colloid may not

only affect mineral formation and growth, but also colloid stability Such complex digenetic reactions

have strong impact on porosity-permeability properties of sediments. Consequently, there is a strong

need for quantitative evaluation and prediction of rock-water-gas reactions. Furthermore, groundwater

biodiversity based on different rock strata remains so far largely unexplored, but will supply new

knowledge on both biogeochemical cycles and fluid composition or movement in the different strata

undergrounds.

We welcome all contributions, which deal with mineral-water-gas interactions in various sedimento-

logical settings.

4 Sessions and Abstracts 27

BIO-T01: Microbial communities in the terrestrial deep subsurface in the context ofcarbon capture an storage

Claudia Gniese1, S. Reichel2, M. Mühling1, M. Hache3, A. Schulz4, C. Freese5, J. Seifert6, Nils

Hoth7, and Michael Schlömann*1

1 Technical University of Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Germany2 G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Freiberg3 Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum e.V. – DGFZ, Dresden4 Isotopenbiogeochemie, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig5 Institut f. Bohrtechnik und Fluidbergbau, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg6 Institut f. Tierernährung, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart7 Technical University of Freiberg, Institute for Mining and civil engineering, Germany

* [email protected]

Carbon Capture and Storge (CCS) can be an ap-

proach to mitigate CO2 emissions to the atmo-

sphere and can thereby contribute to the reduction

of the climate change. Suitable storage sites are e.

g. depleted gas and oil reserviors, saline aquifers

or unmineable coal beds. Although there are ex-

treme environmental conditions like high temper-

ature, salinity, pressure and elevated heavy metal

concentrations, such geological formations can

habor microorganisms that might interfere with

any technical operation. Therefore, knowledge of

the microbial community and its metabolic activ-

ity in the terrestrial deep subsurface is required

to counteract possible problems. We investigated

formation waters of several boreholes of two dif-

ferent natural gas fields, Schneeren (Lower Sax-

ony) and Altmark (Saxony-Anhalt). Formation

waters of both gas fields comprised methanogenic

archaea, fermenting bacteria and sulfate-reducing

bacteria. Formation water from Schneeren and

milled material of drill cores were used either un-

sterile in biogeochemical reactors or sterilized in

geochemical reactors. Microbial sulfate reduction

and a high build-up of organic carbon were re-

peatedly detected under elevated H2 and CO2 par-

tial pressures. Isolation approaches using forma-

tion water produced from the gas field Schneeren,

resulted in isolates related to Petrotoga. One

new Petrotoga sp. was subjected to genome

analysis to provide the basis for future transcrip-

tomic analyses of this isolate incubated with dif-

ferent CO2 concentrations. Together with mod-

ified DSMZ 718 medium, the isolated Petrotogasp. was pumped through drill cores of Postaer

sandstone in biogeochemical flow-through exper-

iments which were examined in parallel with ster-

ile geochemical flow-through experiments. We

deduce from the flow-through experiments, that

the Petrotoga strain does not influence the per-

meability behaviour of highly permeable sand-

stone at least for the experiments which were per-

formed without CO2. Soon, we will test the influ-

ence of CO2 on the permeability behaviour in the

flow-through experiments. We will also perform

the flow-through experiments with drill cores of

reservoir and cap rock in combination with the

microbial community in formation water of the

gas field Schneeren to deduce the influence of bio-

geochemical CO2 transformation processes on the

long-term permeability behaviour of reservoir and

cap rocks. This will help to understand microbial

processes in CCS sites and contribute to a safe

operation.


BIO-T02: Strata-specific bacterial diversity in aquifers of the Thuringian Basin/Germany

Andrea Beyer*1, Silke Möller1, Stefan Neuman1, Katja Burow1, Falko Gutmann1, Julia Lindner1,

Steffen Müsse1, Erika Kothe1, and Georg Büchel2

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Microbiology, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

The INFLUINS (Integrated fluid dynamics in sed-

imentary basins) project investigates coupled dy-

namics of near surface and deep flow patterns of

fluids, transported materials and component sub-

stances in the Thuringian Basin. The extensive

basin landscape is located in eastern Germany

and belongs to the Triassic period of Bunter sand-

stone (Buntsandstein), shell limestone (Muschel-

kalk) and Keuper, which crop out at the surface.

Older sediments and Permian (Zechstein) can be

found at the edges of the basin. With microbial

investigations, we are analyzing the bacterial di-

versity of ground- and mineral water at different

locations to see whether there are special patterns

in bacterial distributions originating from the dif-

ferent rock strata. This will facilitate understand-

ing fluid movement in the Thuringian Basin. We

determined bacterial diversity from water samples

out of seven natural springs and eleven ground-

water wells by cultivation and subsequent mor-

phological, physiological and molecular identi-

fication. To elucidate differences to other rock

strata, we compared these samples to seven brine

springs, located in Permian aquifers. First re-

sults show that the largest proportions were found

to be members of Bacilli and γ- proteobacteria,

including the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus.

Next steps will be a comparison of cultivation-

dependent and cultivation-independent methods

to gain further information on bacterial strains

which where uncultivable or suppressed by other

bacteria strains.


BIO-T03: Aquifer-specific hydrochemical signatures in groundwater of the Thuringianbasin, Germany

Martin Lonschinski*1, Dirk Merten1, and Georg Büchel1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

The Thuringian basin is the major geological

structural unit in the federal state of Thuringia,

Germany. It consists of sandstones, limestones,

clays, gypsum and salts, that were deposited from

the Late Permian until the Early Jurassic (approx-

imately 250 to 180 million years ago). Important

aquifers for drinking water supply of the region

are located in the Buntsandstein (Early Trias)

formations and to a lesser extent in Muschel-

kalk (Middle Trias) and Zechstein (Late Permian)

aquifers. Furthermore, groundwater with high

concentrations of dissolved salts is used for bal-

neotherapy treatments. These brine waters are

produced from depths of 100 to 1000 m mainly in

the peripheral areas of the Thuringian basin.

The hydrochemical properties of shallow and

deep groundwater with special emphasis on stable

isotopes (2H, 18O, 34SSO4, 13CDIC) as well as rare

earth elements (REE) are the main focus of this

study. Due to very low concentrations of REE

in water at neutral pH condition, an enrichment

procedure is necessary prior to REE determina-

tion by inductively coupled plasma mass spec-

troscopy (ICP-MS). The used method is based on

the procedure of Shabani et al. (1990) and yields

enrichment factors of about 500. The signatures

are used to investigate the hydrochemical devel-

opment of groundwater along flow paths from the

catchment to the discharge areas and interactions

between particular aquifers.

The isotope data of dissolved sulfates (34SSO4)

show terrestrial origins of sulfates in Early

Buntsandstein and marine conditions for sulfate

formation in Late Buntsandstein as well as Late

Zechstein and Muschelkalk. Mixing water com-

positions in several groundwater samples indicate

interactions between the particular aquifers.

Most of the PAAS (Post Achaean Australian

shale) normalized REE fractionation pattern in

groundwater show an enrichment of middle and

heavy REE. The degree of fractionation increases

by depth of water origin. Shallow groundwater

with high redox potential shows a negative Ce

anomaly, generally. Speciation calculations for

REE indicate carbonate complexes as most com-

mon species.

ReferencesShabani, M.B., T. Akagi, and A. Masuda (1992): Preconcentration of trace rare earth elements in sea-

water by complexation with (2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate and 2-ethylhexyl dihydrogen phos-

phate adsorbed on a C18 cardridge and determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrom-

etry: Anal. Chem. 64, 737-743.


BIO-T04: Microbial life in Muschelkalk - activities in calcification

Aileen Weist*1, Manu Kumar Singh1, Anne Kastner1, Gerd Gleixner2, Georg Büchel2, and Erika

Kothe1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Microbiology, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geoscience, Germany

* [email protected]

The carbon cycle is an important natural process

which involves the exchange of carbon between

different reservoirs such as atmosphere and bio-

sphere. The metabolic activities of organisms

within the cycle affect the fluxes, including or-

ganic carbon, atmospheric CO2 and carbonates.

Formation and weathering of carbonates are in-

fluenced by CO2 and milieu changes, both mech-

anisms being controlled by geogenic processes as

well as bacterial activity.

In this study, microbial diversity in limestone and

associated groundwater aquifers has been investi-

gated to determine microbial signatures. Ground-

water, rock, and soil samples were studied from

Middle and Lower Muschelkalk. Bacteria were

isolated from the Thuringian Basin, which is sur-

rounded by layers of Muschelkalk, and analyzed

on their ability to form carbonates

The (expected) low colony forming units (cfu)

from rock and groundwater as well as higher

cfu’s for soil samples, rich in nutrients, revealed

prevalence of gamma-proteobacteria in ground-

water, Pseudomonas and Bacillus in rock samples

and actinobacteria in soil. On calcium contain-

ing media, the ability to form carbonates could

be demonstrated for most isolates, visible by for-

mation of crystals. These represented different

morphologies, and SEM/XRD analyses verified

carbonate presence in the biominerals.


BIO-T05: Atomic force and scanning electron microscopy investigation of extracellularpolymeric substances and hematite interactions in colloids and aggregates

Arkadiusz Krzysztof Wieczorek*1, Sneha Narverkar1, and Kai Uwe Totsche1


* [email protected]

Natural colloids are involved in a multitude of

biogeochemical and physicochemical processes

in aqueous systems. However, the chemical com-

position, mineralogical diversity and morpholog-

ical variability of natural colloids are the reasons

for the difficulty to understand their formation,

stability and mechanisms of interaction with other

solutes.

In this study we explore the direct interaction

forces and effects of different amount of extracel-

lular polymeric substances (EPS) of Bacillus sub-

tilis on the aggregation and stability of hematite

colloids. The hematite colloids were synthe-

sized using Schwertmann and Cornell method

[1], where ferric nitrite solution slowly drops into

the boiling water. Bacillus subtilis EPS was ob-

tained using Omoike and Chorover method [2],

where EPS was precipitated from the supernatant

solution by using three volumes of cold ethanol.

Then the mixture was centrifuged and dialyzed

to remove ethanol and residual media compo-

nents and stored at -20oC. Synthetic hematite

was mixed with different amounts of EPS result-

ing in solutions with EPS/hematite ratios of 1:5,

1:2, 1:0.5 and 1:0.2. Droplets of the colloidal

suspension were put on silicon wafer and sub-

ject to air drying. The wafers were then analyzed

by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with

energy-dispersive Xray spectroscopy and Atomic

Force Microscopy (AFM). A control sample with

pure synthetic hematite colloid was also prepared

and analyzed.

AFM tips with modified contact surface were

used to analyze the direct interaction forces be-

tween EPS and hematite nanoparticles. To obtain

high quality of surface modification for AFM tips,

an in house build system was used, which contain

vibration damping table, micromanipulation unit,

microinjection unit and optical system.

References

[1] Schwertmann & Cornell (2000) “Iron Oxides in the Laboratory”, Wiley-VCH.

[2] Omoike & Chorover (2006) Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70, 827-838.


BIO-P01: Thermal history of the autochthonous paleogene in the Nesvacila paleovalley

Marek Goldbach*1, Eva Geršlová1, and Slavomír Nehyba1

1 Masaryk University Kotlá ská, Department of Geological Sciences Faculty of Science, Czech Republic

* [email protected]

This study investigated the thermal maturity of

the organic matter in selected boreholes in the

Nesvacilka paleovalley. The degrees of coalifica-

tion expressed as a Rock-Eval pyrolysis peak tem-

perature (Tmax) and random vitrinite reflectance

(Rr) were used as calibration parameters for 1D

burial models. The Nesvacilka paleovalley is one

of the most important oil and gas play in the

Czech Republic. Significant accumulations of hy-

drocarbons can be found in the autochthonous

clastic and carbonate formations as well as in

the fractured crystalline basement. The sedimen-

tary fill of the canyons ranges from a few hun-

dred meters to more than 1,500m. The coarser

clastics, sandstones and conglomerates are dis-

tributed mainly in the lower axial part. The over-

lying mudstones then represent the later phase

of abandonment and hemipelagic drape sedimen-

tation (Picha, 2006). Organic carbon content

(TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis and random vitrinite

reflectance (Rr) measurements were performed in

order to determine the thermal maturity of the

autochthonous paleogene. 100 samples from 20

different wellbores were analyzed. Additional

data were collected from drilling reports in the

archives (Geofond, MND a.s.). According to the

source rock generative potential criteria (Peters

1986) the range of autochthonous paleogene sam-

ples is broad, from fair to very good oil and gas

prone source rocks. The autochthonous paleo-

gene contains type III and type II-III kerogens ac-

cording to Espitalie (1986) with a maturity range

from immature to oil window. Tmax values vary

from 416°C to 450°C. Burial and erosion history

was reconstructed using the Petromod 1D soft-

ware (Schlumberger) combined with GIS inter-

pretation a temperature map was created.Within

the Paleogene and Jurassic intervals evaluated,

both the Rr and Tmax parameters showed a con-

tinuous increase with depth. A shift to an appar-

ent higher thermal maturity was observed in the

underlying Paleozoic formations. Results show

that the maximum temperature can be found at

the base and the top of the autochthonous Pale-

ogene. Maximum paleo-temperature values vary

from 100°C to 140°C at the base of the paleo-

gene fill and from 80°C to 110°C at the top of

the fill. Recent depth of the intervals evaluated

varies from 900m to 3,600m. Temperature differ-

ences vary from 40°C to 60°C. This indicates that

within the paleogene-recent time interval about

2,000m of deposits were eroded.

ReferencesEspitalie J., (1986): Use of Tmax as a maturation index for different types of organic matter. Com-

parison with vitrinite reflectance in J. Burrus, ed., Thermal modeling in sedimentary basins: Paris,

Editions Technip, 475-496.

Picha F., Straník Z., Krejcí O, (2006): Geology and hydrocarbon resources of the Outer Western

Carpathians and their foreland, Czech Republic, in J. Golonka and F. J. Picha eds., The Carpathians

and their foreland: AAPG Memoir 84, 49-175.

Peters K. E., (1986): Guidelines for evaluating petroleum source rock using programmed pyrolysis:

AAPG Bulletin, v. 70, 318-329.


BIO-P02: Characterization of Bacteria from Carbonated Groundwater

Manu Kumar Singh*1, Aileen Weist1, Georg Büchel2, and Erika Kothe1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Microbiology, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Groundwater is commonly used for agricultural,

domestic and industrial applications. It supports

microbial communities with differing and com-

plex habitats and niches. Various studies have

shown that these groundwater communities are

highly influenced by the surrounding goegenic

materials, like shell lime-stone consisting of se-

quence of beds from limestone and dolomite.

The objective of this study was to identify the bac-

terial community present in groundwater aquifers

associated with a limestone formation typical for

Thuringia, Muschelkalk. The sampling sites in-

vestigated were Stöben (Lower Muschelkalk) and

Wichmar (Middle Muschelkalk), both located

around Camburg, Thuringia, Germany. The sam-

ples were taken from wells, analyzed for hydro-

chemistry, living microbial biomass via analysis

of colony forming unit (cfu) on different media.

The groundwater shows high presence of Ca, Na,

Mg, S, Cl−, SO2−4 , and HCO3− at both sampling

sites, with only about 200 to 300 cfu/ml for either

site. Physiological profiles for both communi-

ties on BIOLOG Eco plates containing 31 carbon

substrates were similar for the two communities,

with only few divergences in substrate utilization.

A higher capacity for degradation of different

substrates for the Wichmar community indicates

the presence of more diverse community. En-

richment on these substrates led to isolation of

Variovorax, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, Pan-toea, and Yersinia. Isolation of groundwater bac-

teria at both sampling sites followed by classifi-

cation into operational taxonomical units (OTUs)

with subsequent 16S rDNA sequencing demon-

strated a dominance of Proteobacteria. In the

Middle Muschelkalk sample, additionally bacilli

and Sphingobacterium occurred at appreciable

numbers which might reflect the higher catabolic

capacity.

ReferencesChoi, K. H., and F. C. Dobbs. 1999. “Comparison of Two Kinds of Biolog Microplates (GN and ECO)

in Their Ability to Distinguish Among Aquatic Microbial Communities.” Journal of Microbiological

Methods 36 (3): 203-213.

Ultee, A., N. Souvatzi, K. Maniadi, and H. König. 2004. “Identification of the Culturable and Non-

culturable Bacterial Population in Ground Water of a Municipal Water Supply in Germany.” Journal

of Applied Microbiology 96 (3): 560-568. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2004.02174.x.


GPH - Geophysical exploration of sedimentary basins

Convener: Florian Bleibinhaus, Markus Schiffler, Ronny Stolz, Martin Krause, Arvid Kühl,Thomas Jahr, Ilya Prutkin

This is a joined session with following focuses:

Integrated geophysical models

Geophysical models of sedimentary basins outline the subsurface geometry of layers and faults, and

they provide various material properties and their spatial and temporal variations. The integration of

different models, and the combination of different material properties, is crucial to the modeling of

fluid dynamics.

We invite applied geophysical studies of shallow and deep basins, with a special emphasis on the

integration of different geophysical data and models, including, but not restricted to, potential fields,

seismic data, borehole data, or EM studies.

Analysis of sedimentary basins with remote sensing data - methods and applications

Methods in remote sensing offer medium to large-scale insights into sedimentary and surface struc-

tures. Notably here are discussed:

1) InSAR methods and applications for height model generation and displacement measurements in

sedimentary basins.

2) Optical Remote Sensing methods and applications for mapping of sedimentary basins.

3) Satellite-based and airborne gravity measurements, density modeling and inversion for investiga-

tions of large structures.

4) Airborne electromagnetics and magnetotellurics e.g. for mapping of fluids, faults and salinity

distributions in and between sedimentary layers.

Advanced geophysical instruments and methods for Sedimentary Basin research

The study of layered sedimentary basins crossed by fault zones and bounded by laterally changed ge-

ological structures requires new high resolution monitoring- and exploration technologies over a wide

range of spatial scales. Therefore, all contributions on geophysical survey methods and instruments

are welcome which help to identify the subsurface structures of the basin. The session covers airborne

and ground-based methods as well as monitoring technologies in boreholes. The challenging research

in sedimentary basins necessarily requires a multi-method approach and the joint interpretation of the

observations. The main question is: what can we learn from observed geophysical time series about

the geodynamics of sedimentary basins is one of the key themes of this session.


GPH-T01: Earth observation with gravimetric satellite missions: lessons learned andthe way forward

Jürgen Kusche*1

1 Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, Germany

* [email protected]

Current gravimetric satellite missions, such as the

NASA/DLR Gravity Recovery and Climate Ex-

periment (GRACE) and ESA’s Gravity Field and

Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), provide a

new type of data for integrated Earth system re-

search including climate studies, ocean and sea

level research, large-scale hydrological modeling

and solid-Earth geophysics.

Time-variable gravity enables, for the first time,

a direct measurement of the amount of water

mass that is redistributed at or near the surface of

the Earth through the hydrological cycle and by

oceanic and atmospheric circulation. In this lec-

ture, I will first revisit standard procedures, state-

of-the-art approaches and new avenues to solve

the inverse problem of finding time-variable mass

distributions consistent with the data and with

the physics of a fluid redistributing on an elastic

rotating Earth. I will demonstrate recent improve-

ments in temporal and spatial resolution, achieved

through improved processing techniques.

Then, through a number of examples I will

show how time-variable gravity, in combination

with other measurements, helps to 1) constrain

changes in the terrestrial hydrological cycle, in

particular basin-wide water storage. 2) iden-

tify the sources of global and regional sea level

change

Finally, I will discuss the potential and limitations

of future satellite gravity and mass transport mis-

sions that are currently under investigation.


GPH-T02: JESSY Star – an airborne full tensor magnetic gradiometer for near surfaceexploration

Matthias Queitsch*1, Markus Schiffler1, Ronny Stolz2, Andreas Goepel1, Matthias Meyer3, Stefan

Dunkel3, Hans-Georg Meyer2, and Nina Kukowski1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 Institute of Photonic Technology Jena, Germany3 Supracon AG, Germany

* [email protected]

In this presentation we introduce a fully opera-

tional full tensor magnetic gradiometer (FTMG)

instrument based on Superconducting Quantum

Interference Devices (SQUIDs) and show exam-

ple data acquired in 2012 within the framework of

INFLUINS - Integrated Fluid Dynamics in Sed-

imentary basins. This multidisciplinary project

aims to better understand movements and inter-

action between shallow and deep fluids in the

Thuringian Basin. Compared to the mapping of

total magnetic field intensity (TMI) in conven-

tional airborne magnetic surveys for industrial

exploration of mineral deposits and sedimentary

basins, our instrument measures all components

of the magnetic field gradient using highly sen-

sitive planar-type SQUID gradiometers. Addi-

tionally, signals of three orthogonal magnetic

field components of SQUID magnetometers are

recorded in order to compensate for the imbal-

ance of the gradiometers. The SQUID sensors

are cooled by liquid helium inside of a nonmag-

netic cryostat which is mounted in a horizontally

balanced, nonmagnetic body of fiberglass. The

towed body reduces motion noise by means of

its aerodynamic shape and a high drag element

which stabilizes the bird even at low velocities.

The design of the body enables very low motion

noise picked up by the sensors and cost effective

operation at high speed as well as due to tight

turns at the end of each survey line.

The SQUID sensor signals are digitized by 24 bit

analogue to digital converters of a newly devel-

oped data acquisition system (DAS). The DAS is

located close to the cryostat in the towed body

and it collects data streams of the SQUIDs, radar

altimeter, inertial unit and GPS system and sends

them via wireless LAN to a standard laptop on-

board of the helicopter. An inertial unit with three

orthogonal fiber optic gyros and three orthogo-

nal accelerometers for the measurement of the

system’s attitude is essential to reduce the mo-

tion noise during post processing. Because of

all these precautions the sensor noise is less than

60 pT/mpp during flight operation. The system

towed 30m below a helicopter at ground clear-

ance of 30m, measured by the radar altimeter.

The measurement of all gradient tensor compo-

nents significantly constrains the solutions of the

inverse problem as well as information on the ra-

tio between induced and remanent magnetization

is obtained. More advantages of measuring gra-

dient components instead of TMI are discussed in

the presentation.


GPH-T03: New processing methods for high-resolution magnetic gradient tensor data

Markus Schiffler*1, Matthias Queitsch1, Wolfram Krech2, Ronny Stolz2, Andreas Chwala2, Hans-

Georg Meyer2, Matthias Meyer3, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

The aim of this work is to provide an overview

of the current state of processing of data, which

are acquired with a SQUID (Superconducting

Quantum Interference Devices) based Full Tensor

Magnetic Gradiometry (FTMG) system. The very

high sensitivity of the SQUID based sensors in the

system enables the detection of weak magnetic

anomalies and uncovers new information about

ore bodies, dykes and mineralization in mineral

exploration as well as walls, trenches and pil-

lar holes in archaeological prospection. We pro-

vide an introduction into the processing scheme,

the underlying physics, its complex mathematical

background, and its application to exemplary sets

of data examples.

The SQUID based FTMG system was developed

at the Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT)

with gradiometers produced in thin-film technol-

ogy offer a high intrinsic balance. However,

SQUID gradiometers exhibit arbitrary offsets and

parasitic magnetic field sensing areas due to small

inaccuracies in lithographic fabrication of the

gradiometer antennas which superpose the gra-

diometer signals with the magnetic field itself.

The compensation of this parasitic influence is

done by means of a triple of low-sensitive SQUID

magnetometers.

An inertial unit measures in parallel the attitude

of the towed FTMG system. This enables in an

early step of data processing to rotate the mag-

netic data collected in the measurement coordi-

nate frame into an Earth-centered Earth-fixed one.

Besides this, high spatial resolution is achieved by

collecting data of a differential GPS system.

Newly introduced processing steps allow further

improvement of balancing and transformation of

the tensor into magnetic field components using

Hilbert and Hilbert-like transforms. A compar-

ison between the measured and calculated mag-

netic field components reveals the importance of

this processing tool.

All developed data processing routines are imple-

mented in a robust and easy-to-run software tool-

box which permits to calculate the correct mag-

netic information from the raw sensor data, to en-

hance the quality of the produced magnetograms

and to provide high quality data for the inversion.

The new opportunities of the processing soft-

ware were tested on datasets obtained during sur-

veys in the Republic of South Africa for mineral

exploration, for research on the margins of the

Thuringian Basin in the frame of the INFLUINS

project and recent archaeometric campaigns.


GPH-T04: Long-term gravimetric observation at the center of the Thuringian Basin:gravity signals induced by various fluid processes

Thomas Jahr*1


* [email protected]

A hydrological fluid process is always connected

with mass-shift and mass-transport. High resolu-

tion gravimeters enable the measurement of these

mass-changes in terms of gravity changes as an

integral signal from the surrounding of the sta-

tion.

Since 2011 the Earth tide gravimeter La-

Coste&Romberg ET-18, which belongs to the

Geodynamic Observatory Moxa (Jahr et al.

2001), is recording in the cellar of the munici-

pal utility company Erfurt (Stadtwerke-Erfurt).

Thus, this gravity station is located close to the

location of the deep bore hole to be drilled in

the frame of the project INFLUINS (Kley et al.

2011). The experimental aim of these measure-

ments is the creation of a long-term time series

before, during and after the drilling of the deep

bore hole of the INFLUINS project. The data

are sampled with a rate of 10 seconds and with

a dynamic range of 24bit (Hegewald et al. 2011)

and the daily data sets are transferred each day

to the Institute of Geosciences in Jena, where the

data processing and the tidal analysis are carried

out. The observed time series can be investigated

by two methods: natural and man-made hydro-

logical induced gravity effects can be studied di-

rectly, which means that the observed effects are

interpreted and modeled as mass changes in the

subsurface of the Thuringia Basin.

The second method is the tidal analysis proce-

dure, which results in the so-called tidal param-

eters for the main tidal waves, characterizing the

elastic response of the Earth on tidal forces. Be-

side the big global part this response includes also

a regional and a local part, which is controlled by

the geodynamic situation around the measuring

station. Seasonal changes of the ground-water

level and also variations by the changed fluid sit-

uation during and after the drilling of the bore

hole can lead to small changes in the tidal pa-

rameters. With high-resolution observation of the

tides using the Earth tide gravimeter and with the

investigation of the tidal parameters as a function

of time we can study the hydrological controlled

geodynamics of the Thuringian Basin.

ReferencesHegewald, A., G. Jentzsch, T. Jahr (2011): Influence of temperature variations on the noise level of

the data of the LaCoste and Romberg Earth tide gravity meter ET18. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.

12, Q04005.

Jahr, T., G. Jentzsch, C. Kroner (2001): The Geodynamic Observatory Moxa/Germany: Instrumenta-

tion and Purposes. J. Geod. Soc. Japan 47(1), 34-39.

Kley, J. and the Influins team (2011): INFLUINS: Investigating fluid flow between surface and deep

levels of sedimentary basins: The Thuringian Basin as a geolaboratory. Geophysical Research Ab-

stracts 13 (EGU General Assembly, Vienna), 1 p.


GPH-T05: Interpretation of gravitational and magnetic anomalies for 3D structure ofthe Thuringian Basin, Germany

Ilya Prutkin*1, Florian Bleibinhaus1, and Thomas Jahr1


* [email protected]

Our investigation is carried out under the frame-

work of the project INFLUINS (Integrated Fluid

Dynamics in Sedimentary Basins) devoted to the

relationship between near surface and deeper flu-

ids and material flows. The project links geology,

hydro-geology, mineralogy, geophysics, basin

analysis, remote sensing, etc. Geophysical in-

vestigation is necessary in order to explain the

internal structure of the Thuringian Basin and

to develop a joint 3D model of its underground

using seismic, gravimetric, magnetic, boreholes

measurements. Our study is based on gravity and

magnetic data mainly. At the same time, we try

to take into account all constraints from geology

and other geophysical methods. A detailed struc-

tural model is an essential boundary condition for

models of fluid transport, one of the central goals

of the project INFLUINS.

We calculate gravity of a geological model pro-

vided by TLUG (Thuringian State Agency for En-

vironment and Geology) and subtract it from the

given gravity data. To explain the residuals, we

apply our algorithms. First, gravity is separated

into long, intermediate and short wavelengths us-

ing subsequent upward and downward continu-

ation. All components are inverted separately.

Our model for the main intermediate sources in-

cludes three low-density bodies that we interpret

as granitic intrusions, and a density interface with

topography within the crystalline basement ( 10

km depth).

In the area of Ettersberg, we attempt to take

into account in the most possible way all avail-

able geological information. Depths to geolog-

ical boundaries are set according to boreholes

data. Geometry of shallow layers (upper and

lower boundary of Bunter sandstone) coincides

with TLUG model. For a positive linear anomaly

presented both in gravity and magnetic data, we

have found 3D topography of the contact surface,

which we treat as an uplift of the crystalline base-

ment. After subtracting its effect, we obtain two

negative anomalies separated by a positive one.

The shape of the positive anomaly is similar to an

outcrop of Muschelkalk. Both negative anoma-

lies are assumed to be caused by salt deposits. We

have observed gravity anomalies, which are not

correlated with magnetic ones. These anomalies

match known faults. A possible explanation of

such anomalies can be fluid transport. Our mod-

eling of a saturated fault zone has confirmed that

it can cause a positive gravitational anomaly with

observed amplitudes.


