Application of distributed fibre-optic sensing to geothermal reservoir characterization and monitoring

Abstract Geothermal reservoirs offer unique characterization challenges due to the harsh environment that downhole tools are subject to and the discrete and spatially discontinuous hydrothermal features that make up the reservoir. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) offer great potential for dramatically expanding the use of geothermal energy by allowing development of traditionally inaccessible thermal resources; thus, offering the possibility to significantly reduce carbon emissions to combat anthropogenically induced climate change. However, EGS development offers an additional set of challenges as reservoir engineers have the burden of not only characterizing the existing reservoir, but to dynamically guide reservoir enhancement in heterogeneous media with a fine degree of resolution and accuracy. Developing EGS resources will require highly advanced and novel characterization and monitoring methods and technologies.