SEISMIC WHILE DRILLING MEASUREMENTS IN ITALIAN DEEP GEOTHERMAL WELLS

The development of energy production from the main Italian geothermal fields (Larderello and Mt. Amiata) is closely correlated with the exploration of high enthalpy reservoirs in a very complex geological structure. Usually a cluster of geothermal wells is drilled from the same site in order to reach high temperature (>350 °C) reservoirs in metamorphic rocks (some 3500 m below surface). Well Seismic Profiling (WSP) plays a very important role in the interpretation of the data supplied by reflection seismics when exploring such deep geothermal reservoirs, since the thermal conditions and seismic noise in geothermal wells drastically limit any conventional well seismic measurement. A multidisciplinary project (partially supported by the European Union) is currently in progress. The project combines the application of the following innovative techniques: ∙ EMWD ® , Electro-Magnetic While Drilling -