GPH-T06: A 3D travel time tomography reveals the shallow subsurface of the ThuringianBasin

Martin Krause*1, Andreas Goepel1, Florian Bleibinhaus1, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

In 2011 a seismic survey was carried out in the

Thuringian Basin in the framework of the multi-

disciplinary project INFLUINS. With respect to

the direction of the major fault zones, one parallel

and two perpendicular VibroSeis profiles were ar-

ranged. In order to gain more information on the

3D structure of the basin, we deployed a seismic

array of 10 vertical-component stations in a small

area between the profiles that observed the Vibro-

Seis sources from the reflection profiles.

In this study, we present results from 2.5D high-

resolution traveltime tomography along the re-

flection profiles, and from a 3D tomography that

includes the data acquired with the array. To in-

terpret our results, we compare them with a ref-

erence model from structural geology, with P-

velocities from downhole seismic experiments,

and with depth-migrated sections from the reflec-

tion survey. While the major features are in agree-

ment, our inversion results show much more com-

plexity with respect to the structure geological

model of the seismic structure in the investigation

area. The Lower Muschelkalk as a high velocity

layer exhibits a high seismic sensitivity and there-

fore its structure is well imaged. Our model indi-

cates that in parts of the area the Lower Muschel-

kalk is found 100 m deeper than expected from

the structure geological model.


GPH-T07: The integration of HEM, SkyTEM, borehole and seismic data: an efficienttool for sedimentary basin analysis

Dominik Steinmetz*1, Jutta Winsemann1, Angelika Ullmann2, Bernhard Siemon2, Christian Brandes1,

Peter Menzel3, Hans-Jürgen Götze3, Uwe Meyer2, and Helga Wiederhold4

1 Leibniz University Hanover, Institute of Geoscience, Germany2 The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany3 Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Institute of Geoscience, Germany4 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany

* [email protected]

Airborne electromagnetics (AEM), comprising

both frequency-domain helicopter-borne elec-

tromagnetic systems (HEM) and time-domain

helicopter-borne electromagnetic systems such as

SkyTEM, is a cost efficient technique for geo-

physical investigations of the shallow subsur-

face and has successfully been applied in vari-

ous complex geological settings to analyze the

depositional architecture of groundwater systems

(Siemon et al., 2009; Klimke et al., in press).

However, interpretation of AEM data is often

based on 1D inversion results visualized on 2D

resistivity maps and vertical resistivity sections.

The integration of AEM data with geophysical

and geological models is often missing and con-

sequently leads to uncertainties in the interpreta-

tion process.

The aim of this study is to provide a simple

methodology for the interpretation of shallow

subsurface geophysical data and the construction

of more realistic geological 3D subsurface mod-

els. This is achieved by the development of an

integrated workflow and new 3D modelling ap-

proaches, based on the combination of geophys-

ical and geological data sets, comprising HEM

data, SkyTEM data, gravimetric data, 2D seismic

reflection profiles and borehole data.

As test sites (i) the Cuxhaven subglacial tunnel

valley fill and its Neogene host sediments and (ii)

an anticline structure in the northwestern part of

the Harz foreland were chosen.

We used 1D HEM and 1D SkyTEM inversion

results and applied a new 3D resistivity gridding

procedure based on geostatistical analyses and

interpolation techniques to create continuous 3D

resistivity grid models. Subsequently, we com-

bined the 3D resistivity models with borehole

data sets and 2D seismic reflection profiles to im-

prove the geological interpretation. To verify the

modelling results and to identify uncertainties of

AEM inversions and interpretation, we compared

the apparent resistivity values of the constructed

geological 3D subsurface model with the origi-

nal 1D HEM inversion results. In addition, the

modelling results are used as input for 3D gravity

modelling software (IGMAS+) to check for plau-

sibility.

Acknowledgements

The AIDA project is part of the GEOTECH-

NOLOGIEN program and is funded by the Fed-

eral Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF,

grant no. 03G0735).

ReferencesSiemon, B., E. Auken and A.V. Christiansen (2009): Laterally constrained inversion of frequency-

domain helicopter-borne electromagnetic data, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 67(3), 259-268.

Klimke, J., H. Wiederhold, J. Winsemann, G. Ertl and J. Elbracht (in press): Three-dimensional map-

ping of Quaternary sediments improved by airborne electromagnetics in the case of the Quakenbrück

Basin, Northern Germany, Zeitschrift der deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften.


GPH-P01: A microplane method of decomposing LIDAR scan point-sets to obtain struc-tural information from remote geological outcrops

David Colin Tanner*1, Patrick Dietrich2, and Charlotte M. Krawczyk1

1 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Terrestrial LIDAR devices are used increasingly

in geological modelling because they offer the

possibility to generate the exact geometry of an

outcrop and geological features. However further

use of the data to derive geological-useful infor-

mation is hampered by the immense quantity of

data. We suggest representing LIDAR data by a

regular distribution of ‘microplanes. Our method

can be used for targets with complex geometries;

it regularises the data, reduces memory require-

ments, but still retains full statistical accuracy in

terms of surface orientation and roughness. More-

over, our method provides a straightforward and

easy way to access the original LIDAR points for

any micro-plane in the reduced data set if the ne-

cessity arises in later processing steps.

We demonstrate our method with a LIDAR scan

of a rock outcrop in an active quarry. We show

how microplanes can be used to distinguish and

classify surfaces belonging to the bedding or dif-

ferent joint systems. Statistics can then be made

about the surface areas of the joints and their ori-

entation, and the joint frequency in the outcrop.

This forms the basis for further modelling of the

rock outcrop, in terms of, for instance, hydrocar-

bon, geothermal or carbon capture reservoir char-

acteristics.


GPH-P02: A 2.5D seismic velocity model for the Thuringian Basin based on first arrivialtimes from a reflection seismic data set

Martin Krause*1, Andreas Goepel1, Florian Bleibinhaus1, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

In order to investigate the structure of the

Thuringian Basin, a reflection seismic experi-

ment was conducted in 2011 as part of the multi-

disciplinary project INFLUINS. Three reflection

seismic profiles were recorded with a total length

of 76 km. In addition, the VibroSeis sources

used for reflection profiling were recorded by a

small network of ten 1-component stations in the

vincinity of the profiles. These wide-angle data,

and the data acquired along the reflection seismic

profiles, will be used in a joint 3D traveltime to-

mography.

Here, we present first results from a 2.5D in-

version of the first arrivial times along the three

reflecion seismic profiles. The initial model for

the inversion was constructed from an existing

3D structural model of the subsurface in the in-

vestigation area as well as velocity information

obtained from vertical seismic experiments at sur-

rounding drill hole sites. The focus of our presen-

tation lies in the illustration of the workflow and

the interpretation of the inverted velocities with

respect to the near surface features of the present

structural model.


GPH-P03: Joint interpretation of magnetic, electromagnetic and geologic data of asmall-scale magnetic anomaly in the Thuringian Basin

Matthias Queitsch*1, Markus Schiffler1, Ronny Stolz2, Andreas Goepel1, Stefan Baumgarten1, Alexan-

der Malz1, Matthias Meyer3, Hans-Georg Meyer2, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

Within the framework of the multidisciplinary

project INFLUINS (Integrated Fluid Dynamics

in Sedimentary Basins) several airborne surveys

were conducted in the Thuringian Basin. The

main goal was to identify fault related magnetic

anomalies. In most survey areas we expected

very low susceptibilities and therefore weak sig-

nal amplitudes. In order to get high quality data in

such environments we used a full tensor magnetic

gradiometer (FTMG) based on very sensitive

superconducting quantum interference devices

(SQUIDs). One significant magnetic anomaly

has been found close to Siebleben, a small village

near the basin center. The anomaly has a peak-

to-peak total magnetic field amplitude of 60nT

within an area of approximately 1km x 1km. The

strike direction correlates well with that of major

fault zones in the Thuringian Basin.

From the airborne measured magnetic gradient

tensor data we calculated the total magnetic field

using Hilbert transforms. The obtained total

magnetic field was inverted by using the pro-

gram MAG3D [1] to get the 3D susceptibility

distribution. The dipping angle and direction

of the susceptibility distribution correlates well

with the strike and dip angle of the Eichenberg-

Gotha-Saalfeld fault zone reconstructed in geo-

logic cross sections.

In addition to our airborne FTMG datasets we ac-

quired ground base magnetic and electromagnetic

data. Ground based measurements with proton

precession magnetometers verified the airborne

results. Electromagnetic data were collected on

one profile with three different coil separations

using the Slingram setup with ten frequencies

ranging from 110Hz to 56kHz. This data set does

not show any significant conductive features be-

sides one shallow aquifer.

In this work we present the different data sets

and provide a joint interpretation of the 3D mag-

netic inversion results, the 1D inversion results of

the electromagnetic profile and the geologic cross

sections.

References

[1] MAG3D; A Program Library for Forward Modelling and Inversion of Magnetic Data over 3D

Structures, version 4.0 (2005). Developed under the consortium research project Joint/Cooperative

Inversion of Geophysical and Geological Data, UBC-Geophysical Inversion Facility, Department of

Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.


GPH-P04: Automatized algorithm to geometrical modelling of sedimentary basins: Ex-amples of Baltic Basin

Konrads Popovs*1, Janis Jatnieks1, and Tomas Saks1

1 University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Latvia

* [email protected]

Traditionally 3D geometrical modelling comple-

ment quantitative extensive data sets and signif-

icant input of researcher interpretation to obtain

models deemed acceptable. However, for large

sedimentary basins available data very often is

insufficient and available interpretation methods

that often require significant manual, often sub-

jective and difficult reproducible intervention are

not completely suitable to interpretation of geo-

logical structure of sedimentary basins

During this research automatized algorithm to ge-

ometrical modelling of sedimentary basins is de-

veloped. This algorithm is based on automation

of approach presented by Popovs et al. (2012)

that is grounded on extension in 3D of simple as-

sumption that post depositional deformations pro-

duces no significant changes in sedimentary strata

volume where strata thickness and its length in a

cross-sectional plane remains unchanged except

as a result of erosion.

We assume that the tectonic deformations occur

in sequential cycles deforming all layers similarly

where subsequent tectonic stages is separated by

a regional unconformities.

Therefore there is need to conceptualize geologi-

cal structure by defining geometrical relations be-

tween geological surfaces - sedimentary column

must be divided into several sequences following

to adherence to tectonic cycles and major erosion

events that control distribution of each layer.

In that way we can automatize modelling proce-

dure by automatic construction of model frame-

work comprising development of erosion surfaces

and fault planes. Geometry of sedimentary layers

was constructed by sequential modelling of layer

thicknesses using dataset describing non-eroded

thickness.

Applicable layer geometry was obtained auto-

matically using geometrical rules defined through

model framework - by filling of empty volume

between erosion surfaces and transferring known

displacement data along fault planes from at least

one surface inside each tectonic cycle and appli-

cable layer distribution is controlled by erosion

surfaces.

This approach has been tested on central part of

Baltic Basin using borehole data as main data

source supplementing it with sparse structural

data from available published structural maps.

Applied techniques made possible to reliably re-

construct and predict layer surface geometry. Re-

sults indicate that the used approach has a good

potential in development of regional geological

models of sedimentary basins.

ReferencesK. Popovs, T. Saks, J. Ukass, and J. Jatnieks (2012): Genetic approach to reconstruct complex regional

geological setting of the

Baltic basin in 3D geological model. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 14, EGU2012-422.


TEC - Tectonics in sedimentary basins

Convener: Stephan Donndorf, Jonas Kley, Nina Kukowski, Alexander Malz, Michael Warsitzka

Sedimentary basins develop in different geodynamic settings and often undergo multiple tectonic

phases. This general session includes research on all aspects of structural patterns and tectonic pro-

cesses that influence the geometry and development of sedimentary basins.

The session presents contributions exploring the varying styles of deformation in sedimentary basins

and the factors controlling them, such as thickness and strength contrasts, inherited structures, strain

rates and fluid pressures over time. We aim to include research based on field studies, seismic data,

geochronology, backstripping, or modeling (analogue, numerical, geometrical). Studies dealing with

tectonic processes acting at multiple scales are shown as well as case studies from individual basins

all over the world.


TEC-T01: Understanding sub-/seismic deformation distribution within an evolving sed-imentary basin

Charlotte M. Krawczyk*1

1 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany

* [email protected]

The evolution of a sedimentary basin is generally

studied using a variety of techniques and derived

material parameters, encompassing geophysical

imaging, structural interpretation, and modelling

of any type. To understand both the basic evolu-

tion of the structural setting or its potential with

respect to applied tasks, an integrated approach

is important. Therefore, a workflow under devel-

opment for seismic and subseismic deformation

prediction will be discussed along with case stud-

ies which aims to combine different datasets from

large to small scale.

The introduced seismo-mechanical workflow

uses a 3-D seismic data set and accompanying

well data to first determine the structural inven-

tory and evolution of a region. By kinemati-

cally restoring the seismically-acquired volumes,

i.e. retro-deforming the faulted strata, the spatial

distribution of strain and therefore possible frac-

ture orientation caused by the faulting process is

imaged. This will be verified and further devel-

oped by forward finite-element modelling of the

same structures, using available material parame-

ters. Both these methods are compared critically

with volumetric coherency and attribute analy-

sis of the equivalent seismic volumes. These re-

sults can then be related to subseismic deforma-

tion seen in borehole data. If regional monitoring

or local structural evaluation can finally be sup-

plemented by further high resolution geophysical

measurements, a better overview of structural and

process understanding can be achieved.

With such an approach, it is possible to deter-

mine the specific potential of communicating sys-

tems that occur between depth and surface, e.g.

fault systems or fluid pathways, and to unravel the

polyphase history of a basin.


TEC-T02: Sedimentary basins and continental topography: an integrated approach

Sierd Cloetingh*1

1 Utrecht University, Department of Earth Sciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Continental topography and sedimentary basins

are at the interface of deep Earth, surface and

atmospheric processes. Sedimentary basins are

mankind’s largest resource of geo-energy (hydro-

carbons and geothermal heat) and fresh water.

Topography influences society, not only as a re-

sult of slow landscape changes but also in terms

of how it impacts on geohazards and the envi-

ronment. When sea-, lake- or ground-water lev-

els rise, or land subsides, the risk of flooding

increases, directly affecting the sustainability of

local ecosystems and human habitats. On the

other hand, declining water levels and uplifting

land may lead to higher risk of erosion and de-

sertification. Rapid population growth in river

basins, coastal lowlands and mountainous regions

and global warming, associated with increasingly

frequent exceptional weather events, are likely to

exacerbate the risk of flooding and devastating

rock failures. Along active deformation zones,

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cause short-

term and localized topography changes. These

changes may present additional hazards, but at

the same time permit, to quantify stress and strain

accumulation, a key control for seismic and vol-

canic hazard assessment. Although natural pro-

cesses and human activities cause geohazards and

environmental changes, the relative contribution

of the respective components is still poorly un-

derstood. That topography influences climate is

known since the beginning of civilization, but it

is only recently that we are able to model its ef-

fects in regions where good (paleo-) topographic

and climatologic data are available.

The present state and behaviour of the Shallow

Earth System is a consequence of processes op-

erating on a wide range of time scales. These

include the long-term effects of tectonic uplift,

subsidence and the development of river systems,

residual effects of the ice ages on crustal move-

ment, natural climate and environmental changes

over the last millennia and up to the present,

and the powerful anthropogenic impacts of the

last century. If we are to understand the present

state of the Earth System, to predict its future

and to engineer our use of it, this spectrum of

processes, operating concurrently but on different

time scales, needs to be better understood. The

challenge in Solid Earth sciences is to describe

the state of the system, to monitor its changes, to

forecast its evolution and, in collaboration with

others, to evaluate modes of its sustainable use by

human society


TEC-T03: Structural evolution of the Triassic within the German North Sea sector

Fabian Jähne*1, Axel Weitkamp1, and Marco Wolf1

1 The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany

* [email protected]

We will present new results regarding the struc-

tural evolution of the Triassic in the German

North Sea sector based on investigations of the re-

cent distribution and thicknesses of stratigraphic

units in the Buntsandstein. The results are based

on the interpretation of 3D and 2D seismic sur-

veys, stratigraphic information and geophysical

well data. The present study has been carried out

within the framework of the project Geo-scientific

Potentials of the German North Sea (GPDN).

By detailed seismic mapping of the Buntsand-

stein group and the analysis of its internal ge-

ometry the structural evolution during this rela-

tively short period has been studied in great de-

tail. Especially in the Horn Graben, major fault

movements and the initialization of halotectoni-

cally driven processes started in the Lower Tri-

assic (Volpriehausen - Detfurth). In contrast, in

the Central Graben as well as along platform ar-

eas like the Westschleswig Block first major tec-

tonic or halotectonic movements are recognized

in the Upper Triassic. In general, the Triassic

structural evolution in the German North Sea area

is characterized by several changes in the struc-

tural style and the distribution of deformations

over a short time period. The Lower Buntsand-

stein show only minor thickness variations and

is dominated by widescale trends driven by basin

wide subsidence. A short but major rifting phase

in the Middle Buntsandstein is only focused along

a few structures like the Horn Graben. In the Mid-

dle Buntsandstein the Horn Graben shows abnor-

mal high subsidence for intraplate structures. A

comparable high subsidence during the Triassic

has been described for the more eastern Glück-

stadt Graben (Baldschuhn et al., 2001). Most of

the southeastern German North Sea and partially

the G-Block are influenced by a major erosional

event (Hardegsen unconformity) at the base of

the Solling (Röhling, 1991). Towards the north-

west the influence of this event decreases. During

the Upper Buntsandstein and the Muschelkalk the

sediment thicknesses significantly increase inside

the Horn Graben and the Glückstadt Graben. In

the central German North Sea sector, several un-

conformities in the Keuper sequences as well as

rim-synclines with a thick Upper Triassic filling

are related to the formation of salt pillows and di-

apirs during this period. In contrast, during the

Upper Triassic the Central Graben shows major

rifting activity without significant mobilization of

the Zechstein salt.

ReferencesBaldschuhn, R., Binot, F., Fleig, F. and F., Kockel (2001): Geotektonischer Atlas von NW Deutsch-

land und dem deutschen Nordsee-Sektor. - Geol. Jb., Reihe A, Vol. 153., p. 3-95, 3 CD-ROMS.

Röhling, H.G. (1991): A lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Lower Triassic in the Northwest German

lowlands and the German Sector of the North Sea, based on Gamma Ray and Sonic Logs, Geologis-

ches Jahrbuch, Reihe A, Vol. 119, p. 3-24.


TEC-T04: Salt flow and pillow growth due to basement faulting and differential loading– insights from analogue modelling

Michael Warsitzka*1, Jonas Kley2, and Nina Kukowski1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 Georg-August-University Göttingen, Department of Structural Geology and Geodynamics, Germany

* [email protected]

In many geological situations involving salt tec-

tonics, rock salt can be considered as a pressur-

ized fluid between brittle basement rocks and brit-

tle cover sediments. Within this system, salt flows

in response to hydraulic pressure gradients. Dur-

ing basement extension, a hydraulic head within

a salt layer can be caused by (1) vertical dis-

placement of the salt layer itself, (2) decoupled

faulting of the overburden (displacement load-

ing), or (3) sedimentary differential loading due

to syn-kinematic sedimentation.

We performed analogue experiments to examine

(1) the structural evolution of the viscous and

brittle layers during small offset basement fault-

ing and successive sedimentation and (2) the in-

cremental displacement and strain patterns in the

viscous layer during experimental evolution. The

analogue experiments use silicone putty, which

possesses a nearly Newtonian viscous rheology,

to simulate salt and granular sand with frictional

plastic material behaviour to simulate cover sed-

iments. A PIV (particle imaging velocimetry)

digital monitoring tool was applied to observe

strain patterns during experiment evolution. By

varying layer thicknesses and extension rates, the

influence of these first-order parameters on the fi-

nal structures and the kinematics of salt flow have

been tested.

Experimental results reveal that channelized hor-

izontal flow occurs in the viscous layer during

basement extension and during sedimentation.

Lateral redistribution of viscous material is as-

sociated with uplift and subsidence of the sur-

face leading to the formation of sinks and pillow

structures. Thus, it can be demonstrated that mi-

nor displacement in the basement beneath a vis-

cous layer initiates significant deformation in the

overburden. The parameter study shows that the

velocity and the extent of viscous flow is higher,

if the thickness of the ductile layer is higher, the

thickness of the overburden is lower or if base-

ment extension is faster. Final structures observed

in experimental cross-sections show specific sim-

ilarities with natural salt structures in the North

German Basin.


TEC-T05: Building a small scale 3D geological model of the Thuringian Basin

Sabine Sattler*1

1 Thuringian State Institute for Environment and Geology, Germany

* [email protected]

The Thuringian Basin is a tectonic depression

which mostly consists of Permian to Triassic sed-

iments. The aim of the project is to build a

small scale 3D geological model of this basin

with a model area of appr. 12.000 km2. Source

data for the 3D geological model is the extensive

collection of geological data (for example bore-

hole data, geological maps, isobaths and isopach

maps, geological and geophysical cross sections)

assembled at the Geological Survey of Thuringia

(Thuringian State Institute for Environment and

Geology - TLUG) during the last decades.

These extremely heterogeneous data vary not

only in type and age, but also in scientific meth-

ods and classifications. For usage as input for the

3D geological model, they first had to be vali-

dated, harmonized and processed. Due to the very

large amount of data, especially borehole data,

this was partly done using a semiautomatic ap-

proach in ArcGIS. An important outcome of this

first task was the validation and assessment of var-

ious types of data describing the same geological

horizons.

In the first 3D modeling step a non-faulted

geological 2.5D surface model was built with

Paradigm GOCAD to detect remaining input data

conflicts. After preparing a fault dataset suitable

for the intended model scale of 1: 200.000, a fault

network was created in GOCAD. In the next step

a faulted stratigraphic grid (SGrid) with 14 ge-

ological horizons from the Jurassic sediments to

the crystalline basement was created. The SGrid

as a full 3D approach was chosen for ensuring the

compatibility of the final model with hydrogeo-

logical simulations.

Advancements in 3D modeling software and the

release of Paradigm SKUA opened new possibil-

ities to refine the existing small scale model. Y-

and X-shaped as well as dying faults can now be

incorporated into the volume model. Also lay-

ers that are relatively thin compared to the hori-

zontal and vertical model resolution like the car-

bonate horizons within the Upper Permian Sed-

iments (Zechstein) can be created in the small

scale model without overlap. Using a workflow, a

grid suitable for hydrogeological simulations can

be easily derived from the resulting faulted geo-

logical grid.

ReferencesSeidel, G. (Hrsg.) (2003): Geologie von Thüringen. 2. Auflage. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuch-

handlung, Stuttgart.

Mallet, Jean-Laurent (2004): Space-Time Mathematical Framework for Sedimentary Geology. In:

Mathematical Geology 36 (1), 1-32.


TEC-T06: 3D structure and gravity modelling of the North Alpine Foreland Basin

Anna Maria Przybycin*1, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth1, and Michael Schneider2

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Earth Sciences, Germany

* [email protected]

The wedge shaped North Alpine Foreland Basin

has developed since the Tertiary in consequence

of the Alpine orogeny. It is underlain by a Pa-

leozoic basement and Mesozoic sediments ac-

cumulated in the Tethys. This Mesozoic de-

posits include the highly karstified Upper Jurassic

Malm aquifer, which is today intensively used for

geothermal energy production.

Though the European Molasse Basin area has

been an object of scientific and economic inter-

est for decades as a reservoir for hydrocarbons

and geothermal energy, its structural and thermal

configuration is still not fully understood. With

our work we want to contribute to the understand-

ing of this structure and provide a framework for

upcoming studies dealing with the coupled trans-

port of heat and fluid in the basin. Therefore

we integrate already existing, local to mid-scale

2D and 3D models, depth and thickness maps

of stratigraphic layers and the Moho as well as

reflection seismic and well data to build a 3D

structural model from the topography to the crust-

mantle-boundary (Moho). The resulting model,

which resolves 7 sedimentary and 3 crustal layers,

has been extended downwards by calculating an

isostatic Lithosphere-Asthenosphere-Boundary

(LAB) following the approach of Airy. This start-

ing model has been modified by means of 3D

gravity modelling using the Bouguer gravity.

The final model shows a laterally diverse distri-

bution of thicknesses in the sedimentary part de-

pending on the changes in paleogeography since

the deposition of the respective lithostratigraphic

units. However the sedimentary part exerts a mi-

nor influence on the gravity response of the model

due to low density contrasts among the differ-

ent units. The deeper crustal part consists of a

two parted crust and the crystalline body of the

Tauern Window. The crystalline crust features

larger density contrasts between its units. The

depth of the interfaces in the crustal part and the

Moho therefore have the largest influence on the

gravity response of the model. In contrast, the

depth of the LAB is less relevant for the gravity

response as the density contrast at this bound-

ary is much smaller than at the level of the Moho.

Nevertheless the depth to the LAB varies between

155 km in the southeast and 80 km in the north-

west according to gravity modelling which is also

largely consistent with receiver function data.


TEC-T07: Westen Canada Sedimentary Basin Stress Map 2.0: Moving to 3D

Douglas Schmitt*1, Inga Moeck2, and Oliver Heidbach3

1 University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Canada2 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada3 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Since the pioneering work of Bell and Gough [1]

in the development of the borehole breakout tech-

nique the stresses within the Western Canada Sed-

imentary Basin (WCSB) have been extensively

studied. This work continues with the most re-

cently cumulation of results[2] including refined

estimates of principle horizontal stress directions

from breakout analyses as well as vertical stress

magnitudes from density log integration. This

data has proven to be incredibly useful to in-

dustry and regulatory agencies and is provid-

ing constraints for larger scale tectonic modelling

[3]. However, the database does not currently

include information on the Andersonian faulting

environments expected nor on quantitative mag-

nitudes. Given the heterogeneous nature of the

sediments in the basin, we also anticipate that

there may be changes in the state of stress with

depth resulting from the variations in the mechan-

ical lithology. This lack of knowledge is particu-

larly critical given the increasing exploitation of

the basin for hydrocarbon and geothermal energy

resources, the growing application of hydraulic

fracture stimulation, and the use of porous for-

mations as repository for waste fluids and green

house gases. In this project we are using a variety

of borehole log and core based strategies [4] to

obtain a more quantitative assessment of the sub-

surface state of stress. We will report on some

example results as well as discuss our efforts to

involve a number of industrial and government

stakeholders in this work.

References1. Bell, J.S. and D.I. Gough, Northeast-Southwest Compressive Stress in Alberta - Evidence from

Oil-Wells. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1979. 45(2): p. 475-482.

2. Bell, J.S. and S.E. Grasby, The stress regime of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Geoflu-

ids, 2012. 12(2): p. 150-165.

3. Reiter, K., O. Heidbach, and I. Moeck. Alberta Basin stress field model versus in-situ data. in

International Geological Modelling Conference - GeoMod 2012. 2012. Lisbon.

4. Schmitt, D.R., C.A. Currie, and L. Zhang, Crustal stress determination from boreholes and rock

cores: Fundamental principles.


TEC-T08: Hydrocarbon generation in the northern Austral Basin and its relation to theAndes tectonics,

Victoria Sachse*1, Zahie Anka1, Rolando di Primio1, Jorge Rodriguez2, and Marcelo Cagnolatti2

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 Petrobras Energy S.A., Argentina

* [email protected]

The Austral Basin is situated in a highly active

tectonic zone in southern Argentina. The opening

of the South Atlantic to the east, the opening of

the Drake Passage in the south, and the subduc-

tion related to the rise of the southern Andes to

the west, had major influence on the evolution of

the Austral Basin. Numerous oil and gas fields are

currently producing, but the first order controlling

factors of hydrocarbon (HC) generation and accu-

mulation in time and space, including migration

and leakage dynamics, remain not completely un-

derstood. In order to better understand how the

regional tectonic setting, i.e. the Andes evolu-

tion, may have influenced the petroleum system

history, we carry out an integrated basin analysis

including onshore-offshore correlations, 1D sub-

sidence analysis and 3D modeling of hydrocarbon

generation and migration through geologic time.

In order to identify the impact of tectonic events

on basin geometry, we carried out a basin-wide

interpretation of 2D seismic refection data, es-

timations of sedimentary rates and analysis of

depocenter migration through time. Major tec-

tonic events as the rift phase, basin inversion

and tectonic uplift since the initial rise of the

Andes were identified. Borehole-based informa-

tion about source rocks (TOC, HI), reservoirs

and seals were used as input for a 3D petroleum

system modelling (PetroMod software). In the

model, source rock qualities were assigned to

the Lower Cretaceous Springhill Formation (≤6

%TOC), Lower Inoceramus and Margas Verdes

Formation (>2 %TOC). Reservoirs and seals oc-

cur from Jurassic up to the Eocene, but the main

reservoir is present in the Springhill Formation.

An initial constant heat flow of 60mW/m2 was

assigned. A recent burial depth of up to 8 km

in the southernmost northern Austral Basin (gas

window or even over-mature ranges for organic

matter) and shallowing up to 2.5 km (immature to

oil window) on the western flank of the Rio Chico

High were modelled for the base of the Early Cre-

taceous.

These differences in maturity distribution can be

explained not only by the differential burial depth

between the west and east, but also due to the

presence of magmatic intrusions (sills and dikes)

identified both within the sediments and at the

surface, which seem to have a major influence

on the local thermal maturation of the organic

matter. Hence, a relation between Andes-uplift

related volcanic activities, changes in basin geom-

etry and hydrocarbon generation became obvious.


TEC-P01: Evolution of salt-related structures in the Subhercynian Basin (northern Ger-many): from paleostress field analysis to basin modelling

Christian Brandes*1, Carolin Schmidt1, David Colin Tanner2, Lukas Pollok1, and Jutta Winsemann1

1 Leibniz University Hanover, Institute of Geoscience, Germany2 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany

* [email protected]

The Subhercynian Basin is a sub-basin of the

Central European Basin System. It serves as per-

fect natural laboratory to study the evolution of

salt structures (diapirs and pillows) under vary-

ing stress conditions. From outcrop fabrics, the

paleostress field in the vicinity of the salt struc-

tures was reconstructed from reservoir- to basin-

scale, to better understand the tectonic phases

and the related salt structure evolution. Further-

more, we modelled the rim syncline evolution

along the Helmstedt-Schöningen salt wall to anal-

yse the salt wall evolution. On a regional scale,

the compressional paleostress field was mainly

NNE-SSW oriented, reflecting the Late Creta-

ceous inversion phase in Central Europe. Locally

the paleostress field shows distinct perturbations.

Along the rim of the non-piercing Elm salt pillow,

the maximum compressive paleostress vectors di-

verge by up to 90° from the regional trend and

form a radial pattern that focusses on the centre

of the structure. This makes a detachment fold

evolution of the salt pillows very likely (Bran-

des et al., accpt.). Basin modeling was applied

to a rim syncline of the Helmstedt-Staßfurt salt

wall. Initial subsidence was rapid between 57

and 50 Ma, followed by moderate subsidence be-

tween 50 and 34 Ma. These phases reflect the

salt withdrawal from the source layer. In the be-

ginning, the salt evacuation was rapid, resulting

in strong subsidence. After the thickness of the

source layer decreased, the salt flow into the salt

wall was reduced, resulting in a lowering of the

subsidence rate (Brandes et al., 2012; Osman et

al., 2013). The salt structures in the north-western

Subhercynian Basin underwent a two-fold evolu-

tion. Initial extension in the Triassic caused first

salt movements that prevailed during the Juras-

sic - Early Cretaceous. Most important is the

Late Cretaceous contractional phase that short-

ened the diapirs and caused salt migration into

the Helmstedt-Staßfurt salt wall, documented in

the rim syncline record. This phase also led to

the formation of the salt pillows between the di-

apirs due to detachment folding. From this study,

we derive three main controlling factors for such

salt-dominated basin as the Subhercynian Basin:

1) a basal salt layer fed the diapirs and acted as

a detachment horizon during extension and the

later shortening, 2) detachment folding was the

main deformation mechanism during contraction

and 3) the pre-existing diapirs controlled the po-

sition of the detachment folds.

ReferencesBrandes, C., Schmidt, C., Tanner, D.C. and Winsemann, J. (accpt.): Paleostress pattern and salt tec-

tonics within a developing foreland basin (north-western Subhercynian Basin, northern Germany),

International Journal of Earth Sciences

Brandes, C., Pollok, L., Schmidt, C., Wilde, V. and Winsemann, J. (2012): Basin modelling of a

lignite-bearing salt rim syncline: insights into rim syncline evolution and salt diapirism in NW Ger-

many, Basin Research, 24, 699-716

Osman, A., Pollok, L., Brandes, C., and Winsemann, J. (in press): Sequence stratigraphy of a Pa-

leogene coal bearing rim syncline: interplay of salt dynamics and sea-level changes, Schöningen,

Germany, Basin Research


TEC-P02: Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the Glückstadt Graben (Central Euro-pean Basin System) – 2D restoration of salt tectonics and subsidence patterns

Michael Warsitzka*1, Jonas Kley2, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

The Glückstadt Graben (GSG) is one of the most

prominent Triassic rift basins integrated in the

assembly of NNE-SSW trending depocentres

within the Central European Basin System. The

complicated structural evolution of the GSG was

crucially influenced by the presence of up to 3000

m thick Permian evaporite successions. Salt flow

and diapir formation due to differential loading

and gravity gliding overprinted regional patterns

of sediment accumulation and concealed tectonic

deformation in the sub-salt basement. At present,

the evaporites are accumulated in up to 6000 m

high elongated salt walls surrounded by deep pe-

ripheral sinks.

This study intends to investigate the spatial and

temporal evolution of salt structures and sub-

sidence patterns in the GSG. 2D-backstripping

and restoration of post-salt layers were conducted

in order to (1) provide a detailed reconstruction

of the post-Permian structural development and

(2) differentiate between tectonic subsidence and

subsidence induced by salt withdrawal. On the

basis of two seismic cross-sections and lithologi-

cal data, post-salt sedimentary strata was stepwise

decompacted and restored.

The analysis reveals two main phases of subsi-

dence attributed to regional extension. A first

phase during the Middle Buntsandstein initiated

early salt flow and already determines the loca-

tion of salt pillows and peripheral sinks. A second

extension phase during the Late Triassic led to

widening of the GSG, piercing of salt structures,

and a major phase of salt-induced subsidence.

Ages of the main phase of growth of the salt struc-

tures younging stepwise from the graben center

towards the basin flanks reflect the widening of

the graben and the increased salt expulsion due

to differential loading. Separation of subsidence

induced by basement tectonics from subsidence

induced by salt withdrawal suggests that in the

central region of the GSG, approximately one

third of the total subsidence was created by salt

expulsion.


TEC-P03: Interaction between salt structures and ice-sheet loading: Insights from two-dimensional numerical modelling

Joerg Lang*1, Andrea Hampel1, Christian Brandes1, and Jutta Winsemann1

1 Leibniz University Hanover, Institute of Geoscience, Germany

* [email protected]

The connection between ice-sheet loading-

unloading cycles and tectonic processes in for-

merly glaciated areas has attained a lot of atten-

tion in the past decades. At the southwestern mar-

gin of the Pleistocene Fennoscandian ice sheets

a correlation between terminal moraines and salt

structures indicates that salt structures may have

reacted to ice-sheet loading (e.g. Schirrmeister,

1999).

This study aims at simulating the interactions

between ice sheets and salt structures by finite-

element modelling (ABAQUS). Each model con-

sists of a 2D cross-section, representing the sim-

plified geometry of a salt structure. The mechan-

ical parameters of the different materials in the

model were defined to approximate the rheology

typical of sedimentary rocks. The durations of the

individual loading phases were defined to resem-

ble the durations of the Pleistocene ice advances

in northern Germany. The input parameters were

systematically varied to detect the controlling fac-

tors. These variations affect as well the geometry

and rheology of the modelled sections as the mag-

nitude, spatial distribution and timing of ice-sheet

loading.

All experiments indicate that salt structures re-

spond to the load of a 300 to 1000 m thick ice

sheet; however deformation of the overburden

is restricted to the area immediately above the

salt diapir. A glacial advance towards the diapir

causes flow of salt from the source layer below

the ice sheet towards the diapir results in diapir

uplift of up to 3 m. The diapir continues to rise as

long as the load is applied to the source layer but

not to the crest of the diapir. When the diapir is

transgressed by the ice sheet the diapir is pushed

downwards as long as load is applied to the crest

of the diapir. Larger displacements are observed

in models with deep-rooted diapirs, high thick-

ness of the ice sheet, high thickness of the salt

source layer and low viscosity of the salt.

Rise or fall of diapirs triggered by ice-sheet load-

ing will affect glacigenic erosion and deposition

above the diapirs and within the rim synclines.

However, the resulting displacements are of an

order of decimetres to few metres and hence may

be too low to have a larger effect on the advance

or retreat pattern of the ice sheets.

ReferencesSchirrmeister, L. (1998): Die Positionen weichselzeitlicher Eisrandlagen in Norddeutschland und ihr

Bezug zu unterlagernden Salzstrukturen, Zeitschrift Geologischer Wissenschaften, 27, 111-120.


TEC-P04: Kinematics and evolution of Tertiary conjugate normal faults in the GermanMolasse Basin

David Colin Tanner*1, Hartwig von Hartmann1, Hermann Buness1, Rüdiger Schulz1, and Charlotte

M. Krawczyk1

1 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany

* [email protected]

The Upper Jurassic carbonate platform in South-

ern Germany in the Molasse Basin is a main

exploration target for hydrogeothermal projects

(Paschen et al., 2003). Depositional classifica-

tion and the mapping of different carbonate fa-

cies within the platform has been carried out using

three-dimensional seismic attribute analysis (von

Hartmann et al., 2012), while the understanding

of tectonic overprinting and younger fault activ-

ity during basin evolution is still missing. We

therefore identified a set of four conjugate nor-

mal faults that offset the Tertiary molasse sedi-

ments, within the same 3D seismic volume. De-

tailed seismic and geological analysis shows that:

1. Vertical throw on all four faults is maximal

(up to 200 m) at depth of ca. 1500 m, but

strongly decreases towards higher strati-

graphic units and it also decreases down-

wards.

2. The fault patterns and displacements of the

lower, Jurassic carbonate platform are in

part compressive and do not extend into the

Tertiary basin sediments.

We put forward a model that proposes the struc-

tural development of this area was determined

by the loading of the Alpine foreland basin and

in particular the northward passage of its periph-

eral bulge. The movement of the bulge first pro-

duced local compressive and extensional struc-

tures; when the bulge had passed and buckling

of the foreland basin increased, conjugate exten-

sional faults formed in stratigraphically higher

units that synsedimentarily grew downwards, up-

wards and laterally. This model requires only dip-

slip kinematics of the faults and does away with

the need for strike-slip movement.

Referencesvon Hartmann, H., H. Buness, C.M. Krawczyk & R. Schulz (2012): 3-D seismic analysis of a carbon-

ate platform in the Molasse Basin - reef distribution and internal separation with seismic attributes.

Tectonophysics, 572–573, 16–25; doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2012.06.033.

Paschen, H., D. Oertel & R. Grünwald (2003): Möglichkeiten geothermischer Stromerzeugung in

Deutschland. TAB Report 84, Berlin.


TEC-P05: The Late Miocene to recent erosion pattern of the Alpine foreland basinreflects slab-breakoff beneath the western Alps

Anke M. Friedrich*1, Fritz Schlunegger2, and Ramona Baran3

1 Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 University of Bern, Institute of Geosciences, Switzerland3 AirborneHydroMapping OG, Austria

* [email protected]

Our findings contradict recent views that global

climate change led to substantial erosion of

mountainous areas since 5 Ma around the world.

Instead, regional-scale tectonic processes has

driven erosion during this time for the Alps, in

particular. Our synthesis of published denudation

rate data reveals that erosion of the Alpine Fore-

land Basin is highest in front of the west-central

Alps (between 2 and 1 km since 5-10 Ma), and

decreases eastward over a distance of 700 km to

the Austrian Foreland Basin (c. 200 m). This ef-

fect reduces the net erosional flux out of the entire

Alps including its foreland computed from sedi-

mentary budget analysis, although — in the west-

ern Alps — it still exceeds that of the inverted

basin by a factor of at least three. The west-

central Alps yield erosion rates of > 0.5 mm/yr,

while in the east, erosion of the foreland basin

and the adjacent Alps is < 0.1 mm/yr. The re-

sult yields a large elliptical, orogen-parallel pat-

tern of erosion, centered along the west-central

Alps. Accelerated erosion of the western Alps

and its foreland basin compensated regional-scale

surface uplift and triggered large drainage-pattern

changes that lead to the establishment of the head-

waters for rivers currently originating in the west-

central Alps. Flexural-isostatic unbending of

the Eurasian lithosphere following a recent slab-

breakoff or similar mantle-involved events pro-

vides a plausible mechanism for the observed sur-

face uplift and erosion.


TEC-P06: Assessing the suitability of the Mid-Miocene marine cliff line as a paleogeode-tic marker of surface uplift related to flexural-bending of the Alpine Foreland Basin,Swabian Alb, Germany

Markus Hoffmann*1, Victory Jaques1, Amir Abolghasem1, and Anke M. Friedrich1

1 Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Paleoshorelines and marine cliffs are recorders

of surface uplift and sea-level variations. One

prominent example of such a coastline is the c. 17

Ma marine cliff line, which recorded some com-

bination of sea level change, uplift, and southeast-

directed tilting of the Swabian Alb related to

flexural-bending of the Alpine foreland basin as

well as rift-flank uplift of the southern Black For-

est. The marine cliff extends for over 200 km

along the southern margin of the Swabian Alb

(Lutzeier, 1922). The cliff is exposed at only six

well-described locations, which range in eleva-

tion from < 350 m in the northeast to c. 800 m

about 200 km along strike to the west, implying

regional-scale southeast-directed tilting. In addi-

tion, previous publications postulated local vari-

ations in cliff height of 50 to 90 m (Gall, 1969),

implying a steep cliff area. However, our evalu-

ation of previously published observations from

the six cliff exposures and marker horizons in

boreholes reveals significant uncertainties in the

stratigraphic age control, and hence the precise

along-strike correlation of the paleocliff. To ex-

amine the suitability of the cliff line as a paleo-

geodetic marker and to better understand the vari-

ation in local relief of the mid-Miocene paleo-

shoreline, we compiled all published data and

mapped cliff-related features on digital elevation

models and satellite images. We also collected

new data from outcrop surveys, including differ-

ential GPS measurements of the cliff exposures.

Our preliminary results show that the useability of

the paleocliff as a paleogeodetic marker is ham-

pered by younger tectonic and fluvial erosion pro-

cesses. Further field work, geodetic surveying,

and better stratigraphic control will help to re-

solve the significance of vertical relief on the cliff

line.

ReferencesLutzeier, H. (1922): Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Meeresmolasse in der Ulmer Gegend: Neues Jahrbuch

der Geologischen und Paläontologie, Beilagen Bände, Stuttgart, v. 46, p. 117 - 180

Gall, H. (1969): Geologische Untersuchungen im südwestlichen Vorries. Das Gebiet des Blattes Wit-

tislingen: Dissertation Fakultät für Geowissenschaften der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München


HYD - Hydrogeology of interacting groundwater systems from

reservoir to basin scale

Conveners: Sabine Attinger, Michael Kühn

This session will focus on the qualitative and quantitative process coupling between deep and shallow

groundwater reservoirs. Aim is to cover the entire time scales from the engineered process (e.g.

water management) up to geological time frames as well as various spatial scales from the reservoir

to the basin. Considered will be contributions from field and numerical research but especially case

studies relevant for or within the permission process in interaction with the authorities. Taking into

account the increased exploitation of georesources from the deeper subsurface (e.g. oil, gas, shale

gas, geothermal energy or CO2 storage) risk assessment with predictive tools becomes more and

more important with regard to the protection of shallow systems with potable groundwater in it. To

do that a firm basis of the natural processes and its variations is required.

Understanding how subsurface flow systems within sedimentary basins operate is of great practical

relevance because they contain much of the world’s mineral, energy and water resources. Mathe-

matical modeling of coupled groundwater flow, heat transfer and chemical mass transport has been

increasingly used by Earth scientists studying a wide range of hydrogeological processes. Models can

provided important insights into the rates and pathways of groundwater migration through basins, the

relative importance of different driving mechanisms for fluid flow and the nature of coupling between

the hydraulic, thermal, chemical, and stress regimes.

This session invites contributions from hydrology, geology and geostatistics, focusing on modeling

issues on pore scale as well as on basin scale. Thus research in the domains of basin wide fluid cir-

culation modeling, density depending flow, contaminant migration, travel times distributions, fluid

circulation in heterogeneous aquifers and fault induced anomalies in flow and temperature is all wel-

come, as are any contributions focused on further groundwater modeling aspects.

Natural redox gradients such as observed between surface water and groundwater, anoxic sediments

and overlying water or within soil aggregates are important in controlling biogeochemical activity and

fluxes in natural environments.

Understanding processes that occur in redox-dominated environments has significant importance for

water management, agricultural purposes and resource allocation. Therefore, further research is

needed to understand the implications of the exchange of heat, fluids, volatile elements, and organic

matter on the formation, transformation and transport of secondary minerals, nutrients and pollutants

within such aquatic and terrestrial systems. This session encourages contributions from hydrogeolo-

gists, mineralogists, microbiologists, geochemists and geomorphologists in order to discuss multidis-

ciplinary aspects in an integrative manner.


HYD-T01: Characterisation of Georeservoirs – A hydrogeologist’s view

Martin Sauter*1, Iulia Ghergut1, Bernd Leiss1, Bettina Wiegand1, Alfons van de Kerkhof1, Graciela

de Sosa1, and Florian Duschl1

1 Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany

* [email protected]

The characterisation of georeservoirs is of major

relevance for example in the prediction of the pro-

ductivity of hydrocarbon reservoirs, the quantifi-

cation of geothermal energy systems and the re-

sponse of energy storage reservoirs. Reservoir be-

haviour is mainly determined by hydraulic, trans-

port, mechanical and chemical processes, cou-

pled to a varying degree. The assessment of

process parameters and consequentially the long-

term prediction of reservoir behaviour is a major

challenge because of the natural heterogeneity of

these systems as well as scale effects. The paper

provides an overview on the spectrum of charac-

terisation approaches for the above process pa-

rameters from a hydrogeologist’s point-of-view,

taking into consideration experience from frac-

tured rock hydrogeology, geothermics and CO2-

Storage Reservoir characterisation. It is also ad-

dressed in how far reservoir genesis investigations

can assist in the assessment of historic reservoir

leakage.


HYD-T02: Saltwater-freshwater interface delineated in the centre of the North Germansedimentary basin by re-interpreting 300 well logs

Thomas Voss*1, and Karsten Baumann1

1 Bohrlochmessung - Storkow GmbH, Germany

* [email protected]

From its well logging operational company his-

tory since 1960 the Bohrlochmessung - Storkow

GmbH (Blm) has built up an extensive archive

with more than one hundred thousand open-hole

logs mainly from the east German part of the

North German Sedimentary Basin (NGSB). Most

of the wells, that were drilled for hydrogeologi-

cal or lignite exploration campaigns have depths

ranging from 100 m - 300 m. The standardized

geophysical measurement program conducted in

those wells allows the lithological interpretation

as well as the determination of groundwater min-

eralization in every drilled-through aquifer. A

small part of the archived well logging data was

measured in deep oil or gas exploration wells with

depths up to 2500 m.

For area studies Blm offers the digitization of the

mostly analogous data and the re-interpretation

of the logging data regarding stratigraphy, lithol-

ogy and aquifer mineralization (in NaCl-eq.). A

case story is given here, with more than 300 re-

interpreted well logging data sets to characterize

the freshwater-saltwater distribution in an area of

roughly 30 km x 40 km in the centre of the NGSB.

This kind of saltwater-freshwater interface de-

lineation is required as baseline for most sub-

surface activities regarding utilization of geore-

sources like CO2 storage, geothermal energy pro-

duction or drinking water provision.


HYD-T03: Combined geophysical and petrophysical characterization allows classifica-tion of groundwater layers at different depth levels

Thomas Burschil*1, Helga Wiederhold1, Reinhard Kirsch2, Wolfgang Scheer2, and Charlotte M.

Krawczyk1

1 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany2 State Agency for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

* thomas.burschil@liag-hannover de

Changes for groundwater systems especially in

sensitive regions such as barrier islands are im-

portant to evaluate, because saltwater intrusions

pose an increasing risk for water quality in coastal

areas (Harbo et al., 2011; Hinsby et al., 2012).

Combined geophysical and hydrogeological mod-

els are needed to improve the estimation of hy-

draulic properties as basis for the simulation and

prediction of future changes.

The investigation area within EU-project CLI-

WAT is the North Sea island of Föhr that was

mainly formed during Saalian and Weichselian

glaciations, and which includes a Geest core

in the southern part of the island. The used

combination of airborne electromagnetic, seismic

reflection and borehole methods allowed struc-

tural and petrophysical characterization, includ-

ing the inversion of airborne electromagnetic data

with a-priori constraints from seismic reflections

(Burschil et al., 2012a). This was an important

step since the separation of shallow and deep

aquifers was gained here. To discriminate dif-

ferent lithological units, logging data of 18 bore-

holes, the nearby EM inversion models, and 5

VSP datasets were included.

Glacial structures, e.g. buried valleys and a

glacio-tectonic thrust-fault complex are evident

from the surface down to 150 m depth, while

rather horizontal features appear further below.

Two buried valleys filled with Pleistocene till and

sand were detected. Hydraulic conductivity val-

ues could be allocated to geophysically deter-

mined petrophysical classes by the use of litera-

ture values. Thereby, an empirical positive corre-

lation of hydraulic conductivity and electrical re-

sistivity could be finally developed for sandy ma-

terial for the island of Föhr. These results are inte-

grated in the hydrogeological 3D model used for

the simulation of future changes (Burschil et al.,

2012b).

ReferencesBurschil, T., H. Wiederhold & E. Auken (2012a): Seismic results as a-priori knowledge for airborne

TEM data inversion - a case study. J. Appl. Geophys., 80, 121-128, doi: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2012.02.003.

Burschil, T., W. Scheer, R. Kirsch & H. Wiederhold (2012b): Hydrogeological characterisation of a

glacially affected barrier island - the North Frisian Island of Föhr. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3485-

3498.

Harbo, M.S., J. Pedersen, R. Johnsen & K. Petersen (eds) (2011): The CLIWAT Handbook: Ground-

water in a future climate, Central Denmark Region, Horsens, 184 p.

Hinsby, K., E., Auken, G.H.P. Oude Essink, P. de Louw, F. Jørgensen, B. Siemon, T.O. Sonnenborg,

A. Vandenbohede, H. Wiederhold, A. Guadagnini & J. Carrera (Eds.) (2012): Assessing the impact

of climate change for adaptive water management in coastal regions. Hydrology and Earth System

Sciences, 17, http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/specialissue149.html.


HYD-T04: Coupled reservoir and geomechanical simulations demonstrate fault andcaprock integrity at the Ketzin pilot site after almost five years of operation, Germany

Thomas Kempka*1, Stefan Klapperer1, and Ben Norden1

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

CO2 injection at the Ketzin pilot site is being car-

ried out since June 2008, whereas about 70,000 t

CO2 will be injected until the end of the opera-

tion in August 2013. The Ketzin pilot site is lo-

cated about 40 km west of Berlin in the State of

Brandenburg. The CO2 storage site is located in

a double-anticline system (Ketzin-Roskow) with

a graben zone dominating the double-anticline

top, whereas maximum fault throw is up to 25

m. The maximum pore pressure increase dur-

ing five years of storage operation was about 1.6

MPa, while the initial pore pressure at reservoir

depth (about 640 m) in the injection well was 6.2

MPa. Consequently, verification of geomechan-

ical integrity of caprocks and faults was under-

taken within the scope of a risk assessment at the

start of injection. At that time, only a few data

on initial geomechanical parameters were avail-

able, and in addition to that, there was only lim-

ited knowledge on the impact of rock exposure

to CO2 by means of its geomechanical strength.

Hence, the previous results, analytical and nu-

merical assessments of caprock and fault integrity

are determined by a high uncertainty range. With

the drilling of the CO2 Ktzi 203/2012 well, we

retrieved samples from the Stuttgart Formation

that were exposed to the injected CO2 for about

4 years. Even though the fluvial origin of this

formation results in a high variability of the ge-

omechanical parameters, we were able to iden-

tify changes in rock strength. The new data was

integrated into innovative hydro-geomechanical

models based on a 40 km x 40 km 3D structural

geological model and taking into account all 27

known major faults in that area. For the geome-

chanical simulations, we furthermore considered

the new geomechanical data determined on the

core samples taken at the CO2 Ktzi 203/2012 well

as well as the timely and spatial development of

pore pressure as indicated by our observations and

3D reservoir simulations. Our coupled simula-

tion results emphasize that operation of CO2 in-

jection at the Ketzin pilot site is safe and reliable,

as caprock and fault integrity were not compro-

mised due to the changes in pore pressure, and

consequently changes of the recent stress field.


HYD-T05: 3D numerical simulations to investigate brine displacement along a perme-able fault zone (study area: Northeast German Basin)

Ellen Schöne*1, Thomas Kempka1, and Michael Kühn1


* [email protected]

Upward brine migration along a potentially

open fault as a result of underground utilization

could endanger freshwater-bearing horizons. The

present study aimed the investigation of pressure

elevation and brine displacement for a prospective

storage located in the Northeast German Basin us-

ing multi-phase flow simulations. A model of the

Detfurth Formation of the Middle Bunter was im-

plemented, since this formation has a high reser-

voir quality. Furthermore, the model comprises

four fault systems which enclose the prospective

storage site (Röhmann et al., 2013). A total of

nine major faults are considered in the study area,

whereas all faults are defined as impermeable, ex-

cept one fault of the Fuerstenwalde-Guben fault

system. This fault is located in the sphere of in-

fluence of the pressure elevation of the storage

site. Permeable elements were set next to the fault

to investigate potential upward brine migration

through the fault zone. A previous study carried

out by Tillner et al. (2013) was extended by in-

creasing the model size and amount of faults con-

sidered. The present study area has an areal extent

of 100 km x 100 km and a maximum thickness

of 1,700 m. The 3D model includes the Detfurth

Formation as storage reservoir and fault elements

which extend to the base of the Rupelian clay. A

lateral discretisation of 250 m x 250 m with about

4.6 m (Detfurth Formation) and about 28 m (fault

elements) in vertical direction was assigned creat-

ing a 3D grid. This resulted in a total of 8.8 mil-

lion elements, whereby 832,600 elements were

determined as being active. The Detfurth forma-

tion contains 800,000 elements, while the fault is

composed of 32,600 elements. Model boundaries

are assumed to be closed by implementation of

the Neumann “no-flow” condition at the bound-

ary elements, whereas the top elements of the

fault were multiplied with a pore volume factor

to represent an overlying aquifer below the base

of the Rupelian clay (Dirichlet boundary condi-

tion). CO2 was injected directly at the top of the

anticline into the Detfurth formation via a vertical

injection well with a constant rate of 53.9 kg/s for

20 years. To avoid formation dry-out and result-

ing salt precipitation in the near-well area, about

655,000 t brine per year were injected simultane-

ously with the CO2. The results indicate that CO2

injection effects a pressure build-up up to a dis-

tance of 26.9 km and a displacement of about 50

Mt water and 4 Mt NaCl into the open fault with

a length of 120 km.

ReferencesRöhmann, L., Tillner, E., Magri, F., Kühn, M., Kempka, T. (2013): Fault reactivation and ground

surface uplift assessment at a prospective German CO2 storage site. Energy Procedia EGU 2013 (in

press)

Tillner, E., Kempka, T., Nakaten, B., Kühn, M. (2013): Brine migration through fault zones: 3D nu-

merical simulations for a prospective CO2 storage site in Northeast Germany. Int. J. Greenhouse Gas

Control (in press) doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.03.012.


HYD-T06: Mechanisms of Salt transport in the Thuringian Basin

Alraune Zech*1

1 Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Germany

* [email protected]

Saline groundwater which reaches or comes close

to the surface, is a phenomena that can be ob-

served in many places of the Thuringia. How-

ever, it is not obvious, why denser brine overlays

lighter fresh water in this region. The goal of the

modeling project is to investigate fluid dynamics

in the Thuringian Basin. In particular we focus

on the impact of aquifer heterogeneity and fluid

density differences on brine transport.

Numerical simulations of fluid flow, mass and

heat transport have been carried out in order to

understand the role of geological features such as

faults, aquifer heterogeneity as well as fluid den-

sity differences caused by temperature and salt

concentration gradients. For this purpose a pro-

file model has been constructed that represents

the geological setting and incorporates major hy-

draulic units and fault structures present in the

Thuringian Basin.

The numerical results indicate that brine migra-

tion is mainly determined by the regional ground-

water flow, which depends strongly on the local

hydraulic parameters. Small variations in per-

meability can have significant influence on the

flow and salt patterns. Both, the mean value of

permeability and the degree of heterogeneity im-

pact strongly on the location and amount of salt,

which is transported to near-surface regions. Also

variation in fluid density due to salt concentra-

tion differences can cause significant changes in

the flow pattern. Increased mixing amplifies the

salinization of the deep aquifers but prevents the

upward movement of highly concentrated brine.

Contrariwise, the simulations show that temper-

ature can be neglected as driving mechanism for

fluid flow. The shallow basin structure inhibits the

developments of thermal convection on a regional

scale, due to small temperature differences.

With this work we contribute to the understand-

ing of fluid convection processes influenced by

density differences and local geological charac-

teristics at basin scale. The described mechanism

could develop in any shallow sedimentary basin

with conditions comparable to those in Thuringia.


HYD-T07: Multi-stage and regional-scale characterisation of potential CO2 storageformations with particular focus on brine migration risks – an integrated natural andsocial science approach

Alexander Kissinger*1, and Holger Class1

1 University of Stuttgart, Department of Hydromechanics and Modelling of Hydrosystems, Germany

* [email protected]

The national and international research on geo-

logical storage of CO2 is at a stage where a next

big step has to be made towards implementing

more large-scale demonstration projects. Along

this way, the characterisation and selection of ap-

propriate regions and storage sites will be one of

the crucial tasks to do. This has two important as-

pects. One the one hand, experts have to find the

best sites on the basis of scientific considerations.

One the other hand, every site, once chosen, re-

quires public acceptance. Thus, the main idea of

this project is to address both aspects in an inte-

grated natural and social sciences approach where

participatory numerical modeling will be tested as

a method of investigating risks and concerns of

different expert groups, industry or other stake-

holders.

Within this project the task of selecting appropri-

ate regions is addressed through testing a qualita-

tive screening criterion for comparing the storage

efficiency of different regions. Storage efficiency

is of great interest for identifying potential areas

for CO2 sequestration. The Storage Catalogue

of Germany (Müller and Reinhold, 2011) com-

piled by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and

Natural Resources (BGR) is a characterisation of

the deeper subsurface (reservoir and barrier rock)

based on minimum depth and minimum thickness

as criteria for reservoir units in order to define

areas for further investigation. In this work the

gravity number (Gr) is reviewed as an additional

screening criterion for further refining the exist-

ing selection of the Storage Catalogue. The other

task addressed in this project is the risk of brine

migration which may pose a threat to competing

subsurface uses (e.g. groundwater extraction). In

order to deal with this task a realistic large scale

geological model is set up to investigate possible

brine migration scenarios along fault zones and

salt domes.

Besides informing stakeholders about simulation

processes and findings, stakeholder input is in-

cluded at the various stages of this work for pro-

viding expert knowledge, evaluation of the meth-

ods and decision making. Therefore, the key nov-

elty of the project is that it strives to assess CO2

storage potentials integrating both technical and

social aspects.

ReferencesMüller, C. and Reinhold, K.(2011): “Storage potential in the deeper subsurface - Overview and re-

sults from the project Storage Catalogue of Germany”. Geologische Charakterisierung tiefliegender

Speicher- und Barrierehorizonte in Deutschland - Speicher-Kataster Deutschland. Schriftreihe der

Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften 74: 9-24; Hannover


HYD-T08: Groundwater dynamics in the Baltic Basin as a response to glacial and inter-glacial cycles

Tomas Saks*1, Juris Sennikovs1, and Andrejs Timuhins2

1 University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Latvia2 University of Latvia, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, Latvia

* [email protected]

The Baltic Basin (BB) is a multi-layered sedi-

mentary basin covering approximately 480’000

km2 in the western part of the East European

Craton. The thickness of the basin sediments

reaches 5000 m, and it is a complex hydrogeo-

logical system, composed of numerous aquifer

systems and aquitards of regional and local dis-

tribution. The basin can be formally subdivided

in to three aquifer systems separated by thick

aquitards: upper aquifer system of active ground-

water exchange, middle aquifer system - slow

groundwater exchange zone, and lower aquifer

system of stagnant groundwater.

The abnormal hydraulic pressures in the deep

basin aquifers have been reported in several stud-

ies however the processes causing these pres-

sures are still the under discussion. However, the

ability of glacial ice sheets advance and retreat

cycle to cause abnormal pressures in the sedi-

mentary basin aquifers have been discussed and

theoretically demonstrated in numerous studies

(e.g. Neuzil, 2012; and others). This study ad-

dresses the causes and probable mechanisms of

the abnormal pressures through transient ground-

water modeling in the deep aquifer system of the

BB.

The modeling simulation was organized in a syn-

thetic glaciation cycle by changing boundary con-

ditions between glacial and non-glacial scenarios.

The glacial cycle was set to last 20 ky, while

non-glacial cycle - 100 ky. In total 12 model-

ing scenarios were calculated, in order to test the

sensitivity of the basin material properties to the

given cyclic forcing.

The results suggest that in all simulation scenarios

high abnormal hydraulic pressures are generated

in the deep aquifers, which persist for at least 20

k.y. after the glaciation. Calculations also suggest

that in cases of compressible lower aqiutards, hy-

draulic pressures in the deep aquifers never reach

(after 11 cycles) dynamic equilibrium and abnor-

mal hydraulic pressures after each cycle increase.

These simulations also show that hydraulic pres-

sures in deep aquifers of the BB (deeper than

> 400 m) even nowadays are still adjusting to

the present day (topography driven) groundwater

flow forcing, suggesting that in modeling on the

basin scale or in deep aquifer systems geological

history of the groundwater flow evolution cannot

be neglected.

ReferencesNeuzil C., E. 2012. Hydromechanical effects of continental glaciation on

groundwater systems. Geofluids (2012) 12, 22-37.


HYD-T09: Formation and alteration processes of Fe phases from mine discharge water

Matthias Händel*1, Anja Grawunder1, and Kai Uwe Totsche1


* [email protected]

Acid mine drainage impacted water contains

high loads of Fe and other metals being a se-

rious problem in many mining areas. Today,

in the former uranium mining area Ronneburg,

Thuringia/Germany, anoxic water from the under-

ground mines discharges with an Eh of 262 mV

and a slightly acidic pH of 6.0, rich in Fe, Ca, Mg,

Ni, Zn and SO2−4 , to the surface entering a decou-

pled section of the Gessen creek. These changing

conditions from anoxic in the underground mine

to oxic in the creek enhance the formation of fer-

ric precipitates accumulating in the streambed.

To study the initial precipitation of Fe phases

together with metal mobility, we carried out lab-

oratory scale precipitation experiments with this

mine discharge water. A time series with 0.2 μm

filtered water was allowed to equilibrate open to

atmosphere at a dark place at 20 °C for 1, 4 and

7 d. To check the reproducibility the time series

was carried out in triplicate for each time step. At

the end of the reaction periods the supernatants

and precipitates were separated by centrifuga-

tion. Besides physico-chemical parameters, the

chemical composition of the initial water sam-

ple and all obtained supernatants was investigated

by ICP-MS/OES and ion-chromatography. The

precipitates were washed, freeze-dried and then

characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM

and for their chemical composition. After 1 d, fer-

rihydrite was the sole mineral phase as detected

by XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. After 4 d most

of the ferrihydrite was altered into schwertman-

nite, which remained stable until day 7, whereas

at the end of the experiment already indications

of goethite were detected. During that time the

Eh increased to 670 mV, while HCO3- was con-

sumed resulting in a decrease of pH to 3.0. In the

course of this experiment metals like Al, Cd, U,

and Zn were immobilized after 1 d and again re-

leased until day 7 due to drop of pH. Others, such

as Mn or Ni remained in solution all the time.

A similar alteration process is expected in field,

since schwertmannite and partly goethite were

also found in the precipitates directly taken from

the streambed, even if there subsequent delivery

of HCO3- keeps the pH at only slightly acidic

level.

Our results show that ferric precipitates are good

scavengers for many metals but ongoing acidi-

fication due to buffer consumption as a result of

oxidation process can lead to their remobilization.


HYD-P01: Numerical modelling of interactions between deep and shallow groundwateraquifers

Michael Kühn*1, and Thomas Kempka1


* [email protected]

Groundwater is the worlds most abundant and ex-

ploited resource, and in many places, it is the pop-

ulations only source of drinking water. Research

is constantly facing new challenges regarding the

exploitation of georesources in deep

groundwater systems (e.g. CO2 storage, geother-

mal energy, unconventional gas reserves or en-

ergy storage) and the resulting effects on drinking

water as a protected resource in shallow ground-

water systems. The hydraulic connection

between the two groundwater zones (shallow and

deep), as well as existing migration pathways

(fault zones and discontinuities in aquitards) have

not yet been sufficiently or at all taken into ac-

count or studied. In many areas, salt and fresh

water are separated by large-scale regionally oc-

curring aquitards (formations with very low hy-

draulic conductivity), and the occurrence of fresh

water is therefore often restricted to a thickness of

a few 100 metres. The presence of such aquitards

divides the area into a shallow groundwater sys-

tem (fresh water) and a deep groundwater system

(saltwater). The saltwater at greater depths does

not participate in the surface-near water cycle, or

only does so to a limited extent. However, be-

cause the generally regionally occurring aquitards

have discontinuities and fault zones, along which

the fresh water can reach the deep groundwater

system and saltwater can migrate into the shallow

groundwater systems, there is a hydraulic con-

nection between the deep and shallow ground-

water zones. The system analysis of groundwa-

ter zones is performed with numerical simula-

tion programs. The focal point in this area is the

simulation of thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and

chemical coupled processes. Existing field data

on groundwater hydraulics, hydrochemistry and

geomechanics represent an important basis for the

numerical simulation. Various numerical applica-

tions related to interactions of deep and shallow

groundwater systems are presented.


HYD-P02: Potential groundwater salinization due to upward brine migration throughfault zones for a prospective CO2 storage site in Germany

Elena Tillner*1, Thomas Kempka1, Benjamin Nakaten1, and Michael Kühn1


* [email protected]

Upward brine migration as a result of CO2 injec-

tion into a saline aquifer could endanger fresh-

water resources, especially in faulted reservoirs.

The present study determines the impact of pres-

sure increase and fault permeability on brine dis-

placement processes to assess potential freshwa-

ter salinization. For that purpose, different fault

leakage scenarios were carried out by numerical

modelling of a prospective storage site in North-

east Germany using a newly developed workflow

that includes the grid transfer from the geological

model generated with the applied preprocessing

software

Petrel to the reservoir simulator TOUGH2 and the

implementation of virtual elements for the dis-

crete description of fault zones. The results show

that compartmentalization due to closed bound-

aries and faults cause the highest pressurization

within the storage formation. Closed boundaries

generally lead to higher brine migration rates

especially if a number of permeable faults are

present, whereas the permeability of fault zones

only has a minor impact and does not influence

salinization of shallower aquifers significantly.

Although the salinity in shallower aquifers in-

creases more sharply in the vicinity of the faults,

with an average salinity increase by a maximum

of 0.24 %, the risk of freshwater salinization is es-

timated as low under the given circumstances for

the potential site at Beeskow-Birkholz.


HYD-P03: Early warning of saltwater intrusion into fresh water aquifers and surfacewater with a concentration independent method

Dietmar Brose*1

1 State Office for Mining Geology and Minerals, Germany

* [email protected]

The genesis model developed by LBGR has been

especially designed for determination of portions

of saline water in drinking water aquifers, even

at very low concentrations (software GEBAH).

Through early detection of geogenic-saline sub-

stances migrating into our freshwater bearing

aquifers, scenarios can now be developed for ac-

tions against negative effects on the quality of our

groundwater resources following the EU Water

Framework Directive (2000/60/EG).

The hydrogeochemical genesis model is based on

the principle of allocation of solution components

to hypothetical salts. Groundwater types are dis-

played in diagrams according to actually in the

water dissolved ionic compounds. The minimum

of parameters to be investigated in water sam-

ples are the cations calcium, magnesium, sodium,

potassium, ammonium, iron and manganese and

the anions hydrogen carbonate, sulphate, chlo-

ride, nitrate and nitrite.

For a resilient geochemical evaluation of the anal-

ysis results with the genesis model, high accuracy

is required (deviation of the electrical balance of

a sample ≤ 1%).

With the genesis model provided by LBGR a tool

is available with a significantly higher level of

quality within the framework of monitoring of

drinking water resources management. The finan-

cial costs of analysis and evaluation are relatively

low.

Since 2011, the user-oriented software GEBAH

(Rechlin 2008) is availa-ble. In practice it is an

effective monitoring system for the management

of our groundwater reservoirs.

ReferencesRechlin, B. (2008): Eine Methode zur konzentrationsunabhängigen Früherkennung von Salzwasser-

intrusionen in süßwasserführende Grundwasserleiter und Oberflächengewässer. - Brandenburg. ge-

owiss. Beitr. 15, 1/2, S. 57-68, Kleinmachnow, Cottbus


HYD-P04: Development of a regional 3D numerical model for assessment of potentialfresh-water salinization resulting from brine migration from deep reservoirs

Christopher Scholz*1, Thomas Kempka1, Michael Kühn1, and Sabine Attinger2

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Germany

* [email protected]

Besides geothermal heat extraction, porous me-

dia may be also used for storage of fluids and

gases in anticlinal structures. A potential site

for chemical energy storage in porous media is

a Mesozoic anticline located above a salt dome

in the eastern Brandenburg, Germany, about 80

km south-east of Berlin. This anticline is about

20 km long passing in northwest-southeast direc-

tion with a width of approximately 5 km. Par-

allel to this anticline two fault systems exist, the

Fürstenwalde-Gubener fault system in the East

and the Lausitzer-Abbruch fault zone in the West.

Using the underground for gas or fluid storage

is generally associated with a pressure increase.

Potential migration pathways for displaced brine

may support the salinization of overlying Ceno-

zoic freshwater aquifers, which are separated

by the Rupelian clay from deeper brine-bearing

aquifers. Furthermore, glacial erosion channels

reducing the Rupelian clay thickness pose addi-

tional brine migration pathways. Consequently, a

hydrogeological model is required to quantify po-

tential brine migration from deeper aquifers into

fresh-water bearing aquifers. A supra-regional

3D structural geological model (Röhmann et al.,

2013) extending from the Zechstein to the Ter-

tiary base comprising the main regional fault sys-

tems, constitutes the basis for the hydrogeological

model of shallow aquifers developed here. Exten-

sive data sets provided by state and mining au-

thorities of the State of Brandenburg (LUGV and

LBGR) were used to implement the hydrogeo-

logical model. Subsequently, the hydrogeological

model was transferred into a stationary numerical

density-driven groundwater model. The imple-

mentation of hydrostratigraphic units in the model

structure includes the implementation of model

layers and geologic structures such as faults and

channels, and the allocation of coefficients of

permeability. The spatial discretization of the

model was determined in the context of relevant

structures for brine migration. For static calibra-

tion, data on surface water levels and groundwater

monitoring wells (LUGV database) and the salt-

freshwater boundary (LBGR database) were used.

In the next step, the implemented hydrogeologi-

cal numerical model will be coupled to the deep

reservoir model of supra-regional size, which is

applied for simulation of underground utilization.

Consequently, we will be able to quantify brine

migration into fresh-water bearing aquifers in the

Tertiary and Quaternary.


surface uplift assessment at a prospective German CO2 storage site. Energy Procedia EGU GA 2013

(in press).


HYD-P05: Caprock and fault integrity: potential geomechanical impacts of utilisationof the deep underground

Lina Röhmann*1, and Thomas Kempka1


* [email protected]

Within the frame of the present study we investi-

gated the potential geomechanical impact of pore

pressure changes induced by pressure increase

in an underground reservoir. A one-way cou-

pling concept was used for integrating total pore

pressure from reservoir simulations for selected

time steps into a geomechanical model. Changes

in the initial stress field due to pressure build-

up allow assessment of failure mechanisms of

the reservoir, caprock, and surrounding fault sys-

tems, thereby assessing on associated with po-

tential fault reactivation as well as magnitude of

ground surface uplift. For this purpose, a 3D

geological structural model covering an area of

about 100 km x 100 km in the Eastern part of the

State of Brandenburg was implemented. In a first

step, stratigraphic contour lines and major fault

lines were digitised based on the GeotIS online

cartography (Geothermal Information system) of

the Northeast German Basin (NEGB) as well as

geological maps of the German State of Bran-

denburg, using the Petrel software package. The

3D supra-regional-scale model comprises several

stratigraphic units including the storage horizon,

the Middle Bunter, which is then concluded with

the Zechstein, Rotliegend and the basement at

depth. This led to a preliminary model which

was commenced with the performance of a strati-

graphic correlation, depth adjustment and thick-

ness correction of the different units based on

existing borehole data from the study area., the

model was gridded in Petrel and transferred into

the geomechanical simulator FLAC3D addition-

ally implementing total pore pressure from reser-

voir simulations for selected time steps (Tillner et

al., 2013). Furthermore, the gridded model was

applied in the geomechanical simulator to iden-

tify changes in the recent stress field and deforma-

tion resulting from the pressure elevation. In ad-

dition, the faults were integrated into the geome-

chanical model as ubiquitous joints, weak zones

defined by applied elements cut by a fault. Hence,

it was possible to determine shear and tensile fail-

ure. The results demonstrate that detailed knowl-

edge on geomechanical processes during under-

ground utilization is of uttermost importance for

the assessment the geomechanical response asso-

ciated with caprock and fault integrity as well as

ground surface uplift and associated risks. In the

present study, we were able to determine ground

subsidence as well as verify that caprock and fault

integrity are not compromised (Röhmann et al.,

2013).


surface uplift assessment at a prospective German CO2 storage site. Energy Procedia EGU GA 2013

(in press).

Tillner, E., Kempka, T., Nakaten, B., Kühn, M. (2013): Brine migration through fault zones: 3D nu-

merical simulations for a prospective CO2 storage site in Northeast Germany. Int. J. Greenhouse Gas

Control (in press) doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.03.012.


HYD-P06: 3D-small scale facies models of Buntsandstein formations as foundation forfluid pathway reconstructions in the Thuringian Syncline

Cindy Kunkel*1, Sabine Attinger2, and Reinhard Gaupp1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Germany

* [email protected]

The joint project Integrated Fluid Dynamics in

Sedimentary Basins (INFLUINS) examines cou-

pled dynamics of near surface and subsurface

flow patterns in the Thuringian Syncline on differ-

ent scales. One major aquifer in Thuringia and ad-

jacent areas in central Germany is the Lower Tri-

assic Buntsandstein. The sediments of the Lower

and Middle Buntsandstein formations are com-

posed of fluvial, sandflat, eolian and lacustrine fa-

cies which exhibit differences in reservoir quality.

For a better understanding of present fluid flow

patterns it is necessary to take the facies vari-

ations, architectural elements, the sedimentary

structures and their orientation and distribution

into account. By an additional survey of pale-

oflow directions, the present-day fluid pathways

on a regional scale with regard to facies and ar-

chitectural heterogeneities can be predicted.

Based on these results four facies associations

were designed. These were structured and visual-

ized by 3D-small scale models with the GOCAD-

software and serve as foundation for a fluid path-

way reconstruction within the Thuringian Syn-

cline. These models of the Lower and Middle

Buntsandstein facies and the storage characteris-

tics of the aquifer were used for a geostatistical

analysis in order to quantify the hydraulic connec-

tivity of the facies (Renard and Allard, 2013). We

consider this analysis as a basis for upscaling the

facies model. Following Burns et al. (2010) we

apply an upscaling algorithm that generates an ir-

regular coarse grid that preserves flow connectiv-

ity by applying a rule-based upscaling algorithm

to a fine-scale facies distribution.

The upscaled facies models and storage character-

istics of the aquifer were used for the prediction

of their regional scale allocation. Regional vari-

ations occur at the syncline center, the Eichsfeld

Swell and the southeastern syncline margin. Fur-

thermore, differences between the southern and

northern syncline margins were observed.

ReferencesRenard, P. and Allard, D. (2013): Connectivity metrices for subsurface flow and transport, Advances

in Water Resources, 51, 168-196.

Burns, E.R., Bentley, L.R., Therrien, R., Deutsch, C.V. (2010): Upscaling facies models to preserve

connectivity of designated facies, Hydrogeology Journal, 18, 1357-1373.


HYD-P07: North-Easter´s banat hydro-geological and agro-ecological potential

Miroslav Francuski*1, and Milovan Beric1

1 University of Novi Sad, Serbia

* [email protected]

North East Banat is located in the northern Vojvo-

dina and at the southeastern part of the Panonski

basin.

The shallowest hydro-geological collectors (re-

leased with a free level) in the north-eastern Banat

are located in the following water-bearing forma-

tions:

1. The eolian sediments (sands and loess

clays)

2. The alluvial-lacustrine sediments of Pleis-

tocene (gravels and sands)

3. The Holocene alluvial sediments (sands

and clays)

Eolian silt and fine-grained sands are considered

to be good water permeable rock. Loess clay are

less considered to be good water permeable, but

mainly are considered to be poor water permeable

sediments. For alluvial-lacustrine and alluvial

sediments of Quaternary two-layer structure is

main characteristic: the lower horizons are made

of gravel sands and the top ones are made of the

clay and fine-grained sands. Thickness of gravel-

sand sediments is different and ranges from 10m

to 15m.

The greatest amount of water, during feeding,

aquifers with a free level in the north-eastern Ba-

nat, get precipitation’s infiltration. Some rele-

vance in this area has recharge aquifers in the

alluvial part Zlatice. Given the geology of the

river alluvium (clay-sandy sediments) recharge

of aquifers is quite slow.

The most important form of the aquifers with a

free level’s drainage, in the north-eastern Banat,

is the evapotranspiration. Ground water taken di-

rectly from the plant root zone of saturation or

from the capillary zone, is being emptied through

the plant transpiration. The depth with which

plants can take the underground water is depend-

ing on the type of plant and the type of terrain,

and vary over a wide range, from a few meters

(grass and some grains) to 20m in the case of

clover. An important way of draining aquifers

with free level is exploitation of water from dug

wells. The depth of wells in this area ranges from

2.4m to 8.4 m.

Aquifers with free level surface is very similar

to the soil surface. The level of the first aquifer

is at depth of 0,9m-5m. Average annual change

of this level for this area range from 1,2m-1,4m.

Measured water temperature from the first aquifer

ranges from 10-14C.

As the water from the first aquifer is currently

very little in use for the reclamation purposes,

should in the future be of crucial importance for

agricultural irrigation, because this area has a

large moisture deficit in the soil.


HYD-P08: Analysis of catchment behavior using travel time distributions with applica-tion to the Thuringian Basin

Vladyslav Prykhodko*1

1 Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Germany

* [email protected]

We analyze the catchment discharge behavior

through the statistical analysis of travel time dis-

tributions. This is important for investigating

the movement of pollutant loads or contaminants

within the unsaturated and saturated zone.

We apply the analytical methods developed by

Botter et al.(2010) and Van der Velde et al.(2012)

to characterize travel time distributions by com-

bining observed data (precipitation, temperature,

soil type etc.) and modeled data sets. For this

purpose the mesoscale hydrological model mHM

is used. Additionally we study dependencies of

the stochastic characteristics of travel time distri-

butions on the meteorological and hydrological

processes as well as on the morphological struc-

ture of the catchment.

As a result we gain mean travel times of base flow

and groundwater flow on mesoscale (4kmx4km).

The spatial distribution of mean travel times can

then be compared with land cover and soil mois-

ture maps as well as driving forces like precipita-

tion and temperature. Additionally we can deter-

mine the temporal evolution of mean travel times

by using time series of all relevant hydrological

processes from 1960-2010.

ReferencesG. Botter, E. Bertuzzo, A. Rinaldo (2010): Transport in the hydrologic response: Travel time distri-

butions, soil moisture dynamics, and the old water paradox, Water Resour. Res., 46, W035147

Y. van der Velde, P.J.J.F. Torfs, S.E.A.T.M. von der Zee, R. Uijlenhoet (2012), Quantifying catchment-

scale mixing and its effect on time-varying travel time distributions , Water Resour. Res., 48, W06536


HYD-P09: Geochemistry and groundwater flow in the Lower Devonian aquifer system,Baltic Basin – a study of glacial meltwatr intrusion

Tomas Saks*1, Juris Sennikovs1, Alise Babre1, Kalvans Andis2, Andrejs Timuhins3, and Aija Delina1

1 University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Latvia2 Tartu University, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Latvia3 University of Latvia, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, Latvia

* [email protected]

The Lower Devonian (LD) aquifer system rep-

resents the slow groundwater exchange system

in the Baltic Basin, shielded by the Ordovician-

Silurian aquitard from beneath and by the De-

vonian Narva stage aquitard from above. To-

tal dissolved solids (TDS) content ranging from

freshwater with TDS 0.16 g/L to saline water

with TDS 20.4 g/L, but most of the LD ground-

water corresponds to the slightly saline waters

with TDS 3-10 g/L. Mostly the distribution of the

saline water and freshwater is systematic - TDS

increases with the increasing depth of the aquifer,

however there are several distinct sporadic areas

of reduced TDS content. These areas of reduced

TDS tend to be associated with areas crossed by

buried tunnel valleys.

Also the dO18 isotope content of the groundwa-

ter suggest a wide range of values, from relatively

low negative values in more saline water towards

more negative in fresher samples, suggesting pos-

sible mixing of older saline groundwater and

younger, probably glacial, meltwater. Similarly,

the C14 datings obtained from this aquifer sug-

gests mixing of the groundwater.

The present study tests the hypothesis of glacial

meltwater intrusion into the Lower Devonian

aquifer system. The modelling approach involves

calculating the groundwater age under steady

state conditions, assuming 0 age of the water on

the basin surface. For calculation a 3D geological

model of the Baltic Basin was used.

The modelling results suggest that tunnel val-

leys, crossing the Devonian sedimentary cover

may have played a crucial role in groundwater

exchange processes under subglacial conditions

and facilitated the present geochemical composi-

tion of the groundwater in the aquifer system.


BOR - Borehole geophysics and geology

Convener: Thomas Wonik

Downhole logging in sediments enables to obtain continuous, fine scale, in-situ physical and chemical

parameters around the borehole walls. These data allows us to correlate the geological knowledge

deduced from the cores with variations in the physical and chemical properties. Contributions are

welcome which deal with new information between the poles of borehole geophysics and geology.

These are just a few examples: new methods or case studies dealing with the characterization of

sedimentary and volcaniclastic units, new use of geostatistical methods on the downhole logging data,

and new logging tools or measurement methods.


BOR-T01: on short notice

Georg Dresen2

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany

* [email protected]


BOR-T02: Drilling the centre of the Thuringian Basin to decipher potential interrelationbetween shallow and deep fluid systems

Michael Abratis*1, Andreas Goepel1, Annett Habisreuther1, Nina Kukowski1, Kai Uwe Totsche1, and

Timothy Ward1


* [email protected]

To shed light on the coupled dynamics of near

surface and deep fluids in a sedimentary basin on

various scales, ranging from pore scale to the

extent of a whole basin, is of paramount im-

portance to understand the functioning of sedi-

mentary basins fluid systems and therefore e.g.

drinking water supply. It is also the fundamental

goal of INFLUINS (INtegrated FLuid dynam-

ics IN Sedimentary basins), a research initiative

of several groups from Friedrich-Schiller Uni-

versity of Jena and their partners. This research

association is focusing on the nearby Thuringian

basin, Germany, as a natural geo laboratory. In a

multidisciplinary approach, embracing different

fields of geophysics like seismic reflection profil-

ing or airborne geomagnetics, structural geology,

sedimentology, hydrogeology and hydrology, re-

mote sensing, and mineralogy, among others, and

including both, field-based and computer-based

research, an integral INFLUINS topic is the po-

tential interaction of aquifers within the basin

and at its rims. The Thuringian basin is partic-

ularly suited to undertake such research as it is

of relative small size, about 50 to 100 km, easily

accessible, and quite well known from previous

studies, and therefore also a perfect candidate for

deep drilling.

An important focus of INFLUINS is a deep

drilling campaign. After 76 km seismic reflec-

tion data were acquired in spring 2011, a proposal

for the state mining authority was prepared and

submitted in summer 2012. After the permission

to drill, a suitable drilling company with expe-

rience in scientific drilling was found in early

2013. Afterwards the drilling location in the

northeast of Erfurt, appriximately in the cen-

ter of the Thuringian basins was prepared and

drilling started in June 2013. To get as much rel-

evant data as possible from a campaign with a

quite small financial budget, an optimated core

sampling and measuring strategy including bore-

hole geophysics and pump tests has been devel-

oped. Here, we give an introduction into the

layout of INFLUINS deep drilling together with

an overview of the course of the campaign.


BOR-T03: Coring the Thuringian Syncline: processing of cores and cuttings during theINFLUINS scientific drilling campaign

Michaela Aehnelt*1, Cindy Kunkel1, Daniel Beyer1, Michael Abratis1 and the INFLUINS Core Pro-

cessing Team**1


* [email protected]

Deep drilling of the central Thuringian Syncline

was carried out in order to gather substantial

knowledge of subsurface fluid dynamics and fluid

rock interaction within a sedimentary basin. The

intended final depth of the borehole was 1200

m, encountering the Buntsandstein - Zechstein

boundary.

One of the aspects of the scientific drilling was

obtaining sample material from different strati-

graphic units for insights in genesis, rock prop-

erties and fluid-rock interactions. Parts of the sec-

tion were cored whereas cuttings provide record

of the remaining units. Coring was conducted

in aquifers and their surrounding aquitards, i.e.

parts of the Upper Muschelkalk (Trochitenkalk),

the Middle Muschelkalk, the Upper Buntsand-

stein (Pelitröt and Salinarröt) and the Middle

Buntsandstein.

In advance and in cooperation with the GFZ-

Potsdam team “Scientific Drilling” core handling

was discussed and a workflow was developed to

ensure efficient and appropriate processing of the

valuable core material and related data. Core cu-

ration including cleaning, fitting, marking, mea-

suring, cutting, boxing, photographing and un-

rolled scanning using a DMT core scanner was

carried out on the drilling site in Erfurt. Due

care was exercised on samples for microbiolog-

ical analyses. These delicate samples were imme-

diately cut when leaving the core tube and stored

within a cooling box at -78°C. Special software

for data input was used developed by smartcube

GmbH. Advantages of this drilling information

system (DIS) are the compatibility with formats

of international drilling projects from the IODP

and ICDP drilling programs and thus options for

exchanges with the international data bases. In

a following step, the drill cores were brought to

the national core repository of the BGR in Berlin

Spandau where the cores were logged for their

physical rock properties using a GeoTek multi

sensor core logger (MSCL). After splitting the

cores into a working and archive half, the cores

were scanned for compositional variations using

an XRF core scanner at the BGR lab and scan im-

ages of the slabbed surfaces were performed.

The average core recovery rate was very high at

nearly 100%. Altogether, we gained about 520 m

of excellent core material including sandstones,

siltstones and claystones, carbonates, sulfates and

chlorides. This provides valuable insight into the

stratigraphic column of the Thuringian Syncline.

** INFLUINS Core Processing Team: the above persons plus Julia Franke, Marco Görlitz, Sebas-

tian Günther, Ulrike Hilse, Jana Hofmann, Thomas Lange, J. M. Ernst Reichel, Martin Sattelberger,

Philipp F. Schulz, Doreen Turner, Dario Torres Sanchez, Sandra Urban, Thomas Voigt, Andreas

Winzer, Martin Witscher


BOR-T04: Downhole geophysics along the INFLUINS deep hole

Pascal Methe*1, Nina Kukowski1, Andreas Goepel1


* [email protected]

In the framework of the INFLUINS (Integrated

Fluid Dynamics in Sedimentary Basins) project,

drilling a 1.200 meter deep scientific borehole is a

central target. Based on extensive geological and

geophysical information, e.g. 2D seismic profiles,

the drilling location was placed in the north of Er-

furt, Germany, and therefore in the center of the

Thuringian Basin. There, a nearly complete sed-

imentary sequence from the Keuper to the base

of the Buntsandstein is being encountered. The

bore hole will allow in situ research on rocks and

fluid flow. The most important parameters, we are

interested in, are porosity, permeability, tempera-

ture.

In order to characterize the rock physical prop-

erties, e.g. thermal conductivity, sonic velocity,

porosity, coring was done along specific depth

sections of the 1.200 meter borehole. Core ma-

terial is being characterized petrophysically and

analyzed in detail with a multi-sensor core logger

(MSCL). Thus a unique petrophysical dataset be-

comes available.

Furthermore detailed borehole geophysics (e.g.

caliber, density, susceptibility, acoustic borehole

televiewer, sonic and more) is being undertaken

to determine borehole characteristics. With these

logs it will be possible to monitor the geophysical

properties of aquifers and aquitards, for instance

pressure and temperature profiles.

Core data can be extrapolated by borehole geo-

physics into depth sections were no coring was

done to get a complete data set along the whole

depth.

As the drilling campaign is still in progress, we

here summarize first results of the measurements

down to 500 m: sedimentary rocks are frac-

tured and the borehole televiewer shows many

horizontal break-outs. The top sediments are

characterized by an increasing density and de-

creasing porosity with depth. So far we have

not identified anomalies in the temperature-log

and conductivity-log. After drilling through

highly consolidated dolomite (Middle Muschel-

kalk) break-outs are rarely observed. Within the

following salt layer of 50 meters thickness den-

sity and porosity have been found to be very low.

Because of the high sampling rates of only 1 to 3

centimeters, even small embedded layers (of clay)

can be distinguished in the salt.


BOR-T05: Online gas monitoring during drilling of the INFLUINS borehole EF-FB 1/12

Thomas Wiersberg*1, Marco Görlitz, and Michael Abratis

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geochemistry, Germany

* [email protected]

Online gas monitoring during drilling of the IN-

FLUINS borehole EF-FB 1/12;5; Online monitor-

ing and sampling of drill mud gas (OLGA) was

conducted during standard rotary drilling and core

drilling of the INFLUINS borehole EF-FB 1/12

to gain information on the composition of gases

and their distribution at depth. The method can

help to identify areas of enhanced permeability

and/or porosity, open fractures, and other strata

associated with gases at depth. The gas-loaded

drill mud was continuously degassed in a mod-

ified gas-water separator, which was installed in

the mud ditch in close distance to the drill mud

outlet. The extracted gas phase was pumped in

a nearby field laboratory for continuous on-line

analysis. First information on the gas composi-

tion (H2, He, N2, O2, CO2, CH4, Ar, Kr) was

available only few minutes after gas extraction. A

slightly modifies gas-water separator was used for

gas monitoring and sampling during a pumping

test at 800 m depth. More than 40 gas samples

were taken from the gas line during drilling and

pumping tests for further laboratory studies, in-

cluding investigations on noble gas isotopes and

stable isotopes.

Enhanced concentration of methane, helium, hy-

drogen and carbon dioxide were detected in drill

mud when the drill hole encountered gas-rich

strata. Down to a depth of 620 m, the drill mud

contained maximum concentration of 55 ppmv

He, 1400 ppmv of CH4, 400 ppmv of H2 and 1.1

vol-% of CO2. The correlation between hydro-

gen and gases of typical formation origin (helium)

rules out any artificial origin of hydrogen. Inte-

gration with depth data is ongoing to create a gas

distribution data set with high depth resolution.


BOR-T06: Well-log based prediction of thermal conductivity: Is there a universallyapplicable approach for sedimentary rocks?

Sven Fuchs*1, and Andrea Förster2

1 Aarhus University, Department of Geosciences, Denmark2 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Rock thermal conductivity (TC) is paramount for

the determination of heat flow and the calculation

of temperature profiles. Due to the scarcity of

drill cores compared to the availability of petro-

physical well logs, methods are desired to indi-

rectly predict TC in sedimentary basins. Most of

the well-log-based approaches published require

information on either the mineralogical compo-

sition of the rocks encountered or are based on

unconventional well logs. Furthermore, empirical

prediction equations using standard well logs are

usually limited to specific geological formations

from which rock samples are implemented in the

analysis.

We have selected a twofold approach to further

investigate the potential of determining TC from

well logs. We studied first for major rock-forming

minerals, which three different groups of sed-

imentary rocks are composed of, the relations

between matrix TC and well-log parameters (e.g.

density, hydrogen index, volume fraction of shale,

sonic transit time, photoelectric factor) using mul-

tivariate statistics. There is no universal predic-

tion equation that would cover these groups of

rocks. Instead, prediction equations are devel-

oped separately for the different mineral combi-

nations of rock types: TCma = 5.28 - 2.96 φN.ma

- 2.8 Vsh (clastic rocks), TCma = 5.06 - 0.1 ρma -

2.91 Vsh (carbonates), TCma = 14.06 - 10.35 φN.ma

- 3.37 ρma (evaporites). These equations predict

matrix TC within an error (RMSE) of 0.17 - 0.45

W/(mK).

In a second step, the relation of bulk TC and stan-

dard well-log properties was studied for clastic

rocks from four boreholes drilled into the Meso-

zoic sequence of the North German Basin. The

prediction equation, developed by including 1755

laboratory-measured TC values, is: TCb = 4.75 -

4.19 φN - 1.81 Vsh and allows the determination of

bulk TC within an error (RMSE) of 0.4 W/(mK).

The application of earlier published approaches

to our data set shows that the new equations sig-

nificantly reduce the RMSE up to 50 %. Using a

simple decision tree, the TC prediction equations

now allow the computation of TC profiles at full

borehole scale for all types of sedimentary rocks.


BOR-T07: Magnetostratigraphic investigations on drill cores from the Heidelberg Basin:a time frame for Pliocene and Pleistocene sediments

Stephanie Scheidt*1, Christian Rolf1, and Ulrich Hambach2

1 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Germany2 University of Bayreuth, Institute of Geomorphology, Germany

* [email protected]

The Heidelberg Basin contains one of the thick-

est and most complete successions of Quaternary

and Upper Pleistocene continental sediments in

Mid-Europe (Gabriel et al. 2008). Three depo-

sitional zones of the basin are accessible by deep

drill cores. The silts, sands and gravels are deliv-

ered mainly by the rivers Rhine and Neckar. The

dating of these fluvial sediments is in fact a spe-

cial challenge. Up to now only biostratigraphic

approaches yield results.

We present the first concrete outcome from a

thorough magnetostratigraphic study on four drill

cores from the Heidelberg Basin. We separated

the components of natural remanent magnetisa-

tion (NRM) by alternating field (AF) demagneti-

sation and isolated the characteristic remanent

magnetisation (ChRM) by principle component

analysis (PCA). Further, magneto-mineralogical

investigations were performed. The resulting

magnetic polarity stratigraphy allows an unam-

biguous correlation among the wells. Hence,

magnetostratigraphy sets out to provide an inde-

pendent time frame for the Pliocene and Pleis-

tocene fluvial sediments of the Heidelberg Basin.

We discuss our data with respect to previous

stratigraphic investigations such as pollen based

biostratigraphy (Knipping 2008, Heumann pers.

comm.), lithostratigraphic correlation (Ellwanger

et al. 2008) and heavy mineral analyses (Hage-

dorn & Boenigk 2008). Special aspects of mag-

netic investigations on unconsolidated and still

water saturated sediments are discussed briefly.

ReferencesEllwanger, D. et al. (2008), Long sequence of Quaternary Rocks in the Heidelberg Basin Depocentre,

E & G (QSJ), 57(3/4), 316-337.

Gabriel, G. et al. (2008), Preface: The Heidelberg Basin Drilling Project, E & G (QSJ), 57(3/4),

253-260.

Hagedorn, E.-M. and Boenigk, W. (2008), The Pliocene and Quaternary sedimentary and fluvial his-

tory in the Upper Rhine Graben based on heavy mineral analyses, Neth. J. Geosci., 87(1), 19-30.

Knipping, M. (2008), Early and Middle Pleistocene pollen assemblages of deep core drillings in the

northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany, Neth. J. Geosci., 87(1), 51-65.


BOR-P01: Magnetic Susceptibility along the River “Thüringer Saale”

Michael Pirrung*1, and Dirk Merten1


* [email protected]

Topic of the project FluviMag is the magnetic sus-

ceptibility of recent fluvial sediments in Germany

and adjacent areas. For this parameter, previous

studies of recent sediments revealed significant

positive correlations to the heavy metal content

and the heavy mineral content, respectively. >500

samples of recent sandy and pelitic sediments

from river beds, levees and flood plains have been

collected. Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility

of dried samples was measured with a Bartington

MS2 system. Geochemical analyses of bulk sam-

ples and grain size fractions were performed with

total digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma

with Optical Emission Spectrometry and Mass

Spectrometry, respectively. Mineralogical anal-

yses were performed with X-ray powder diffrac-

tometry on extracted ferrimagnetic fractions.

One of the study areas is the catchment of the

rivers “Thüringische Saale” and “Loquitz” down-

stream of the Eichichte Dam near Saalfeld, Ger-

many. Catchment rocks consist of a several kilo-

metres thick series of Cambrian to recent sedi-

ments in the “Thüringer Becken” and adjacent

mountain areas, of which the platform cover units

comprise a series of more than 800 m of sili-

clastic and carbonatic sediments. For the estima-

tion of geogenic contributions of magnetomin-

erals to magnetic susceptibility of recent fluvial

sediments >60 samples of catchment rocks were

measured as well.

In comparison to other major river sediments, re-

cent River Saale sediments show relatively high

values of magnetic susceptibility. The major

sources for magnetominerals are Paleozoic sili-

ciclastic rocks of the “Thüringisch-Fränkisches

Schiefergebirge”, the “Thüringer Wald” and the

“Harz”, with ore mining activities in historical

time. In contrast, the Permo-Triassic sediments of

the “Thüringer Becken” bear relatively little con-

tents of magnetominerals. In the middle section

of the River Saale a strong grain size dependency

of magnetic susceptibility is evident. The recog-

nition of anthropogenic input of heavy minerals

and metals is therefore hard to discover.


BOR-P02: Laboratory measurements of thermal properties of representative drill coresfrom the Thuringian Basin, Germany

Franziska Mai*1, Andreas Goepel1, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

The knowledge of thermal rock properties is of

fundamental importance to characterize subsur-

face rocks and to achieve a better understanding

about the subsurface thermal field as well as sub-

surface heat transport. This is especially valid

for sedimentary basins as they host important re-

sources for example hydrocarbons, drinking wa-

ter, or many have high potential for geothermal

energy use.

The aim of our work is to obtain an overview

of the thermal properties of the geological units

in the Thuringian Basin. For this purpose the

“Thüringer Landesanstalt für Umwelt und Geolo-

gie” (TLUG) provided eight samples from four

different drill sites. The drill locations are near

the cities of Jena, Apolda and Eisenberg, all lo-

cated in the north-east of Thuringia, and at the un-

derground thoroughfare Schmücketunnel, which

lies north-west of those cities. For the provided

half-core samples we mapped the thermal con-

ductivity and diffusivity along the intersecting

plane with the high resolution optical scanning

method. By doing so, we could detect hetero-

geneities in thermal properties both visible at a

macroscopic scale and also at samples where no

heterogeneities could be noticed with the bare

eye. We also did repeated measurements along

a profile in the middle of the half-cores to get av-

erage values, which we compared with previous

measurements performed by the TLUG. The pre-

sented results give a first insight to typical ther-

mal properties of the subsurface of the Thuringian

Basin.


BOR-P03: First results of a recent scientific drilling campaign at the Geodynamic Ob-servatory Moxa, Germany

Pascal Methe*1, Andreas Goepel1, Thomas Jahr1, and Nina Kukowski1


* [email protected]

The Geodynamic Observatory Moxa of the

Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) is situ-

ated in a small valley about 30km south of Jena,

which is characterized by a very low ambient

noise level. The instrumentation of the observa-

tory comprises, among others, a superconducting

gravimeter, a high precision laser-strainmeter ar-

ray and borehole tiltmeters, as well as a meteo-

rological station. Due to their high accuracy and

the topographic situation around the observatory

the instruments are very sensitive to hydrologi-

cal effects. To better understand local hydrologi-

cal effects as well as to characterize the rocks in

the underground of the observatory and to poten-

tially identify the local stress field, we performed

a drilling campaign in spring 2013.

This includes a deeper borehole (100m) to study

deep fluid flow and a shallow borehole (20m)

to deal with near surface fluid flow, respectively.

This also gives the opportunity to install a Fiber

Bragg Grating Sensor (FBGS) for long-term ob-

servation of downhole temperature, which will

significantly complement the existing instrumen-

tations.

In order to characterize the rock physical prop-

erties, e.g. thermal conductivity, sonic velocity,

porosity, coring was done along the whole depth

of the 100m borehole. Furthermore detailed bore-

hole geophysics (e.g. caliber, density, susceptibil-

ity, acoustic borehole televiewer, sonic and more)

was performed to determine the borehole charac-

teristics.

Drilling also induced characteristic signals in the

registration of the superconducting gravimeter,

the laser-strainmeters and tiltmeters during the in-

dividual drilling stages, which led to a unique

dataset. These signals will be employed to im-

prove our knowledge about the underlying physi-

cal processes.

Here, we present the first results of our recent

drilling campaign, also emphasising the concept

of borehole design and future instrumentation

with a Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor.


BOR-P04: A groundwater sampling and on-site filtration system for mobile particleextraction

Robert Lehmann*1 and Kai Uwe Totsche1


* [email protected]

The utilization of mobile inorganic, organic,

biotic (e.g. microbes), or mineral-organic

(nano)particulate solid phases as natural tracers

in interacting soil/ surfacewater-groundwater sys-

tems for characterizing flow- and transport pro-

cesses, requires the investigation of formation

conditions, habitats and transformation processes

in the respective compartments.

With the development and construction of a novel,

computer controlled on-site groundwater sam-

pling and particle separation system, we are now

able to collect and thoroughly characterize for-

mation waters of shallow and deep aquifers. Spe-

cific focus was on the development of a high-

throughput particle and colloid separation and

trace component enrichment system to sample

and identify not only the so far largely underesti-

mated particulate and colloidal components in the

aqueous fluids of the Thuringian Basin, but also

trace organic components like e.g. lipids or fatty

acids, substances that serve as biomarkers.

The computer controlled on-site groundwater

sampling system is trailer hosted and consists

of five units. (a) the PC-based data acquisition

and control system, (b) the borehole pump and

in situ p,T,EC-probe, (c) the multi-port flow cell

that hosts diverse probes for on-line monitoring

of the milieu-conditions and flow velocity, (d)

the nanofiltration unit to separate and enrich trace

dissolved and colloidal components, and (e) a

particle separation unit that allows for the physi-

cal and physicochemical collection of particulate

and colloidal components. As the whole sys-

tem is computer controlled it allows groundwa-

ter sampling with controlled drawdown, but also

computer aided hydraulic pumping tests with uni-

form or forced transient-gradient pumping rates

necessary for the more sophisticated methods for

hydraulic characterization of aquifers.


FLS - Fluid-sediment interactions and hydrocarbons

Conveners: Michaela Aehnelt, Carita Augustsson, Reinhard Gaupp

Interaction between fluids, associated gas phases, and sediment takes place at various size scales and

to various extents. Active basins with hydrocarbon habitats lose parts of their oil and gas through

the stratigraphic column to the atmosphere or hydrosphere on geological time scales. Depositional

and diagenetic processes of sediment determine porosity, permeability and as a result the pathways

of preferred fluid flow. Exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons like shale gas or

shale oil may thus pose risks for unintended mixing of basinal fluids with deep groundwaters. The

diagenetic characteristics to consider include the variability in type, amount, and spatial distribution

of cement and authigenic clay minerals as well as corrosion and dissolution features. This session

tries to give an actual account of fluid-gas-rock interferences.


FLS-T01: Geochemistry and Petroleum System Modelling as Keys towards Understand-ing of Unconventional Reservoirs

Ralf Littke*1, and Anna Kathrin Uffmann1

1 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum

and Coal, Germany

* [email protected]

Exploration of unconventional gas resources from

Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations in Western

Europe is just getting started. Large, poten-

tial unconventional gas reservoirs are presumed

north of the Rhenish Massif, where marine black

shales of the Mississippian, the Pennsylvanian,

and Pre-Carboniferous occur as well as numer-

ous Pennsylvanian coal seams. Another uncon-

ventional potential petroleum system includes the

Posidonia and Wealden Shales in the Netherlands,

Lower Saxony Basin and other parts of northern

Germany.

Gas shales, oil shales and gas-bearing coals have

in common that they act both as source and reser-

voir rock for hydrocarbons. Thus their geochem-

ical, mineralogical and petrophysical properties

are of uttermost importance for any prospect eval-

uation. Furthermore, burial and temperature his-

tory are directly related to hydrocarbons-in-place.

Therefore, detailed experimental studies and nu-

merical modeling are required to gain an under-

standing of these petroleum systems.

Basin and petroleum system modeling (BPSM)

is a key technology in petroleum exploration be-

cause it provides an understanding of the hydro-

carbon charge history (hydrocarbon generation,

migration, accumulation, and respective timing)

and enables predictions on hydrocarbon volume

and property. BPSM is also commonly used for

pore pressure prediction and has recently been ap-

plied for calculation of sorbed gas in unconven-

tional reservoirs.

The first part of this talk will focus on uncertain-

ties in BPSM, e.g. with respect to palaeotemper-

ature and heat flow reconstruction and quantifica-

tion of petroleum generation. In the second part,

important unconventional petroleum systems of

Central Europe will be presented, based both on

experimental data and BPSM

(e.g. Uffmann et al. 2012).

ReferencesUffmann, A. K., Littke, R., Rippen, D., 2012. Mineralogy and geochemistry of Mississippian and

Lower Pennsylvanian Black Shales at the Northern Margin of the Variscan Mountain Belt (Germany

and Belgium). International journal of coal geology 103, 92-108.


FLS-T02: Fluid flow in the pre-Zechstein of the Southern Permian Basin (Central Eu-rope)

Reinhard Gaupp*1


* [email protected]

1. Mapping of oil migration pathways, local

variability of hydrocarbon-related diagenesis, re-

gional provinces of diagenetic patterns indicate:

large scale fluid flow (>10-100 km) is restricted

to early precompactional stages of Rotliegend de-

posits.

2. During late Triassic / early Jurassic tectonic

disturbances within the SPB/NGB, fluid dynam-

ics become confined to field-scale and sub-field-

scale compartments in sub-salt strata.

3. Distinction of episodes with (1) static, (2)

darcy-flow, (3) buoyancy-driven or (4) diffusive

fluid conditions is only possible to some extent.

Mesodiagenetic processes appear to be controlled

mainly by (3) and (4).

4. Organic components migrate over distances of

»10km stratiform, mainly by processes (2) and

(3), and have considerable bearing on fluid-rock

interactions from early to late diagenetic/burial

stages.

5. Pre-oil hydrocarbons were expelled from Car-

boniferous sources to Permian reservoirs during

the Triassic, liquid hydrocarbons during the Juras-

sic. Early gas charges (CO2?) were likely as early

as Zechstein and Triassic times. Main methane

charge is likely to have occurred from late Trias-

sic onward.

6. Diagenetic phenomena which require large

scale darcy flow of fluids (e.g. local pervasive

silicification) are rare.

7. There is no unequivocal evidence for convec-

tive fluid flow in pre-salt volumes.

8. Faults play a very important role in fluid com-

partmentalisation, focussing, funneling, localisa-

tion of fluid entry points. Mineralogy and mineral

chemistry of diagenetic products frequently ap-

pear with trends from major fault systems. Com-

partments close to major faults (active during

early Mesozoic) exhibit pronounced mineral and

porespace alterations.

9. Eodiagenetic and mesodiagenetic fluid systems

can be characterised from isotope-geochemical

and fluid-inclusion data.

10. A major episode of fluid overturn and hy-

drocarbon migration was related to late Triassic

- early Jurassic teconic movements (e.g. in areas

of the Lower Saxony Basin and part of the Pom-

peckj block), evidence from illite ages.

11. Multi-stage hydrocarbon filling, leakage

(e.g. during structural inversion), and re-filling

of reservoirs indicate, that Rotliegend formation

fluids must have left through Z-salt seals episodi-

cally (see Buntsandstein charge from Carbonifer-

ous).


FLS-T03: Fluid-rock interaction related to pore space evolution: case study in Per-mosilesian and Mesozoic sandstones (Thuringian Basin, Central Germany)

Michaela Aehnelt*1, Ulrike Hilse1, Daniel Beyer1, Cindy Kunkel1, Dieter Pudlo1, and Reinhard

Gaupp1


* [email protected]

This study intends to characterize the influence

of deposition and diagenetic evolution of aquifer

sandstones on pore space attributes in relation

to fluid-rock interaction in order to better under-

stand fluid migration in sedimentary basins in the

present and past. Depositional (e.g. texture and

initial pore space distribution, amount of degrad-

able clasts) and diagenetic features (e.g. vari-

ability in type, amount, and spatial distribution

of cement and authigenic clay minerals, of disso-

lution, compaction, and burial depth) determine

pathways of preferred fluid flow.

Study object are sandstones of Permosilesian,

Buntsandstein and Keuper age in the Thuringian

Syncline (Central Germany). The Permosilesian

occurs in present depths of about 1500-2500 m.

Buntsandstein crops out at the margins of the syn-

cline and is encountered to depths between ap-

prox. 400-900 m. Keuper clastics crop out in

the center of the Thuringian Basin and extend to

present depth of a few hundred of meters. Max-

imum palaeoburial depths were in the range of

up to 5000 m and more for the Permosilesian,

of 2800 m for the Buntsandstein and of approx.

1300 m for the Keuper.

The Permosilesian sandstones are moderately to

well sorted sublitharenites to litharenites. Dia-

genetic features are early ferrous clay infiltration,

some quartz cement, feldspar and lithoclast alter-

ation (leaching, illitization, kaolinitization), mi-

nor blocky carbonate cement and intense kaolin

or illite formation. In contrast, the Buntsand-

stein sandstones are poorly to well sorted arkoses

to subarkoses. Diagenetic features are early fer-

rous clay coatings, authigenic quartz overgrowth,

feldspar alteration (leaching, illitization), blocky

sulfate and carbonate cement as well as recent

telodiagenetic cement dissolution, formation of

illite and locally kaolinite. The Keuper sand-

stones are moderately to well sorted lithic sub-

arkoses and feldspatic litharenites. Diagenetic

features include early hematite coatings, authi-

genic quartz overgrowth, in part blocky carbonate

cementation linked with feldspar and lithoclasts

displacement, cement dissolution and illite for-

mation.

Differences in initial composition, diagenetic evo-

lution, burial depth and resulting cement and clay

mineral content are reflected in pore space at-

tributes and data of the specific surface area with

special impact of recent telodiagenetic influences.

The heterogeneities in spatial distribution and in

accessibility of pore space influence fluid-rock in-

teractions.


FLS-T04: Deep-seated sedimentary rocks as a potential for fluid storage in the FreeState of Thuringia?

Ina Zander*1

1 Thuringian State Institute for Environment and Geology, Germany

* [email protected]

Between 2008 and 2011 the Geological Sur-

veys of the Federal States of Germany estab-

lished in a joint project an information system

for deep-seated rocks with a high potential for

fluid-storage, especially for the purpose of CCS.

According to specified criteria sedimentary rocks

with potential to fluid and gas storage or to form

a hydraulic barrier were identified and character-

ized. The distribution and depth of these rocks

were illustrated in maps.

For the Free State of Thuringia the research pro-

cess mainly concerned the Thuringian Basin and

southern parts of Thuringia. It mostly founded on

data from the drillings- and documents-archive of

the Thuringian Geological Survey (Thuringian

State Institute for Environment and Geology,

TLUG), in particular on reports and results from

former explorations of petroleum, natural gas,

copper slate, uranium and potash salt. In addition

documents regarding natural carbon-dioxid reser-

voirs in Thuringia were used.

As a result sandstones of the Upper Rotliegend

(Middle Permian) and calcareous rocks of the

Staßfurt-Folge (Zechstein, Upper Permian) were

identified as potential reservoir rocks for large

volume fluid-storage in the deeper subsurface

of Thuringia. Hydraulic barriers sealing these

porous rocks are evaporitic sediments of the Up-

per Permian (Zechstein) and the Triassic (Röt-

Formation). Analysis of available data (e.g.

lithology, thickness, tectonic structure, depth,

effective porosity, permeability, competing util-

isations) resulted in the definition of three study

areas, which enclose all potential storage sites.

However, potential storage structures (structural

highs) are small, reaching only exceptionally a

storage volume up to 0,25 km3. The storage

potential of the Staßfurt-Folge is additionally re-

stricted due to low depth, numerous abandoned

boreholes, and competing utilisations. A larger

storage potential may be verifiable within the

Upper Rotliegend sandstones of the Mühlhäuser

Rotliegendbecken and the central Thüringer

Becken (Saale-Trog). Here, some evidences indi-

cate sealing of the sandstone deposits on all sides;

therefore potential storage sites are possibly not

restricted to structural highs.

ReferencesHuckriede, H. and Zander, I. (2011): Geologische Charakterisierung der Speicher- und Barrieregesteine

im tieferen Untergrund des Freistaats Thüringen (Deutschland). - In: Müller, C. & Reinhold, K.

(Hrsg.): Geologische Charakterisierung tiefliegender Speicher- und Barrierehorizonte in Deutschland

- Speicher-Kataster Deutschland. - Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften,

Heft 74: 188-204; Hannover.


FLS-T05: Geochemistry of geothermal reservoirs in the Northern German Basin: Tri-assic Buntsandstein and Cretaceous Wealden sandstones – experimental data from thegeothermal well Groß Buchholz Gt1, Hanover

Annalena Hesshaus*1, Georg Houben1, and Robert Kringel1


* [email protected]

At the geothermal well Groß Buchholz Gt1

(Hanover, Germany) an underground heat ex-

changer was created by a hydraulic fracturing op-

eration in the target formation (Triassic Middle

Buntsandstein) at a depth of approx. 4 km. The

fracture was generated by injecting 20,000 m3 of

fresh water. After six month of enclosure satu-

rated brine was recovered from the formation and

injected into the storage formation in a depth of

about 1,200 m (Cretaceous Wealden sandstone).

The formation water of the Wealden sandstone is

of the Na-Ca-Cl type with 200 g/l total dissolved

solids (TDS). After degassing a pH value of 5

to 6 was measured. With high concentrations of

Fe2+ and Mn2+ the brine indicates an anoxic mi-

lieu. With oxygenation of the brine during op-

eration, iron hydroxide precipitation and acidifi-

cation would occur. Because of the presence of

swellable clay minerals in the reservoir rocks one

has to consider clay expansion and hence a reduc-

tion of porosity. The temperature of the reservoir

is about 60 to 70°C; therefore bacterial activity

could be stimulated as well and promote corro-

sion as well as precipitation.

The recovered water of the fracture in the

Buntsandstein sandstone is of the Na-Ca-Cl type,

reflects the chemical signature of a relic evapora-

tion brine and is most likely saturated with respect

to halite at reservoir conditions (165°C). It has a

TDS in the range of 380 to 400 g/l. The pH lies

at approx. 5.5 and with high concentrations of

Fe2+, Mn2+ and NH4+ the water is anoxic. Be-

cause the recovered water became oversaturated

with respect to halite on its way to the surface,

massive scaling occurred in the surface installa-

tions and the well. After a few days of produc-

tion the test had to be stopped and a salt plug had

formed in the tubing of the well. Analysis and ex-

periments show that the dissolved salt is a product

of mixture with formation brine and dissolution of

solid intergranular halite. Results indicate a salt

source in close proximity to the well perforation.

Elution tests of fresh core material showed halite

cement (as traces < 1wt%) to be present in at least

in some beds of the Middle Buntsandstein forma-

tion at the location of Groß Buchholz Gt1.

It remains to be shown if the dispersed salt ce-

ments can be depleted by additional fresh water

injections, so that a state of undersaturation of

the pumped water at surface conditions can be

achieved. Repeated stepwise injection tests, each

followed by recovery, are be needed to answer

this question.


FLS-T06: The influence of facies and diagenesis on aquifer properties in Buntsandsteinsandstones of the Thuringian Syncline (Germany)

Daniel Beyer*1, Cindy Kunkel1, Michaela Aehnelt1, Dieter Pudlo1, Thomas Voigt1, and Reinhard

Gaupp1


* [email protected]

The Lower Triassic Buntsandstein is a major

aquifer in Thuringia and adjacent areas in central

Germany. In the Thuringian Syncline the investi-

gation of its reservoir characteristics is part of a

BMBF-funded project on integrated fluid dynam-

ics in sedimentary basins (INFLUINS). Petro-

physical parameters like porosity and permeabil-

ity are major parameters in controlling fluid flow

in the rocks.

The sandstones were analyzed to reveal the effect

of facies on pore space evolution and therefore

on aquifer properties and fluid flow. Observa-

tions on wells and outcrops indicate that a change

of the facies type is linked to a change of the

rock permeability. The Thuringian Buntsand-

stein aquifer consists of fluvial, sandflat, lacus-

trine and eolian sandstones. Petrographic analysis

of these facies has been used to calculate miner-

alogical influence on the diagenesis and porosity

evolution. The study shows an important signif-

icance of dolomite and sulfate cements for ce-

mentational porosity loss in the sandstones. The

amount of these cements is linked to the facies.

Important is the occurrence of ooids for carbonate

cementation and the grain size for sulfate cemen-

tation. The dominant phase for porosity loss is

the mechanical compaction, which is connected

to facies-dependent clay and mud abundance and

the amount of quartz cement. Therefore perme-

abilities of the Buntsandstein formations are pri-

marily controlled by their predominant facies:

fine grained lacustrine sandstones in the Lower

Buntsandstein have low permeabilities; in the

Middle Buntsandstein sandflat, fluvial and eolian

sandstones show moderate to high permeabilities.


FLS-T07: Telodiagenetic processes and their influence on petrograhic properties in Mid-dle Buntsandstein sandstones of Central Germany

Ulrike Hilse*1, Cindy Kunkel1, Daniel Beyer1, Michaela Aehnelt1, Dieter Pudlo1, and Reinhard

Gaupp1


* [email protected]

Middle Buntsandstein sandstones (Solling For-

mation) of Thuringia and NE Hesse (Central Ger-

many) were investigated with special regard to

a potential influence of telodiagenetic processes

(near-surface alteration below the Cenozoic ero-

sion plain) on geochemical, petrophysical and

mineralogical features.

In Central Germany the terrestrial Buntsandstein

is dominated by medium to fine grained silici-

clastics with subarkosic to arkosic composition.

Besides early diagenetic minerals like hematite,

smectite and porefilling gypsum and dolomite,

most common mesodiagenetic authigenic miner-

als are illite, calcite and barite.

In order to evaluate the relevance of telodiagen-

esis on rock composition, sandstones from out-

crops and wells of deep and near-surface depths in

NE Hesse, in the Thuringian Syncline, the Eichs-

feld area and SW Thuringia were analyzed.

Most outcrop and well samples have nearly sim-

ilar petrographic features. However two loca-

tions with conspicuous similarities differ strongly

from the others: outcrop Brehme (Eichsfeld)

and two near-surface wells in NE Hesse. Here,

bleached sandstones with strong feldspar alter-

ation and a dissolution of unstable mineral com-

ponents are encountered resulting in a high chem-

ical maturity. Most abundant are the replace-

ment of feldspar by kaolinite and cement dis-

solution, which most probably took place syn-

chronously. Due to these dissolution processes

sandstones have higher porosity and permeabil-

ity compared to other areas. The observations are

typical for near-surface weathering in the pres-

ence of meteoric fluids at humid climates. More-

over, the locations also differ structurally by their

proximity to fault zones. These are SSW-NNE

trending fault zones with post Cretaceous/Tertiary

reactivation. Since the Tertiary climate in Central

Germany was characterized by episodic humid

conditions and intensive soil formation, obser-

vations suggest (near) surface exposure of these

sandstones and direct influence by Tertiary me-

teoric fluids. An additional effect on telodiage-

nesis by fluid flow along tectonic structures dur-

ing times of Tertiary magmatic activity cannot be

excluded. The difference in diagenetic alteration

compared to the other localities is likely due to the

reduced thickness of the Buntsandstein along the

Eichsfeld swell, where Tertiary thorough telodia-

genetic changes could reach deeper into the Trias-

sic sequence. In non-swell positions, the kaolin-

ization layer has been stripped during later Ter-

tiary uplift and erosion.


FLS-P01: New insights on the maturity distribution and shale gas potential of the LowerSaxony Basin, NW-Germany

Benjamin Bruns*1, Rolando di Primio2, Ulrich Berner3, and Ralf Littke1

1 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum

and Coal, Germany2 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany3 The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Department Geochemistry of Petroleum and

Coal, Germany

* [email protected]

Due to its economic relevance the Lower Sax-

ony Basin, NW-Germany, has already been inten-

sively investigated. Consequently, it can be re-

garded as a well-known example of a sedimentary

basin that experienced strong inversion. Oil and

gas source rocks of economical importance com-

prise Upper Carboniferous coals as well as Juras-

sic (Lias) and Cretaceous (Wealden) marls.

Extensive 1D and 2D basin modeling has already

been performed in this area, while no high resolu-

tion 3D model was accomplished so far. 1D and

2D basin models usually lack the effect that 3D

geometry has on temperature and pressure simu-

lation results. This includes, for example, over-

pressure generation/pressure outflow below im-

permeable layers or lateral heat flow influence and

heat accumulations in anticlinal structures.

Thus, we developed a fully integrated, 3D high

resolution numerical petroleum systems model

(500 m2 grid cell size; PetroMod software suite)

incorporating the Lower Saxony Basin, the Pom-

peckj Block, and parts of the Münsterland Basin

with special emphasis on the maturation recon-

struction as well as adsorption capability and

shale gas potential of the Jurassic Posidonia

Shale.

Based on thermal calibration with vitrinite re-

flectance and borehole temperature data at a great

number of locations within the study area, erosion

and basal heat flow maps were compiled. The

Posidonia Shale has been locally buried to depths

of more than 7000 m equaling maturities exceed-

ing 4 % VRr. These maximum values apply, how-

ever, only to small parts of the basin centre. The

burial depth, temperature, and maturity distribu-

tion throughout the whole study area is in fact

highly variable.

This study offers new insights on the thermal evo-

lution through time and maturity distribution of

the Lower Saxony Basin and adjacent areas. An

independent reappraisal of the erosional amounts

and maturity distribution in the study area was

performed, providing the highest resolution of

erosional amount distribution achieved so far,

thus also supplying a highly differentiated image

of maturity distribution. Based on the refined heat

flow and erosion maps, maturity maps and infor-

mation on the maturity evolution through time can

be delivered for all important source rocks in NW-

Germany.


FLS-P02: The diagenetic evolution of Early Triassic sandstone reservoirs in Lower Sax-ony and Thuringia – considerations within the framework of the H2STORE project

Steven Henkel*1, Dieter Pudlo1, and Reinhard Gaupp1


* [email protected]

The H2STORE project investigates potential bio-

and physicochemical interactions induced by hy-

drogen storage in sandstone reservoirs. Thereby

well core materials of different stratigraphic age

of five German regions were selected for re-

search: - Tertiary of Bavaria, - Late Triassic

in Brandenburg, - Early Triassic of Lower Sax-

ony (LS) and Thuringia (Th) and - Rotliegend

of Saxony-Anhalt. In the H2STORE project, the

two Early Triassic sample sites get special atten-

tion, to substantiate assumed mineralogical differ-

ences caused by distinct geological-tectonic evo-

lution. These investigations confirm slight differ-

ences during deposition, but strong variations in

max. burial depths. In Early Triassic a playa plat-

form was the main depositional environment for

both regions with an increased influence of fluvi-

atile sediments in the Th area. Thereby the litho-

logical composition in the LS area is heteroge-

neous and comprises oolite-, silt-, sand and mud-

stones. This is in contrast to the Th samples,

which are mainly composed of silt- and sand-

stones of fluvial and aeolian origin. Despite their

higher maximal burial depths of 6-8 km (Nol-

let 2009) Early Triassic sandstones in LS ex-

hibit higher porosities and less indications of rock

compaction, when compared to the Early Trias-

sic sandstones of Th which were only buried up

to 2.5-3 km depths (Weibel 2004). These ob-

servations suggest that in the LS area early pore

space filling by carbonate minerals and anhydrite

and its later dissolution during uplift preserved

high rock porosity. This is in contrast to the Th

sandstones, where early cement dissolution re-

sults in stronger compaction and less porosity.

In both areas these burials and uplifts of sedi-

ments is contributed to tectonic activity during the

Upper Cretaceous. However, also some impact

of depositional conditions/environment is most

likely. In the more playa related sediments of LS

clay content is increased and permeability is re-

duced, when compared to the rocks in Th. This

suggests that permeability in these rocks is con-

trolled by clay content and therefore by deposi-

tional and diagenetic facies. Because rock poros-

ity and permeability, which are controlled by min-

eral content, will strongly influence fluid access

and thereby induced fluid (hydrogen)-rock reac-

tions. These considerations are most relevant to

any suggestions on the underground storage of

fluids/gaseous media and indicate that site spe-

cific geological/mineralogical investigations are

strongly recommended.

ReferencesNollet, S., Koerner, T., Kramm, U. and Hilgers, C. (2009): Precipitation of fracture fillings and ce-

ments in the Buntsandstein (NW Germany): Geofluids, 9, 373-385.

Weibel, R. and Friss, H. (2004): Opaque minerals as keys for distinguishing oxidising and reducing

diagenetic conditions in the Lower Triassic Bunter Sandstone, North German Basin: Sedimentary

Geology, 169, 129-149.


FLS-P03: Predictability of reservoir properties of Rotliegend sandstones from NE´ Han-nover (Germany) using a forward modelling approach

Jörg Peisker*1, Reinhard Gaupp1, and Dirk Adelmann2

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 Wintershall Holding GmbH, Germany

* [email protected]

Predicting the reservoir quality of an undrilled

prospect is an advancing approach since the early

80´s. Geocosm TouchstoneTM is the result of

consistent further development of simple correla-

tion curves to basin-wide computational diagene-

sis modelling. This modelling approach is used to

reconstruct the evolution of sandstone diagenesis

and petrophysics from the moment of its deposi-

tion up to the present state. We tested the applica-

bility of this code on a complex Rotliegend reser-

voir. For this purpose, thin sections were taken

from five different wells drilled in the Dreilin-

gen/Bahnsen gas field (North-East of Hannover).

The target horizon was the Bahnsen Sandstone

from the Upper Rotliegend. Using optical mi-

croscopy, cathodoluminescence, and microprobe

analysis, all detrital and authigenic phases were

quantitatively examined. The samples consist of

laminated to massive, fine-grained subarkose or

lithic subarkose deposited in eolian and fluvial

settings. Main cement phases are quartz over-

growths, but also feldspar, anhydrite, carbonate

and barite cements frequently occur. The temper-

ature and pressure history was modelled by using

PetroModTM 1D showing a temperature peak of

approx. 200 °C during the Jurassic and a very

rapid subsidence within the first 15 Ma years. In-

tegrating basin history and petrographic analyses

resulted in a calibrated diagenesis model that was

established using Touchstone. The developed di-

agenesis model provides satisfying results for i.e.

quartz cementation and intergranular porosity for-

mation. Samples with low compaction show an

underestimation of quartz in the simulation, while

the opposite is calculated for strongly compacted

samples. Presumably SiO2 was released by pres-

sure solution and transferred to the surrounding

rocks, whereby the overall transport distance is

poorly constrained. Thus, an isochemical mod-

elling approach provides good results only for ho-

mogeneous parts of the Bahnsen Sandstone. Het-

erogeneous intervals were not considered. The

differentiation between homogeneous and to het-

erogeneous is based on GeocosmTM standards

for texture and composition. Caused on the few

data the diagenesis model provides satisfying re-

sults but further investigations are necessary.


FLS-P04: Methodology for the investigation of small-scale alteration processes in a CO2-flooded heterogeneous sandstone reservoir (Ketzin pilot site, Germany)

Susanne Bock*1, Hans-Jürgen Förster2, Angela Meier1, Andrea Förster2, and Reinhard Gaupp1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Ketzin is a pilot site for CO2 storage. It is located

in the Northeast German Basin, about 30 kilome-

ters west of Berlin. The reservoir sandstones used

for CO2 injection are part of the Triassic Stuttgart

Formation, situated in a depth of 630-700 m. For

more than four years, roughly 64,000 tons of CO2

were deposited in this mineralogically heteroge-

neous sandstone reservoir.

The general aim of this study is to investigate

the chemical and mineralogical changes in the

reservoir rocks associated with the CO2 contact.

Therefore, sandstone samples recovered before

and after CO2 injection have been studied. In

general, the sand- and siltstones display a min-

eralogically heterogeneous composition, essen-

tially attributed to the variable spatial distribution

of authigenic cements and clay minerals. Con-

sequently, the type and the reactive area of min-

eral surfaces exposed to the open pore space as

well as the preferred pathways for fluid flow are

different in the reservoir. Based on these facts,

we expected various mineral reactions (corro-

sion, dissolution, precipitation), but actually ob-

served are only minor changes at macroscopic and

microscopic scale. By reducing the scale from

sub-millimeter to sub-micrometer range, through

the application of analytical methods like Scan-

ning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron

Microprobe Analysis (EMPA), more alteration

features became obvious. These observations

refer to different species of newly precipitated

carbonates. Therefore, utilization of additional

analytical methods operating at high resolution

scale is necessary in order to properly character-

ize these alteration products. For instance, X-ray

Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) supplies in-

formation about the alteration of Fe-rich grain

coatings. This surface sensitive method provides,

beyond the elemental analysis, the valence state

and quantity of iron.

Further work will involve the reduction of the ob-

servation scale to single mineral surfaces. Meth-

ods like Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled

Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) and

Micro-Raman-Spectroscopy will provide space-

resolved chemical data for an improved under-

standing of the micro- to sub-micrometer alter-

ation processes. This iterative approach is and

will be applied to investigate even slight alter-

ation phenomena owing to processes involving

fluid and associated gas migration at the CO2 pi-

lot site of Ketzin and constitutes a viable approach

for the study of processes operating at different

scales.


SED - Sediment architecture and source-to-sink estimations

Convener: Carita Augustsson, Thomas Voigt

Outcrop to large-scale processes, facies associations and sedimentary sequences are addressed in this

session. Architecture and heterogeneities in sediment successions determine fluid-flow patterns and

the partitioning of reservoir units. The complete sedimentary cycle - weathering, transport, deposi-

tion, diagenesis, and uplift - is responsible for compositional differences between source rock and

analysed sedimentary rocks. All is controlled by the arrangement of facies hierarchies and depend on

the depositional variability and the interrelationship between accommodation space and sedimenta-

tion rate. For the composition, the tectonic setting and the weathering in source areas, in the transport

system, and at the depositional site all affect the resulting sedimentary rock. In this session we con-

centrate both on the effect the source-to-sink system has on sedimentary rocks and new approaches

and methods for a better understanding of the subsurface architecture of sedimentary basin fills.


SED-T01: A lithological and facial 3D-model of the Buntsandstein in the German NorthSea.

Marco Wolf*1, Dirk Kaufmann1, Anke Bebiolka1, Axel Weitkamp1, and Fabian Jähne1


* [email protected]

One challenge within the project “Geoscientific

Potential of the German North Sea” (GPDN) is to

develop a 3D lithological and facies model of the

Buntsandstein formations in the central German

North Sea. Some of these units include potential

storage (Volpriehausen) and barrier (Röt) rocks.

This model offers a consistent base for the es-

timation of the distribution and change of these

units.

With the aid of GOCAD® (Paradigm) the struc-

tural elements like surfaces, faults and salt struc-

tures were modelled on the base of 2D seismic

data, resulting in a structural model of the in-

vestigated area. In addition, further stratigraphic

horizons were generated by adding thickness in-

formation of Buntsandstein units, and using addi-

tional seismic lines (Baldschuhn et. al., 2001).

In order to create a lithological and facies model,

a volume model (pillar grid) was constructed with

Petrel® (Schlumberger). Different geophysical

well data (Gamma Ray, Sonic) were used to fill

the 3D-volume geostatistically with lithological

information. After that facies properties, based

on wells and literature, have been added to the

model.

The Buntsandstein is subdivided in three main

stages: The Lower Buntsandstein mostly consists

of claystone and siltstone layers. It is interpreted

as mudflat sediment with occasional shallow ma-

rine influence. The Middle Buntsandstein is com-

posed of four major fluvio-marine fining upward

cycles. They are separated by more or less promi-

nent discontinuities. Particularly the Hardegsen

and Solling unconformities can be profound. The

sediments can be differentiated in fluvial or al-

luvial dominated areas. The Upper Buntsand-

stein can be devided into two units. A layer of

salinar lithology with a cover of anhydrite de-

posited in a sabkha environment is covered by

claystones deposited in a mud-flat environment

(Feist-Burkhardt et. al. 2008).

The presented model shows the distribution of

different facies in the Buntsandstein of the North

Sea sector and its interaction with structural ele-

ments. Some of the facies associations are inter-

esting targets for further investigations.

ReferencesBaldschuhn, R, F. Binot, S. Fleig and F. Kockel (2001):Geotektonischer Atlas von Nordwest-Deutschland

und dem deutschen Nordsee Sektor - Geol. Jb.,Reihe A, 153, Hannover

Feist-Burkhardt, S., Götz, A.E., Szulc, J., Borkhataria, R., Geluk, M., Haas, J., Hornung, J., Jordan, P.,

Kempf, O., Michalik, J., Nawrocki, J., Reinhardt, L., Ricken, W., Röhling, H.-G., Rüffer, T., Török,

A. and Zühlke, R. (2008) Triassic. In McCann, T. (ed.): The Geology of Central Europe. Geological

Society of London, Volume 2, 749-821.


SED-T02: 3D-small scale modeling of facies development and variations of the Lowerand Middle Buntsandstein formations in the Thuringian Syncline

Cindy Kunkel*1, Daniel Beyer1, Ulrike Hilse1, Michaela Aehnelt1, Thomas Voigt1, Dieter Pudlo1,

and Reinhard Gaupp1


* [email protected]

The Thuringian Syncline is studied in the BMBF-

sponsored project INFLUINS (Integrated Fluid

Dynamics in Sedimentary Basins). In our subpro-

ject we investigate the Lower Triassic Buntsand-

stein, which is a major aquifer in Thuringia and

adjacent areas. The depositional environment is

characterized by a playa to lake setting with some

eolian phases in the Lower and fluvial, sandflat,

and lacustrine to eolian deposits in the Middle

Buntsandstein. For a better understanding of

present fluid flow patterns it is necessary to take

the sedimentary structures, their distribution and

architectural variations into account. By an ad-

ditional survey of paleoflow directions, potential

fluid pathways for the present can be predicted.

Hence, the lithofacies and lithofacies associations

in outcrops and wells were statistically character-

ized. Special emphasis lay on the thickness, depth

and width ratios of architectural elements as well

as of inclination and orientation of bounding sur-

faces. Spatial maps of paleocurrent directions and

of preferential fluid pathways controlled by sedi-

mentary structures, lithology and sediment body

architecture in syncline wide and regional scales

were included.

The gained data indicates an overall northward di-

rected transport reflecting sediment supply from

the Bohemian massif into the North German

Basin. But, paleocurrent directions and fluid

pathway properties can vary notably in regional

scale over short vertical and horizontal distances

resulting from shifts in lithology (mud- vs. sand-

stone), changes in channel morphology (e.g. low

vs. higher sinuosity) as well as environmental

changes (e.g. river channels vs. floodplain).

Based on these results four facies associations

were defined. These were structured and visual-

ized by 3D-small scale models with the GOCAD-

software and serve as foundation for the char-

acterization and distinction of the depositional

evolution and paleogeographic position within

the Thuringian Syncline. The reconstruction of

the facies and the storage characteristics of the

aquifer were upscaled and their regional scale al-

location predicted. The most important variations

were between the syncline center, where most of

the sediments were deposited, the Eichsfeld Swell

with its major unconformity, and the southeastern

syncline margin with reduced sediment thickness.

Because of the increasing distance to the source

area in the south, a distinction between the south-

ern and northern syncline margins must be made.


SED-T03: Depositional system and hinterland evolution of the Neogene Tajik Basin

Martin Klocke*1, Thomas Voigt1, Adam Szulc2, Matthias Franz3, Reinhard Gaupp1, Lothar Ratschbacher4,

Negmat Rahaboev5, Vladislav Minaev5, and Mustafo Gadoev5

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 University of Cambridge, Cambridge Arctic Shelf Programme, United Kingdom3 Technical University of Freiberg, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Germany4 Technical University of Freiberg, Institute of Geosciences, Germany5 Tajik Academy of Science, Institute of Geology, Tajikistan

* [email protected]

The Pamir-Tien Shan represents the world’s most

spectacular intracontinental mountain system.

Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene marginal marine

deposits of the Tethys covered most of southern

Central Asia. Activation of basement thrusts in

the Pamir and Tien Shan during the Cenozoic col-

lision of India and Asia caused separation of the

Tajik, Alai and Tarim basins by uplift of moun-

tain ranges. The up to 10 km thick syntectonic

succession in the Tajik Basin is the base of this

work as it recorded provenance, transport direc-

tions and depositional systems. Investigation of

sedimentology and petrography was combined

with thermo- and geochronological data.

Syntectonic sedimentation starts with Late

Oligocene/Early Miocene conglomerates along

the western Pamir margin, showing transport

directions perpendicular to the recent mountain

front. Composition is indicative of Paleozoic sed-

iments of the Northern Pamir and metamorphic

rocks probably derived from the Kurgovat Dome.

This phase can be correlated to stacking and pro-

grade metamorphism of the Central and Southern

Pamir domes and exhumation of the Northern

Pamir.

Mid- to Upper Miocene basin evolution is char-

acterized by a rise in base level, leading to de-

position on the Paleozoic of the Northern Pamir

and sealing of the mountain front (Darvaz fault).

Contemporary, exhumation and retrograde meta-

morphism of the Pamir domes occurred. Reac-

tivation of the Darvaz system is indicated by the

evolution of fold-thrust-belt starting in the late

Miocene. Progressive unconformities and growth

strata developed due to persistent high base level

within the basin. Proximal conglomerates reflect

separate fluvial fans prograding to the north and

provide evidence for steep-sided valley mouths

cutting through the mountain front.

The compiled data indicate that almost all synoro-

genic deposits at the western Pamir margins were

derived from the Northern Pamir. Oligocene to

early Miocene uplift inhibited major influx from

the Central and Southern Pamir. The passive fore-

land basin was transferred into a fold-thrust belt

in the late Miocene. Rapid uplift of the western

Tien Shan ranges started probably at the same

time and provided the source of coarse fluvial

deposits along the northern margin of the Tajik

Basin.

Fluvial plains attended the margins of the North-

ern Pamir and entered a W-SW-directed major

river in the central basin. It was deflected south

since the late Miocene/Pliocene, recently repre-

sented by the Panj-Amu-Darya system.


SED-T04: Quantifying carbonate mobilisation in the Saale drainage area during theQuaternary

Jens Kirstein*1, and Reinhard Gaupp1


* [email protected]

Carbonate dissolution during weathering, its in-

termediate storage by reprecipitation, and/or final

export to the sea is a significant component in

the global carbon cycle. We will study this on an

example of Triassic limestones along the slopes

of the Saale valley in Thuringia. Key aspects of

this study are the quantification of long-term telo-

diagenetic transformations of the limestones, the

timing of the involved processes and the analysis

of current carbon fluxes both surface and subsur-

face.

Partial carbonate dissolution, sulfide oxidation

and iron redistribution is obvious in the lime-

stones. These features are most prominent close

to a Mid Quaternary valley floor (Elster terrace).

They decrease down-section following fractures

in homogeneous micritic limestones of the Lower

Muschelkalk (Jena Formation), and reach a min-

imum close to the present groundwater table. It

implies a discontinuous vertical migration of the

groundwater table close to the valley slopes, span-

ning >800 ka of valley incision, and a coeval

increase of oxidative weathering of sulfides and

organic matter in the micritic carbonate.

Our comparison of geochemical modeling (chem-

ical equlibrium equations, hydrochemical mass

balance), laboratory experiments (batch, flow-

through, reactive percolation) and field work pro-

vide additional information to previous studies

and expand the knowledge of: (1) weathering

rates of natural carbonate rocks as a function of

low-temperature (0-25°C); (2) carbonate weath-

ering over glacial/inglacial times and (3) the role

of terrestrial carbonate weathering to the global

carbon cycle. Quaternary river terraces allow the

reconstruction of sediment volumes, using a sim-

ple topographical erosion model. Furthermore,

the study area has the important advantage that

the timing of the 100 m river incision has a good

age control due to topographic dating of terrace

formation during 800 ka.

We finally develop a karst chemical denudation

model to deliver basic data for a quantification of

carbonate export and carbon dioxide consumption

within the Thuringian basin Muschelkalk aquifer

during the Late Quaternary.


SED-P01: Hailstones: size, speed of fall

Ludwig Biermanns*1

1 Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Institute of Geoscience, Germany

* [email protected]

Hailstones are frequently much bigger than rain-

drops, for this, higher speed of fall, according to

their size, is reached.

The data on the speed of fall after Greenfield

(1969; in: Shepard & Gromicko, 2011) should

be considered approximate values, because of the

difficulty to determine their speed in nature. In

order to calculate the speed of fall by hailstones,

the link d0.87 from the formula after Fahrni (1989;

1998?), and the factor eh/20 were taken as a ba-

sis for the development of the following, slightlymodified relation:

vt = (d0.87 * 0.9168 * 3√

72/d + 0.58) * eh/20 .

vt = speed of fall [m/s] by the hailstone;

d = hail-stone diameter [mm];

e = 2.7183; (Foote & du Toit, 1969; Geerts,

2011);

h = height above sea level [km].

The equation is valid for a hailstone diameter

from 6.4 to 76.2 mm. The magnitude 0.9168

means a density of hailstones with 0 °C. This

says: hailstones are by ca. one eleventh less heavy

than water with a temperature of 0 °C. The expo-

nent 0.87 from the diameter can be interpreted

as atmospheric drag for a spherical object. The

number 0.58 is a correction factor for minimiz-

ing the error, when the calculated value for the

speed of fall is compared with empirical data af-

ter Greenfield (1969). eh/20 means that, on higher

elevations, the speed of fall by hail precipitation

is higher than on sea level.

The atmospheric drag hampers the increase in the

speed of fall, the bigger hailstones are. The fol-

lowing data set will show this: With a diameter

of 6.4 mm, the speed of fall is 10.91 m/s; with

12.7 mm / 15.50 m/s; 19.1/19.21; 25.4/22.22;

31.8/25.00; 38.1/27.48; 44.5/29.82; 50.8/31.98;

57.2/34.04; 63.5/35.97; 69.9/37.84; 76.2 mm /

39.61 m/s (sea level).

The maximum topographic height, where hail-

storms occur, can be given with ca. 2500 m a.s.l.

Hailstorm precipitations are going to be less, the

higher the area is. Hailstorms are confined to the

warmer seasons. Wet and warm, weather condi-

tions, in combination with an approaching cold

front, or, when a hot humid cell has formed, are

the best prerequisites for hail precipitations.

Destructions by hailstorms are known. Fossil

marks by hailstones to plants or in sediments,

however, have not been described so far, which

also could be a contribution to the research in the

paleoclimatology.

ReferencesFahrni, W.D. (1989; 1998?): Hail FAQ (The fall-speed equation); - http://www.google.com/www.dent-

freedirect.com/hailfaq.asp.

Foote, G.B. & Du Toit, P.S. (1969): Terminal velocity of raindrops aloft. - J. of Appl. Meteorol., 8:

249-253.

Geerts, B. (2011): Fall speed of hydrometeors; - http://wwwdas.uwyo.edu/ geerts/cwx/notes/chahttp://-

www.google.com/2005/.

Greenfield (1969): cf. Shepard, K. & Gromicko, N. (2011).

Shepard, K. & Gromicko, N. (2011): Mastering roof inspections: hail damage, part 4. - Internat. Ass.

Certified Home Inspectors, Inc.


SED-P02: The Alai valley - Where Eurasia and India collide: Comparing Provenanceand Facies of Pamir- and Tien Shan-related Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments

Michael Bernhardt*1, Martin Klocke1, Jonas Kley2, Christoph Wehner1, and Thomas Voigt1


* [email protected]

Tien Shan and Pamir represent a young and spec-

tacular intracontinental collision-zone between

Eurasia and the Indian subcontinent.

Our study-area comprises the Northern Pamir

syntaxis (Trans Alai range) and the southwestern

Tien Shan (Alai range) which are recently sepa-

rated by the intramontane Alai valley. The E-W

trending Alai valley formerly connected the Tajik

Basin in the west with the Tarim Basin, charac-

terized by shallow marine to fluvial Cretaceous

and Paleogene deposits. It had been transferred

into an intracontinental foreland basin since the

Miocene, recording the Cenozoic orogenic his-

tory of the Pamir and Tien Shan.

The analysis of Mesozoic sediments is a key to

understand the initial situation before the colli-

sion, whereas the Cenozoic sedimentary succes-

sion provides the tectonic signal of the adjoining

orogens.

Here, we present results of sedimentological stud-

ies in the Alai valley basin near 72° E.

Fieldwork in Jurassic to Neogene sediments

included mapping, documentation of sections

and tectonic structures, sampling for petro-

graphic analyses and paleotransport measure-

ments. Provenance of clastic sediments was de-

termined by the use of heavy mineral and light

mineral analyses, as well as pebble counting of

conglomerates.

The Lower Cretaceous of the Alai valley is repre-

sented by continental clastics, which pass to shal-

low marine carbonates and marls of the Upper

Cretaceous. The Cenozoic sediments are domi-

nated by evaporites, red beds and shallow marine

carbonates and are replaced by conglomerate-

dominated fluvial systems starting during the

Oligocene.

Our preliminary results in heavy and light mineral

analysis show that major differences in source

area at the southern and northern margin of the

Alai valley basin which are of the same strati-

graphic age as well as drastic thickness and facies

changes in Jurassic to Paleogene sediments. This

points to laterally separated sedimentary environ-

ments and therefore a significant distance prior to

N-S shortening.

Modern sediments of the Shibe valley contain the

same heavy mineral assemblage as Cretaceous

to Neogene rocks recently exposed in the valley.

The absence of hornblende and epidote indicates

a stable and restricted catchment area throughout

the Neogene. Both minerals are indicative for the

Paleozoic basement of the Northern Pamir. In

contrast, the 15 km to the east situated modern

Altyn Dara river carries high ratios of the above

mentioned minerals.


SED-P03: Sandstone petrography and geochemistry of the Oligo-Miocene Zivah For-mation, NW Iran: implications on provenance and tectonic setting

Mahdi Jafarzadeh*1, Reza Moussavi Harami1, and Asadollah Mahboubi1

1 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Department of Geology Faculty of Sciences, Iran

* [email protected]

Sandstone detrital modes of 63 medium grain

sandstone and major element geochemistry of

21 sandstones from Oligo-Miocene Zivah Forma-

tion, Moghan area, NW Iran, were selected and

analysed to evaluate their provenance, tectonic

setting and the intensity of paleo-weathering. Us-

ing Qm-F-Lt and Qt-F-L diagrams, the samples

show a general trend from undissected arc setting

to the transitional arc setting. On the Qp-Lvm-

Lsm diagram, sandstones of the Zivah Forma-

tion plot in the Arc Orogen field and Lvf-Lvmi-

Lvl diagram also shows that most of the sand-

stones of the Zivah Formation have intermediate

to mafic sources. Low to moderate values of the

chemical index of alteration and relatively high

values of index of compositional variability sug-

gest weak chemical weathering and an immature

source. The petrography and geochemistry re-

sults reveal that the sediments were deposited in a

basin related to the island arc and active continen-

tal margin tectonic settings, probably indicating

the time of initial collision between Arabia and

Eurasia. The data indicate that the sediments most

likely originated from a mixture of mafic, inter-

mediate and felsic igneous source areas, possibly

as the erosional products of localized topography

of the Taleyh and the Lesser Caucasus mountains

(south to southwest), created by compression in

the Moghan region during the syn-collisional de-

velopment of the Caucasus.


SED-P04: The impact of thermal alteration on the provenance signature of a sedimen-tary succession - the Permian Takrouna Formation, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Nadine John*1, Carita Augustsson2, Ulrich Berner3, Robert Schöner4, and Reinhard Gaupp1

1 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany2 University of Stavanger, Institute for Petroleum Engineering, Norway3 The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany4 State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology Celle, Center for deep and shallow geothermal energy, Ger-

many

* [email protected]

During Late Carboniferous and Permian time a

series of sedimentary basins occupied the east-

ern margin of Gondwana. The Permian Takrouna

Formation, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica,

represents the northern part of this basin system.

Up to 300 m thick fluvial deposits include con-

glomerate, sandstone, carbonaceous fine-grained

sedimentary rocks and coal. The exposures are

truncated by up to 570 m packages of dolerite sills

of the Jurassic Ferrar Large Igneous Province.

This study focuses on the depositional environ-

ment and provenance of the Takrouna Formation.

Cathodoluminescence (CL) wavelength colour

spectra of detrital quartz grains were investigated

amongst other provenance tools to gain informa-

tion about potential source rocks of the mainly

sublitharenitic sandstones. The predominant pro-

portion of the investigated grains (> 90%) has

bright to medium blue CL colours, typical for

quartz with an acidic, plutonic origin. How-

ever, this is in conflict with the light- and heavy-

mineral composition. Equal proportions of meta-

morphic and igneous lithic fragments and heavy

minerals occur in the sandstones. A prominent

decrease in the brightness of the CL colours dur-

ing the electron bombardment was observed for

all grains. This suggests that the CL colours are

most likely the result of thermal overprinting. Vit-

rinite reflectance data on carbonaceous pelite and

coal from two vertical sections (Helliwell Hills &

Morozumi Range) indicates a thermal alteration

of the sedimentary rocks. The vitrinite reflectance

data calculated from Tmax are significantly dif-

ferent for the sections, ranging from 0.8 to 1.3 %

in the Helliwell Hills to 2.4 to 3.6 % in the Mo-

rozumi Range. This is interpreted as a result of

the impact of the Jurassic intrusion on the sed-

imentary sequence rather than an effect of deep

burial. The sections are exposed within a radius of

20 km on similar topographic levels and no struc-

tural record is available revealing unequally deep

burial of the sections. This hypothesis is tested

by modeling the burial history using vitrinite re-

flectance data and published apatite fission track

ages for calibration.

The impact of the mafic intrusion on the sedimen-

tary succession is shown by the maturation of the

organic matter and the modification of the prove-

nance signal of the detrital quartz grains. This

is verified by our basin model. To conclude, the

knowledge of the thermal history of basins can be

of vital importance for a correct source-rock in-

terpretation.


SED-P05: Drainage stability throughout the Palaeozoic along the western Gondwanamargin - U-Pb ages of detrital zircons

Carita Augustsson*1, Tobias Rüsing2, Hans Niemeyer3, Ellen Kooijman4, Jasper Berndt5, Heinrich

Bahlburg2, and Udo Zimmermann1

1 University of Stavanger, Institute for Petroleum Engineering, Norway2 Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Germany3 North Catholic University Antofagasta, Department of Geological Sciences, Chile4 Swedish Museum of Natural History, Laboratory for Isotope Geology, Sweden5 Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute of Mineralogy, Germany

* [email protected]

We present the detrital zircon record for the com-

plete Palaeozoic era of the present-day south-

central Andes (N Chile and NW Argentina). We

trace variations in the transportation path in rela-

tion to the tectonic setting, because along the west

Gondwana margin only Silurian-Devonian time is

characterized by tectonic quiescence. CL images

of detrital zircons from 17 Cambrian to Permian

sandstones dominantly reveal magmatic grains

with minor abrasion and a single growth phase.

Main age clusters in all time periods except for

Cambrian and Silurian times are between 630

and 440 Ma, representing the Brasiliano, Pam-

pean and Famatinian orogenies. A smaller group

is Grenvillian at 1.3-0.9 Ga. Areas dominated

by rocks of these ages are the N-S directed Or-

dovician Famatinian arc and the area of the Sier-

ras Pampeanas in the south. Therefore, southern

transport may have dominated throughout Palaeo-

zoic time. The Cambrian and Silurian sandstones

are dominated by Brasiliano and Transamazonian

age zircons (2.2-1.9 Ga). This suggests transport

emanating on the Río de la Plata craton in the east

and passing the Sierras Pampeanas. Furthermore,

Famatinian and Pampean ages are less common

in the Silurian, probably because the basin east of

the former arc could receive input from the conti-

nent itself once the arc was inactive.

Our data do not record the accretion of the

Cuyania-Precordillera and Chilenia terranes that

collided with west Gondwana west of the Sier-

ras Pampeanas in Ordovician and Devonian time,

respectively. Tectonic uplift in the hinterland

that could cause shifts in directions and posi-

tions of the fluvial systems remains undetected

despite main transport from the south. No

record is found of the magmatic arc, which

was active along the continental margin dur-

ing Carboniferous-Permian time. Instead, re-

cycling of older strata occurred. Ordovician

and Devonian-Carboniferous glaciations in west

Gondwana did not cause glacial and glacioflu-

vial transport from the continent interior into the

marginal basins. As such the transport system

remained stable for 0.3 b. y. with main trans-

port from the nearby arc(s) and from the south.

The Famatinian arc acted as an effective erosional

barrier long after turning inactive and prevented

detritus from the Gondwana interior to reach the

marginal basins. Hence, detrital zircon ages do

not necessarily reflect tectonic changes and may

represent a much lesser part of the continent than

expected, even during times of tectonic quies-

cence.


MIN - Mineralizing fluids and geogenic sources of

fluid-enrichment

Convener: Juraj Majzlan, Lothar Viereck, Michael Abratis

This is a joined Poster-Session with following focuses:

Vein mineralizations - archives for fluids in the geological past

Fluids percolating through the Earth’s crust inevitably react with the surrounding rocks and conse-

quently inherit a distinct element signature. These fluids may become oversaturated in certain com-

ponents upon changing physical-chemical conditions on their way through the rocks and eventually

precipitate minerals in fissures and faults, their conduits for fluid flow. Crystallization from the fluids

thus results in mineralized veins whereby the mineral composition reflects the composition and source

of the parental fluids. Mineralized veins are therefore veritable archives for palaeo-fluids. Investigat-

ing mineralized veins enables us to receive a more comprehensive, time-integrated picture of fluid

flow systems.

Furthermore, veins are often of major importance to mineral deposits and ore formation, either the

vein minerals themselves or due to metasomatism of the proximal host rock. Thus, studying veins is

not only of academic but also of economic relevance.

Geogenic synsedimentary metal(loid) sources of groundwater contaminations

Sedimentary basins contain major groundwater reservoirs and are therefore of great importance to

sustainability of future water supply. While percolating through the sedimentary basin water reacts

with the surrounding host rocks and takes up some of the elemental budget. Thereby, groundwater may

be enriched with (heavy) metals and metalloids (e.g. arsenic) to concentrations of medical relevance,

e.g., well above critical values for drinking water. This session will focus on stratibound geogenic

sources of groundwater contaminants.


MIN-T01: Hydrothermal vein mineralizations as monitors of changing fluid reservoirs:the Schwarzwald case

Gregor Markl*1

1 Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Institute of Geoscience, Germany

* [email protected]

The majority of the more than 1000 hydrother-

mal vein-type deposits in the Schwarzwald

formed during Jurassic-Cretaceous and in post-

Cretaceous times. Whereas the former are related

to extension in response to the opening of the N-

Atlantic, the latter are structurally related to the

opening of the Upper Rhinegraben rift system.

Both periods of ore precipitation differ signifi-

cantly in mineralogy and geochemistry: Juras-

sic veins bear fluorite, barite and quartz in dif-

ferent modal amounts with Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag- or

U-Bi-Co-Ni-Ag -ores. They formed from high

salinity (>20-22wt% NaCl + CaCl2 eq) brines

at 50-150°C. In contrast, Paleogene veins con-

sist of quartz-barite-veins with Pb-Zn-(Cu) and

carbonate-barite-veins with Cu-Ni-As ores which

precipitated at 50-150°C from variable low- to

highly-saline fluids (2-22wt% NaCl + CaCl2 eq)

that may contain CO2 or sulfate. The Cl/Br-

ratios offluid inclusions from Jurassic veins in

the middle Schwarzwald show homogeneous

values of about 100±20, while in the south-

ern Schwarzwald Cl/Br-ratios of 20-569 are ob-

served. Fluid inclusions from Paleogene veins

show a broad distribution of Cl/Br-ratios (30-494)

in the whole Schwarzwald.

During Jurassic and Cretaceous times, the sed-

imentary cover rock units unconformably over-

lying the basement lithologies were tectonically

more or less undisturbed. Fluid mixing and vein

formation took place along the basement-cover

unconformity; in the central Schwarzwald the

sedimentary aquifer comprised red bed sediments

(Rotliegend and Buntsandstein) hydrologically

separated from overlying Middle Triassic units by

clay aquitards. These are missing in the South-

ern Schwarzwald as is evidenced by high Cl/Br

ratios recording the involvement of halite dissolu-

tion brines probably derived from Middle Triassic

evaporite units. Later, during Rhinegraben forma-

tion, basement units were juxtaposed to younger

sedimentary cover rocks which resulted in tap-

ping of fluid reservoirs that were formerly hy-

drologically separated by aquitards. Sulfate- and

CO2-bearing fluid inclusions of variable salinities

record this increased variability of fluid reser-

voirs taking part in fluid mixing and thereby vein-

forming processes.

These data are interpreted to show that the

middle-Schwarzwald Jurassic/Cretaceous veins

formed by binary fluid mixing, while the South-

ern Schwarzwald Jurassic and the Paleogene to

Neogene veins formed by multi-component fluid

mixing. Hence, participating fluid reservoirs

changed with time in response to tectonics.


MIN-P01: Mineralizing fluids of the Mn oxide and barite-fluorite-sulfide mineraliza-tions at the southern edge of the Thuringian Basin, Germany

Maria Brey*1, and Juraj Majzlan1


* [email protected]

Numerous small hydrothermal deposits and oc-

currences of vein mineralization are developed

along the southern edge of Thuringian sedimen-

tary basin. They are hosted by the Variscan base-

ment, early Permian rhyolites up to late Permian

carbonate and evaporitic rocks. The Mn min-

eralization is limited only to the early Permian

rhyolites. The Tertiary tectonic activity uplifted

the marginal portions of the today’s basin where

the pre-Permian rock complexes are exposed.

In our work, we concentrate on the mineralization

of fissures in and around the Thuringian Basin.

The studied mineralizations consists mostly of

barite, calcite, sulfides, and locally quartz in

Kamsdorf, mostly of barite and fluorite in Truse-

tal and Gehren and oxidic manganese ores with

barite and calcite in Elgersburg.The primary in-

clusions in barite from Kamsdorf show a wide

range of salinities between 8-22 wt% CaCl2 eq,

the primary inclusions in fluorite from Gehren

and Trusetal have about 24 to 27 eq wt% CaCl2

eq. Barite and calcite from Elgersburg show salin-

ities between 21 to 28 eq. wt% CaCl2. Th mea-

surements range between 85°C to 160°C in barite

and between 80°C to 130°C in fluorite. Barite

and calcite from Elgersburg have homogenisation

temperatures between 75°C to 150°C.

In terms of the properties of the mineralizing

fluids,there is little difference between the ba-fl

mineralization with sulfides and the ba-ca miner-

alization with the oxidic manganese ore bodies.

We interpret the geological and geochemical re-

sults and the physical-chemical properties of the

fluids for the ba-fl mineralization as signatures

of a large-scale fluid circulation and mixing at

the edge of the Thuringian basin and the adjacent

Variscan crystalline basement, mostly likely dur-

ing Early Cretaceous. We speculate that the fluids

which were responsible for the manganese for-

mation are related to the fluids which precipitated

barite, fluorite, and sulfides. The link between the

two fluid types and the source of the manganese

is not yet clear.

This work is a part of INFLUINS, a research

project funded by the German Federal Ministry

of Education and Research (BMBF) whose finan-

cial assistance is gratefully acknowledged.


MIN-P02: Geogenic enrichment of arsenic in groundwater in the NW Thuringian basin

Michael Abratis*1, Lothar Viereck1, Nicolai Baumann1, Udo Bormann1, Saskia Ruttor1, Martin

Sattelberger1, Christian Wagner1, and Alexander Wendt1


* [email protected]

The aquifer systems of the Lower Triassic

Buntsandstein Formation, an important source of

drinking water in north-western Thuringia, and

the Rotliegend Formation are locally affected by

elevated arsenic concentrations. Data from wa-

ter wells may show arsenic concentrations above

the limit value for drinking water (10 μg/L). The

regional distribution as well as lack of secondary

vein mineralizations or anthropogenic sources c

within this area point to a geogenic stratibound

source of arsenic.

The average concentration of the toxic, carcino-

genic trace element arsenic in rocks of the upper

continental crust is about 5 μg/g (Rudnick & Gao,

2004). However, it can be several times enriched

in certain sedimentary lithologies such as pelites

and even more so in coal beds.

In our present study we investigate all sequences

of the Buntsandstein and Rotliegend Formation

with their different lithologies in order to iden-

tify the relevant carriers of arsenic. Geochemical

analyses on samples from selected drill cores and

outcrops show arsenic of >50 μg/g especially in

coal beds as well as in primarily gray-green lacus-

trine clay stones. Elevated arsenic concentrations

seem to be related to lithofacies of lacustrine ori-

gin in the Buntsandstein and carbonaceous sedi-

ment sections in the Rotliegend.

Aim of the current study is now to identify the

appropriate synsedimentary mineral phases that

incorporate arsenic and to identify the processes

and conditions under which arsenic is mobilized

from these phases and transferred into the ground-

water.


RES - Reservoirs in foreland basins

Conveners: Anke Friedrich, Inga Moeck, Kai Zosseder

Foreland basins with their characteristic foreland deep host a multitude of resources including hy-

drocarbons and geothermal heat. In shallower depths, thick soft rock sediments are reservoirs for

groundwater and underground storage. This session calls for papers focusing on exploration and

development of geo-resources in foreland basins. Structural, facies and diagenetic controls on per-

meability structure as well as stress and thermal fields, neotectonics, and hydrogeology including

hydrochemistry are the main subjects addressed in this session to better understand the geopotentials

of foreland basins for a sustainable underground management.


RES-T01: Geothermal Systems in deep foreland basins of the Canadian Cordillera

Jacek Andrew Majorowicz*1, and Simon Weides2

1 University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Canada2 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

The Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB)

is known for its resources of oil, gas and coal. Re-

cently, renewed interest in the geothermal energy

potential of the WCSB arose, as part of Canada´s

plan to develop renewable energy technologies

for the future.

The primary area of interest for exploration of

geothermal resources in the WCSB is the deeper

part (>2 km) of the Phanerozoic sedimentary suc-

cession, which is thickening towards the south-

west, reaching a thickness up to 6 km near the

Rocky Mountain Foothills of Alberta and British

Columbia, and more than 4 km in the foreland

of the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest

Territories. Heat flow in the deep part of the

basin varies from 40 mW/m2 in the south to high

100 mW/m2 in the north. These large regional

scale (100 km scale) variations, which exist over

several Precambrian (Pc) basement domains un-

derpinning the WCSB, can be compared to other

foreland basins. All foreland basins are charac-

terized by a thick thermal blanket consisting of

sediments which have a lower thermal conduc-

tivity than the igneous or metamorphic basement

rocks. Gravity driven flow of meteoric water ef-

fect has been considered, however, its influence

upon heat flow has been rightly questioned. High

salinity aquifers still exist at depth and downward

fluid flow rates to account for heat flow reduction

at places would be a cause of replacement of for-

mations fluids with meteoric water, which is not

observed.

Our study shows that heat flow variations across

the large domains of the foreland basins are

mostly related to variations basement radioactive

heat generation. In parts of the WCSB tempera-

tures as high as 100 - 210 ◦C exist in a depth of 3

- 5 km. Fluids from deep aquifers in these “hot”

regions of the WCSB could be used in geother-

mal plants to produce electricity. The geothermal

resources of the shallower parts of the WCSB (>

2 km) could be used for warm water provision (>

50 °C) or district heating (> 70 °C) in urban areas.

Several studies have investigated the geothermal

potential of deep aquifers in populated areas of

the Central Alberta Basin. Besides depth, ex-

tension and thickness the hydraulic properties -

porosity and permeability- are the most impor-

tant parameters in the evaluation of aquifers for

geothermal utilization. The results of four previ-

ous regional studies on the geothermal potential

(Peace River, Edmonton, Calgary, Edson - Hin-

ton) are newly evaluated and discussed.

ReferencesMajorowicz, J., Grasby, S., 2010. Heat flow, depth-temperature variations and stored thermal energy

for enhanced geothermal systems in Canada, J. Geop.. Eng. 7 1-10

Weides, S., Moeck, I., Majorowicz, J., Palombi, D. and Grobe, M., 2013. Geothermal exploration of

Paleozoic formations in Central Alberta, Can. J. Earth Sci., 50, 519-534

Weides S., Moeck I., Schmitt D., Majorowicz J., and E. Ardakani, 2013, Characterization of geother-

mal reservoir units in northwestern Alberta by 3d structural geological modelling and rock property

mapping based on 2d seismic and well data, Proceedings, SGP-TR19


RES-T02: New insights into the underground storage potential of the German NorthSea sector

Dirk Kaufmann*1, Anke Bebiolka1, Axel Weitkamp1, and Marco Wolf1


* [email protected]

The storage potential of the German North Sea

sector may play in the future a more important

role regarding the usage of the deep underground

of Germany. In a first attempt to estimate the stor-

age potential of this area (project GeoCapacity,

2006-2009), around 262 potential storage struc-

tures have been identified.

The mapping of the storage potential in saline

aquifers in the German North Sea sector has been

carried out within the framework of the project

“Geo-scientific Potentials of the German North

Sea” (GPDN). It was realised according to the

project “Speicher-Kataster Deutschland” (Müller

& Reinhold, 2011): Lithologies with good reser-

voir properties are preferably porous and frac-

tured sandstones as well as fractured and cav-

ernous carbonates. The net thickness of the stor-

age rocks should be more than 10 m within a stor-

age rock unit, for barrier rock units a minimum

thickness of 20 m is defined. Only shale and halite

offer adequate characteristics for a longtime bar-

rier. The top of the storage rock unit and the bot-

tom of the barrier rock unit have to be deeper than

800 m.

The analysis of the storage potential in saline

aquifers is based on the Geotectonic Atlas of

Northwest Germany and the German North Sea

sector (Baldschuhn et al. 2001), on informa-

tion from the Petroleum Geological Atlas of the

Southern Permian Basin Area (Doornenbal &

Stevenson 2010), on stratigraphic and geophysi-

cal data of about 50 wells, and on seismic data.

Eight maps will illustrate the distribution and stor-

age potential for the defined barrier rock and stor-

age rock lithologies. Specific maps will demon-

strate that the formations of the Upper Rotliegend

and the Middle Buntsandstein have a good stor-

age potential, with some local exceptions. More-

over, in the south-eastern part of the study region

the Upper Keuper and Middle Jurassic hold an

adequate storage potential. Zechstein and Upper

Buntsandstein are generally considerable barrier

rock units, except on the Nordschillgrund High.

In addition to the regional mapping of storage po-

tentials, the structural and lithological character-

istics of a case study area with a high data cov-

erage and representative geological storage struc-

tures in the south-eastern German North sea were

investigated in detail. This sepcific case study will

show the influence of different mapping scales

on the results of storage potential assesments and

have the ability for verification of former mapping

studies (Baldschuhn et al. 2001).

ReferencesBaldschuhn, R., Binot, F., Fleig, S. and F. Kockel (2001): Geotektonischer Atlas von Nordwest-

Deutschland und dem deutschen Nordsee-Sektor. - Geol. Jb., Reihe A, 153; Hannover.

Müller, C. and K. Reinhold, (2011): Geologische Charakterisierung tiefliegender Speicher- und Bar-

rierehorizonte in Deutschland. - Schriftenr. Deutsch. Ges. Geowiss., 74:244 S.; Hannover.

Doornenbal, J. C. and A. G. Stevenson, (2010): Petroleum Geological Atlas of the Southern Permian

Basin Area; EAGE Publications b.v., Houten.


RES-T03: Squeegee flow and TSR in the Devonian Southesk Cairn carbonate sour gasplay, Alberta, Canada

Hans G. Machel*1

1 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada

* [email protected]

The Devonian Southesk Cairn Carbonate Com-

plex (SCCC) is located at depths of about 3000-

5000 m adjacent to the disturbed belt of the Cana-

dian Rocky Mountains. The SCCC produces oil

and gas with up to about 30% H2S from sev-

eral stratigraphic levels. The diagenesis was in-

vestigated by means of petrography and various

geochemical methods with the purpose of con-

straining temperature, timing and chemistry of

the paleo-fluids through time. Of particular in-

terest were tectonic expulsion of formation wa-

ters (squeegee flow), thermochemical sulfate re-

duction (TSR), and their effects on the hydrocar-

bon reservoirs.

Mineral compositions, C-, O-, S- and Sr-isotope

data of minerals and formation fluids, fluid in-

clusion populations, and bitumen reflectance data

yielded several well-defined patterns. Integration

of all data reveals a complex diagenetic evolu-

tion from the Middle Devonian to the Recent.

White sparry calcite cements in voids and frac-

tures formed over a prolonged period of time

under the influence of and/or triggered by TSR

and squeegee fluid flow. Sparry calcites have

d18O = -13.7 to -7.2‰PDB and d13C = -24.0

to 0‰PDB. The Sr-isotope values range from

0.7080 to 0.7320, with values >0.7220 only at

depths in excess of about 4000 m, whereas lower

values scatter throughout the entire depth range.

Furthermore, the Sr-isotope values and homog-

enization temperatures decrease northeastward,

away from the deformation front. The dD val-

ues of brines obtained from seven wells range

from -79 to -20‰SMOW, and their d18O values

range from -1.5 to +8.7‰SMOW. Paleotempera-

ture values determined from bitumen reflectance

data range from 185◦C to 220◦C.

This study yielded several important results.

(1) The prolific repertoire of diagenetic textures

found in the Southesk Cairn Carbonate Complex

serves as a means of comparison for petrolifer-

ous carbonate complexes elsewhere, especially

in sour gas provinces close to orogenic fronts.

(2) The diagenetic evolution contains long peri-

ods of relative tranquility that were punctuated

by several episodes of intense diagenetic activ-

ity. (3) Both thermochemical sulfate reduction

and squeegee-type fluid flow are recorded in late-

diagenetic sparry calcite cements. (4) The effect

of the various burial-diagenetic episodes on the

hydrocarbon reservoir properties throughout the

entire reef complex was highly variable. Specifi-

cally, matrix dolomitization, thermochemical sul-

fate reduction, and the emplacement of secondary

and tertiary anhydrites affected the hydrocarbon

reservoir properties throughout the entire reef

complex. On the other hand, squeegee fluid flow

was insignificant in terms of affecting the reser-

voir properties.


RES-T04: Facies relation and depth dependency of thermo-physical rock properties ofthe Upper Jurassic geothermal carbonate reservoirs of the Molasse Basin, Germany

Sebastian Homuth*1, and Ingo Sass1

1 Technical University Darmstadt, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

In the early stages of hydrothermal reservoir ex-

ploration, the thermo-physical characterization of

the reservoir is mainly accomplished by evalu-

ating drilling data and seismic surveys. Espe-

cially in carbonate reservoirs the distinction of

different facies zones is very complex. For reser-

voir predictions, permeability, thermal conductiv-

ity/diffusivity, and specific heat capacity have to

be quantified as precisely as possible. As these

parameters show facies related trends, applying a

thermofacies classification on the Upper Jurassic

limestones is helpful to understand the hetero-

geneities and to identify production zones. Out-

crop analogue studies enable the determination

and correlation of facies related thermo-physical

parameters and in combination with drilling data

the geothermal exploration becomes more pre-

cise. The outcrops of the Swabian and Franco-

nian Alb represent the target formations of Upper

Jurassic carbonate reservoirs in the adjacent Mo-

lasse Basin. The hydraulic conductivity of these

limestone formations is mainly controlled by tec-

tonic elements and karstification. The type and

grade of karstification is also facies related. A

high variation of thermo-physical parameters is

recognized within one facies zone. The matrix

permeability has only a minor effect on the reser-

voir’s sustainability except for some grain- and

dolostones with higher permeabilities and porosi-

ties. Mud- and wackestones show thermal con-

ductivities around 2 (W m-1K-1). Permeabilities

range from 10-18 m2 to 10-13 m2. Mudstones

have lower thermal conductivities than wacke-

stones due to their clay content. The permeability

range of mud and wackestones is about the same.

The thermal conductivities of the rudstone show

values of 1.8 to 3.9 (W m-1K-1). Reefal struc-

tures show the highest values of thermal conduc-

tivity, due to secondary mineralized silicates and

dolomites.

Most parameters are determined on oven dried

samples. The values therefore have to be cor-

rected for water saturated rocks under the ac-

cording temperature and pressure conditions. To

validate these calculated parameters a Thermo-

Triax-Cell simulating the temperature and pres-

sure conditions in the reservoir is used.

The facies related characterization and prediction

of reservoir formations is a powerful tool for the

design, operation, extension and quality manage-

ment of geothermal reservoirs.


RES-T05: The Identification of Clay Bearing Fractures from Well Logs and their Im-plications for Rock Mechanics

Carola Meller*1

1 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Knowledge of petrophysical and mineralogical

parameters in a geothermal reservoir is essential

for the estimation of rock mechanical behaviour

during hydraulic stimulation. The strength of a

rock is determined by manifold petrophysical pa-

rameters. Most parameters can only be indirectly

measured via different logging techniques. Log-

ging data represent the petrophysical parameters

in a multidimensional way. Neural networks are

well-suited to deal with datasets of such large di-

mensions. We describe a neural network (NN)

based method to map clay bearing fracture zones

indirectly from spectral gamma logs. A semi-

quantitative synthetic log is created showing the

clay content along the wells. The quality of the

created logs is approved by susceptibility mea-

surements indicating the alteration grade of the

rock.

Laboratory measurements complement the study

with respect to the implication of clay appearance

for the mechanical behaviour of the rock.

It is shown that the NN method is suitable to cre-

ate synthetic clay logs. Combined with laboratory

mechanical measurements this tool helps estimat-

ing the response of the reservoir rock to changes

in stress field or pore pressure.


RES-T06: The impact of fault zones on the permeability of the Upper Jurassic carbonaterocks (Bavaria, Germany)

Markus Wolfgramm*1

1 Geothermie Neubrandenburg GmbH, Germany

* [email protected]

The Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks of the Mo-

lasse Basin have been forming the most famous

target of geothermal exploration during the recent

30 years. More than 30 deep wells have been

drilled through the carbonate aquifer since 2004.

The productivity of the wells varies depending on

the geological conditions ranging from very high

permeability to no conductivity at all. By now,

the causes of these different permeabilities have

not been clarified fully. It is proven for the north-

ern part of the Molasse Basin that the premeabil-

ities are marked by a deep-reaching local carsti-

fication. It is assumed for the southern part of

the Molasse Basin that the permeabilities are con-

trolled by a facially induced dolomitization and/or

the impact of faults.

Within the framework of various projects, the cut-

tings, logs, and test data obtained from 7 wells

and seismic data could be analyzed. The cut-

tings were subjected to different petrographical-

sedimentological investigations.

As a result it became clear that inflows originate

from both the Malm matrix and fractures. A ma-

jor share of the inflows originates from sections

with a lithological-facial structure which allows

for dolomitization (“dolomite facies”).

Often, the share of the inflows from fault zones

exceeds 50 % of the overall inflow. The fault

zones formed in the course of the alpidic oroge-

nesis are approx. 15 - 20 m thick, often marked

by intensive dolomitization and always by clearly

porous calcites. It becomes obvious that main in-

flows may come even from well sections which

are fractured but not dolomitized. The poros-

ity and permeability data of the Malm carbonates

shows that the inflow may not originate from just

one matrix which means for the exploration strat-

egy that facially appropriate zones should be the

target of drilling. Lithologically, these sections

are marked by dolomites. Very high productivi-

ties are possible here in combination with faults.

But it is proven that even faults in facially inap-

propriate sections may deliver good inflows, how-

ever, the related geological risk has to be assessed

as high.


RES-T07: Stratigraphy related fault throw analysis in the Malm formation of the Mo-lasse Basin, Mauerstetten geothermal prospect, SW Bavaria

Anna Jentsch*1, Bernd Loske2, Inga Moeck3, and Stephan Hild4

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 DMT GmbH, Germany3 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada4 Exorka GmbH, Germany

* [email protected]

The geothermal prospect Mauerstetten in the

southwestern BavarianMolasse Basin is one of

the industry triggered projects where high tem-

perature of over 150°C but insufficient flow rate

due to tight carbonates in the Malm formation

dragged the overall project performance down.

As research project, Mauerstetten is revived aim-

ing to gain relevant knowledge to evaluate strate-

gies to increase reservoir productivity. Within this

framework a detailed structural geological analy-

sis of twelve 2D seismic lines with a total length

of 155 km is performed to better understand fault

kinematics with implications on fault core and

damage zone formation over time.

The results indicate some of the faults are bound

by the top Malm whereas others grow upward to

Tertiary connecting the Chatt Sand formation and

the Aquitanian. The dominating fault in the area

is a large 4000 m long undulating NE-SW to E-

W striking normal fault with southward dip and

more than 300 m cumulative downward throw.

This fault separates the study area in a northern

foot wall and southern hanging wall block. How-

ever, the throw varies in different stratigraphic

layers indicating different periods of faulting ac-

tivity. A major fault activity occurred in the Malm

to Lower Cretaceous, a second major faulting pe-

riod occurred in the late Oligocene. All fault

throws indicate normal faulting in the Mauerstet-

ten prospect. The fault throw also varies laterally

along the fault indicating oblique normal faulting.

Moreover, individual reverse faults cropping up in

Upper Oligocene (Chatt) to Middle Miocene (Top

Aquitan) indicating compression in late Tertiary.

We conclude that the first normal faulting period

is related to extension during the rift phases in the

Tethys, whereas the second major normal fault-

ing period in the Upper Oligocene occurred due

to local extension at loci of lithospheric bend-

ing in a compressional setting. Such a setting

is reasonable for foreland basin settings where

lithospheric bending is caused by the load of the

over-thickened crust in the orogenic belt. Similar

mechanisms are known from subduction zones.

Especially the reactivated faults are presumably

primary targets as increased permeability do-

mains in the Malm formation if tight carbon-

ates contain low matrix porosity and permeabil-

ity. Considering the short period of areal exposure

of the Malmcarbonates in Cretaceous, these faults

might have been karstified, buried since the lower

Tertiary and reactivated with formation of a dam-

age zone with increased fracture density exhibit-

ing favorable drill sites. Therefore stratigraphy

related fault throw analysis should be considered

in seismic interpretation for geothermal plays in

the Malm of the Molasse Basin.


RES-T08: 3D geomechanical numerical modelling of the absolute stress state in theAlberta Foreland Basin

Karsten Reiter*1, Oliver Heidbach1, and Inga Moeck2

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada

* [email protected]

For the assessment and exploration of potential

energy reservoirs in (foreland) basins, the con-

temporary in situ stress is of key importance in

terms of well stability and orientation of possible

fluid pathways. However, available data, e.g. Hei-

dbach et al. (2009) or Zang et al. (2012), deliver

only point wise information of parts of the six in-

dependent components of the stress tensor. More-

over, most measurements of the stress orientation

and magnitude are done for hydrocarbon industry

obvious to shallow for geothermal reservoirs. In-

terpolation across long distances or extrapolation

into depth is unfavourable, because this would ig-

nore basin geometry, structural features, inhomo-

geneities in the crust or other local effects like to-

pography. For this reasons geomechanical numer-

ical modelling is the favourable method to quan-

tify orientations and magnitudes of the 3D stress

field for a geothermal reservoir. This is also the

case for hydrocarbon reservoirs, especially in re-

gions with little stress measurements.

A geomechanical-numerical modelling, estimat-

ing the 3D absolute stress state, requires the ini-

tial stress state as model constraints. But in-situ

stress measurements within or close by a poten-

tial reservoir are rare. For that reason a larger

regional geomechanical-numerical model is nec-

essary, which derive boundary conditions for the

wanted local reservoir model. Such a large scale

model has to be tested against in-situ stress mea-

surements, orientations and magnitudes. In-situ

stress measurements are the most likely data, be-

cause they deliver the most direct information’s

of the stress field and they provide insights into

different depths, a major benefit compared to sur-

face information’s. This stepwise approach from

regional to local scale takes all stress field factors

into account, from first over second up to third or-

der.

For the first working step, we present as an ex-

ample a large scale crustal and upper mantle

3D-geomechanical-numerical model of the Al-

berta Foreland Basin and the surroundings, which

is constructed to describe continuously the full

stress tensor. To test the model, in-situ stress mea-

surements are used; for this study, a very dense

distributed dataset is available from the Alberta

Foreland Basin and surrounding. The data base

contains data from well logs and hydro-fracturing

tests, contributing minimum horizontal stress val-

ues, vertical stress values and qualitatively stress

orientation from borehole breakouts.

ReferencesHeidbach, O., Tingay, M., Barth, A., Reinecker, J., Kurfeß, D., & Müller, B. (2009). The World Stress

Map Based on the Database Release 2008, equatorial scale 1:46,000,000. Geochemistry Geophysics

Geosystems (Vol. 4, p. 1). doi:doi:10.1594/GFZ.WSM.Map2009

Zang, A., Stephansson, O., Heidbach, O., & Janouschkowetz, S. (2012). World Stress Map Database

as a Resource of Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering,

22. doi:10.1007/s10706-012-9505-6


RES-T09: Slip- and dilation tendency analysis: Implications for geothermal explorationin the Upper Rhine Graben

Jörg Meixner*1, Emmanuel Gaucher1, Thomas Kohl1, Eva Schill2, and Jens Grimmer1

1 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Germany2 GEIE Exploitation Minière de la Chaleur route de Soultz, France

* [email protected]

Worldwide geothermal utilizations are bound to

favourable tectonic settings producing thermal

and hydraulic anomalies. Structural controls

of geothermal systems are commonly associated

with extension-related tectonics and an inten-

sively fractured subsurface. It is widely accepted

that fault zone permeability and thus potential

fluid flow is closely linked to the state of stress

resolved along these zones. Fault orientation

with respect to a given in-situ stress field controls

the reactivation potential and therewith creates

anisotropic permeability patterns. The complex-

ity of possible fluid-flow paths in fractured and

faulted geothermal reservoir is difficult to pre-

dict but can have a strong influence on the ap-

praisal and development of a geothermal reser-

voir and can significantly affect the efficiency and

thus the life-cycle of a geothermal project. We

investigate the geomechanical behaviour of com-

plex fault patterns at reservoir scale for the two

geothermal sites of Bruchsal (SW Germany) and

Riehen (NW Switzerland). Both fields are located

at the eastern margin of the Upper Rhine Graben

and produce geothermal energy out of highly frac-

tured and faulted reservoirs. The hydraulic be-

haviour of the fault pattern in both reservoirs is

poorly understood but fluid flow anisotropy is sus-

pected for both reservoirs. For our study we ap-

ply a slip and dilation tendency analysis as pro-

posed by Morris et al. (1996) and Ferrill et al.

(1999). To compute slip and dilation tendencies

we determined the in-situ stress states and cre-

ated 3D fault models for both locations. The cal-

culations indicate that, regardless the stress state

and faulting regime, the slip tendencies and di-

lation tendencies show strong anisotropic distri-

butions within the fault models of Bruchsal and

Riehen. Graben-parallel and non graben-parallel

fault trends at both sites are characterized by dif-

ferent probabilities to undergo shear failure or

tensile failure. Different or changing fault orien-

tations probably can lead to anisotropic hydraulic

conductivities within these geothermal reservoirs.

Slip tendency and dilation tendency analysis can

improve the understanding of the fluid flow and

transport processes in both reservoirs that depend

on a hydraulically conductive fault and fracture

network. Next to Bruchsal and Riehen this work

will provide useful indications for developing ex-

isting and future geothermal reservoirs since sim-

ilar characteristic fault patterns exist in the whole

Upper Rhine Graben.

ReferencesFerrill, D.A., J. Winterle, G. Wittmeyer, D. Sims, S. Colton and A. Armstrong (1999): Stressed rock

strains groundwater at Yucca Mountain, Nevada., GSA Today, pp. 1-7.

Morris, A., D. Ferrill and D. Henderson (1996): Slip-tendency analysis and fault reactivation. Geol-

ogy, 24(3), 275-278.


RES-P01: Geothermal resources of the north western Alberta Basin (Canada) – anexploration study in a hydrocarbon dominated region

Simon Weides*1, Inga Moeck2, Jacek Majorowicz3, and Douglas Schmitt3

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada3 University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Canada

* [email protected]

Foreland basins as the Alberta Basin in Canada

host a variety of geoenergy resources. Often, the

focus is on hydrocarbon resources but in times

of discussions about climate change and envi-

ronmental aspects, additional green energy re-

sources such as geothermal energy are requested.

This study is the first detailed investigation of

the geological-geothermal subsurface conditions

in north western Alberta. It demonstrates specific

exploration methods that can be applied in a situa-

tion where a large amount of geological and geo-

physical data is publicly available and has to be

re-evaluated and re-interpreted for geothermal ex-

ploration. The aim of this study is to delineate po-

tential geothermal reservoirs and to describe the

distribution of relevant rock parameters that are

necessary to quantify the producible geothermal

energy in place. Most important parameters are

porosity, permeability, reservoir rock thickness

and temperature to estimate flow rate and temper-

ature gain.

In the study area, seven siliciclastic and carbonate

units form the major Paleozoic aquifer systems.

With help of 3D geological modelling, thick-

ness and extension of these potential geothermal

aquifers are analysed. The lithostratigraphic hori-

zons are modelled by interpolation of well log

data from about 1000 wells. Structures are inter-

preted from 177 km of 2D seismic data and, in

combination with literature data, used to develop

a 3D fault model. The stress state and reactivation

potential of faults are analysed with the slip ten-

dency method. This knowledge is a critical issue

in the development of Enhanced Geothermal Sys-

tems where hydraulic stimulation treatments are

applied to enhance permeability thereby increas-

ing productivity.

Porosity and permeability of the formations is de-

rived from data from about 10,000 core analy-

ses and mapped with geostatistical methods. A

geothermal gradient of the sedimentary succes-

sion is newly calculated based on more than 500

corrected temperature values. Formation temper-

ature of Paleozoic strata is estimated by this gradi-

ent in combination with the reservoir depth range

derived from the 3D model.

The siliciclastic Granite Wash unit is the most po-

tential horizon suitable for geothermal develop-

ment in the region. Its temperature is ranging

from 50 °C to > 70 °C, and the effective porosity

is estimated with 10 % to 15 %. Possible appli-

cations for the production of geothermal heat in

the study area are domestic warm water provision

and heating of greenhouses.

ReferencesMajorowicz, J. and Grasby, S., 2013. Geothermal Energy for Northern Canada: Is it Economical?,

Natural Resources Research, published online 17 February 2013.

Moeck, I., Kwiatek, G., Zimmermann, G., 2009. Slip tendency analysis, fault reactivation potential

and induced seismicity in a deep geothermal reservoir. - Journal of Structural Geology, 31, 10, 1174-

1182.

Weides, S., Moeck, I., Majorowicz, J., Palombi, D., and Grobe, M., 2013. Geothermal exploration of

Paleozoic formations in Central Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2013, 50(5): 519-534.


RES-P02: The geomechanical facies concept – outcrop analogue studies in the westernpart of the Molasse Basin

Nicole Schulz*1, Inga Moeck2, and Torsten Steiger3

1 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany2 University of Alberta, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada3 Geotec Consult - Ingenieurbüro Uhlig und Partner, Germany

* [email protected]

An exploration approach is proposed for a reser-

voir evaluation that includes geomechanical fa-

cies analysis. For such an approach it is neces-

sary to know specific parameters such as poros-

ity, permeability and rock strength as well as

the specific facies properties. Analogue outcrops

present the opportunity to investigate potential

reservoir rocks at the surface, prior to drilling.

In our study, the parameterization of outcrop ana-

logues of potential geothermal reservoir rocks in

the Western Molasse Basin in South Germany

will be used. Specimens from tight limestones

of the Upper Malm carbonates are investigated

in a combination of petrographic characterisation

and petrophysical measurements, leading to clas-

sification of geomechanical facies types. Petro-

graphic characterisation is primarily focused on

pore space analysis depending on cementation,

diagenetic environment and mineralisation. Com-

parisons of the results from thin sections of out-

crop analogues with thin sections of borehole cut-

tings show differences and similarities in the dia-

genetic history and lead to a reservoir evaluation

with a construction of geomechanical facies belts.

Petrophysical measurements included quantifica-

tion of porosity and permeability. After measure-

ments of petrophysical and geomechanical data

this type of rock shows low porosity and perme-

ability values indicating low reservoir quality for

hydrothermal use.


RES-P03: Upscaling of Thermo-Physical Properties for Geothermal Exploration

Wolfram Rühaak*1, Sebastian Geiger2, Alberto Guadagnini3, Sebastian Homuth1, Swarup Chauhan1,

Kristian Bär1, and Ingo Sass1

1 Technical University Darmstadt, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Germany2 Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Institute of Petroleum Engineering, United Kingdom3 University of Milan, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Italy

* [email protected]

Models for simulating heat and mass transfer in

sedimentary basins require petrophysical input

data (e.g. permeability and thermal conductivity).

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of these sys-

tem parameters is typically very limited. Mea-

surements come from different sources and are

distributed on multiple scales, being derived from

e.g. well-logs, outcrop analogues, plugs, or thin

sections. Remarkable databases of petrophysical

properties have been maintained in the past. Pro-

jecting these measurements onto reservoir mod-

els requires, for example, geostatistical property

modeling, upscaling and possibly also downscal-

ing. There are many well-established property

modeling and upscaling techniques for petrophys-

ical properties in hydrocarbon reservoirs. How-

ever, it is less well understood how these proper-

ties should be modeled and upscaled in geother-

mal reservoirs. Different physical properties can

be associated with different representative vol-

umes (REVs), depending if they are needed to

model heat transport or mass transport. Yet,

geothermal reservoirs have a much tighter mar-

gin to be economically profitable, so being able

to model and upscale petrophysical properties in

such reservoirs is of particular importance to fore-

cast heat in place and energy extraction reliably.

As a starting point, we address this challenge by

discussing and reviewing different property mod-

eling and upscaling techniques for thermal con-

ductivity. These include techniques based on clas-

sical volume averaging and homogenization as

well as statistical scaling methodologies which

can lead to propagation of uncertainty across

scales. Although it is possible to utilize gen-

eral principles from the upscaling of classical hy-

draulic properties such as permeability, there are

some important differences. A simple and fre-

quently used approach for assigning petrophys-

ical properties to a reservoir model is assigning

an average value to units of the same geological

age. However, when modeling the distribution

of thermal conductivity, a more robust approach

should be geologically-based and include infor-

mation of the facies, diagenesis and local varia-

tions in mineral content. This approach has to be

generalized by modeling the spatial distribution

of thermal conductivity using geostatistical and

inverse techniques, eventually based on a robust

dynamic data-assimilation framework, grounded

on a-priori geological information and the way

key (statistical) moments are transferred across

scales.


RES-P04: Ostracoda and Foraminifera as indicators of Quaternary saline water emer-sion in Central Germany

Anna Pint*1, and Peter Frenzel2

1 University Cologne, Department of Geography, Germany2 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Germany

* [email protected]

Microfossils of marine origin have been known as

a curiosity from Quaternary Central German lo-

calities for almost a century now. The first reports

cover Foraminifera from surface waters of the

Thuringian Basin but marginal marine brackish

water ostracods as Cyprideis torosa and Cythero-

morpha fuscata are also reported repeatedly. Both

taxonomic groups, ostracods and foraminifers,

are indicators of elevated salinities in water bod-

ies far from the sea coast. Their colonisation of

inland water bodies is assumed to be mediated

by bird transport, hence depends on suitable and

stable water chemistry as well as on chance of

transport. An analysis of brackish water ostracod

and foraminifer distribution in aquatic surface and

core sediments shows a restriction of those brack-

ish water indicators to interglacial sediments at

localities with likely or proven brine emersion

deriving from Mesozoic evaporites in the under-

ground. A minimum size and duration of the

water bodies is assumed to be critical for stable

brackish water conditions needed by taxa of ma-

rine origin.

Species composition and intraspecific morpho-

logical variation may be used for salinity re-

constructions. Traditional species composition

analysis and salinity transfer functions deliver

detailed estimations of past salinity levels if di-

verse associations are present. Often, however,

low-diversity or even monospecific faunas pre-

vent this approach. In those cases, sieve pore

variation and node formation in Cyprideis torosa

valves as well as malformations in Foraminifera

are the most valuable morphological methods for

salinity reconstruction.

Local changes in salinity levels over time may

be explained by oscillations of the groundwater

table and ongoing subrosion processes reflecting

both climatic variability, especially precipitation,

and the local geological situation. We present an

overview on ostracod and foraminifer distribution

in the Quaternary of Central Germany and core

analyses from the Holocene of Siebleben near

Gotha, the Cromerian of Voigtstedt in the North

of Thuringia and Holocene lakes of the Mans-

feld area displaying all a similar species spectrum

with periods of dominating brackish water ostra-

cod Cyprideis torosa.


Author index

Abolghasem, Amir, 60

Abratis, Michael, 82, 83, 85, 117Adelmann, Dirk, 102

Aehnelt, Michaela, 83, 95, 98, 99, 106

Andis, Kalvans, 79

Anka, Zahie, 54

Attinger, Sabine, 76

Augustsson, Carita, 112, 113

Bär, Kristian , 130

Büchel, Georg, 28–30, 33

Babre, Alise, 79

Bahlburg, Heinrich, 113

Baran, Ramona, 59

Baumann, Karsten, 63

Baumann, Nicolai, 117

Baumgarten, Stefan, 44

Bebiolka, Anke, 105, 120

Beric, Milovan, 77

Berndt, Jasper, 113

Berner, Ulrich, 100, 112

Bernhardt, Michael, 110Beyer, Andrea , 28Beyer, Daniel, 83, 95, 98, 99, 106

Biermanns, Ludwig , 109Bleibinhaus, Florian, 39, 40, 43

Bock, Susanne , 103Bormann, Udo, 117

Brandes, Christian, 41, 55, 57

Brey, Maria, 116Brose, Dietmar, 73Bruns, Benjamin, 100Buness, Hermann, 58

Burow, Katja, 28

Burschil, Thomas, 64

Cagnolatti, Marcelo, 54

Chauhan, Swarup , 130

Chwala, Andreas, 37

Class, Holger, 68

Cloetingh, Sierd, 48

de Sosa, Graciela, 62

Delina, Aija, 79

di Primio, Rolando, 54, 100

Dietrich, Patrick, 42

Dresen, Georg, 81Dunkel, Stefan, 36

Duschl, Florian, 62

Förster, Andrea, 86, 103

Förster, Hans-Jürgen, 103

Francuski, Miroslav , 77Franz, Matthias, 107

Freese, C., 27

Frenzel, Peter, 131

Friedrich, Anke M., 59, 60

Fuchs, Sven, 86

Görlitz, Marco, 85

Götze, Hans-Jürgen, 41

Gadoev, Mustafo, 107

Gaucher, Emmanuel , 127

Gaupp, Reinhard, 76, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101–103,

106–108, 112

Geiger, Sebastian , 130

Geršlová, Eva, 32

Ghergut, Iulia, 62

Gleixner, Gerd, 30

Gniese, Claudia, 27

Goepel, Andreas, 36, 40, 43, 44, 82, 84, 89, 90

Goldbach, Marek, 32Grawunder, Anja, 70

Grimmer, Jens, 127

Guadagnini, Alberto , 130

Gutmann, Falko, 28

Händel, Matthias, 70Habisreuther, Annett, 82

133

134 Author index

Hache, M., 27

Hambach, Ulrich, 87

Hampel, Andrea, 57

Heidbach, Oliver, 53, 126

Henkel, Steven, 101Hesshaus, Annalena, 97Hild, Stephan, 125

Hilse, Ulrike, 95, 99, 106

Hoffmann, Markus, 60Homuth, Sebastian, 122, 130

Hoth, Nils, 27

Houben, Georg, 97

INFLUINS Core Processing Team, 83

Jähne, Fabian, 49, 105

Jafarzadeh, Mahdi, 111Jahr, Thomas, 38, 39, 90

Jaques, Victory, 60

Jatnieks, Janis, 45

Jentsch, Anna, 125John, Nadine, 112

Kühn, Michael, 66, 71, 72, 74

Kastner, Anne, 30

Kaufmann, Dirk, 105, 120Kempka, Thomas, 65, 66, 71, 72, 74, 75

Kirsch, Reinhard, 64

Kirstein, Jens, 108Kissinger, Alexander, 68Klapperer, Stefan, 65

Kley, Jonas, 50, 56, 110

Klocke, Martin, 107, 110

Kohl, Thomas, 127

Kooijman, Ellen, 113

Kothe, Erika, 28, 30, 33

Krause, Martin, 40, 43Krawczyk, Charlotte M., 42, 47, 58, 64

Krech, Wolfram, 37

Kringel, Robert, 97

Kukowski, Nina, 36, 37, 40, 43, 44, 50, 56, 82,

84, 89, 90

Kunkel, Cindy, 76, 83, 95, 98, 99, 106Kusche, Jürgen, 35

Lang, Joerg, 57Lehmann, Robert, 91Leiss, Bernd, 62

Lindner, Julia, 28

Littke, Ralf, 93, 100

Lonschinski, Martin, 29Loske, Bernd, 125

Möller, Silke, 28

Mühling, S., 27

Müsse, Steffen, 28

Machel, Hans G., 121Mahboubi, Asadollah, 111

Mai, Franziska, 89Majorowicz, Jacek, 128

Majorowicz, Jacek Andrew, 119Majzlan, Juraj, 116

Malz, Alexander, 44

Markl, Gregor, 115Meier, Angela, 103

Meixner, Jörg, 127Meller, Carola, 123Menzel, Peter, 41

Merten, Dirk, 29, 88

Methe, Pascal, 84, 90Meyer, Hans-Georg, 36, 37, 44

Meyer, Matthias, 36, 37, 44

Meyer, Uwe, 41

Minaev, Vladislav, 107

Moeck, Inga, 53, 125, 126, 128, 129

Moussavi Harami, Reza , 111

Nakaten, Benjamin, 72

Narverkar, Sneha, 31

Nehyba, Slavomír, 32

Neuman, Stefan, 28

Niemeyer, Hans, 113

Norden, Ben, 65

Peisker, Jörg, 102Pint, Anna, 131Pirrung, Michael, 88Pollok, Lukas, 55

Popovs, Konrads, 45Prutkin, Ilya, 39Prykhodko, Vladyslav, 78Przybycin, Anna Maria, 52Pudlo, Dieter, 95, 98, 99, 101, 106

Queitsch, Matthias, 36, 37, 44

Author index 135

Röhmann, Lina, 75Rühaak, Wolfram, 130Rüsing, Tobias, 113

Rahaboev, Negmat, 107

Ratschbacher, Lothar, 107

Reichel, S., 27

Reiter, Karsten, 126Rodriguez, Jorge, 54

Rolf, Christian, 87

Ruttor, Saskia, 117

Sachse, Victoria, 54Saks, Tomas, 45, 69, 79Sass, Ingo, 122, 130

Sattelberger, Martin, 117

Sattler, Sabine, 51Sauter, Martin, 62Schöne, Ellen, 66Schöner, Robert, 112

Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena, 52

Scheer, Wolfgang, 64

Scheidt, Stephanie, 87Schiffler, Markus, 36, 37, 44

Schill, Eva, 127

Schlömann, Michael, 27

Schlunegger, Fritz, 59

Schmidt, Carolin, 55

Schmitt, Douglas, 53, 128

Schneider, Michael, 52

Scholz, Christopher, 74Schulz, A., 27

Schulz, Nicole, 129Schulz, Rüdiger, 58

Seifert, J., 27

Sennikovs, Juris, 69, 79

Siemon, Bernhard, 41

Singh, Manu Kumar, 30, 33Steiger, Torsten, 129

Steinmetz, Dominik, 41Stolz, Ronny, 36, 37, 44

Szulc, Adam, 107

Tanner, David Colin, 42, 55, 58Tillner, Elena, 72Timuhins, Andrejs, 69, 79

Totsche, Kai Uwe, 31, 70, 82, 91

Uffmann, Anna Kathrin, 93

Ullmann, Angelika, 41

van de Kerkhof, Alfons, 62

Viereck, Lothar, 117

Voigt, Thomas, 98, 106, 107, 110

von Hartmann, Hartwig, 58

Voss, Thomas, 63

Wagner, Christian, 117

Ward, Timothy, 82

Warsitzka, Michael, 50, 56Wehner, Christoph, 110

Weides, Simon, 119, 128Weist, Aileen, 30, 33

Weitkamp, Axel, 49, 120

Weitkamp, Axel , 105

Wendt, Alexander, 117

Wieczorek, Arkadiusz Krzysztof, 31Wiederhold, Helga, 41, 64

Wiegand, Bettina, 62

Wiersberg, Thomas, 85Winsemann, Jutta, 41, 55, 57

Wolf, Marco, 49, 105, 120

Wolfgramm, Markus, 124

Zander, Ina, 96Zech, Alraune, 67Zimmermann, Udo, 113

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