Fibre-Optic Monitoring of Efficiency of

aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES)

Jelle Buma

5 november 2015

Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

ATES on the rise

10 november 2015

Groundwater use in the Netherlands

(CBS, 2011)

Sector Volume (Mm3/yr)

Water companies 757

Industry 141

Agriculture 89 Food and beverage

industry 67

Chemical industry 12

ATES design

10 november 2015

Plan view

Schematic x-section subsurface

Spheres of thermal influence

clay

sand

Increased use of subsurface

10 november 2015

Research aims

1. Validation of simulation models

2. Integrated monitoring (subsurface / building)

3. Optimized maintenance planning

4. Legal matters (exploitation, guaranteed supply)

Project FOME-BES: 01/07/2014 – 31/12/2016

G. Brown, Downhole Temperatures from

Optical Fiber, Oilfield Review, 2008: 20, no.4 Light pulses into fibre optic cable

Backscatter of light depends on temp.

Speed of light →location along cable

Principle

Upscaled system (central heat & cold rings)

10 november 2015

Utrecht Science Park (2015)

Inner and outer cales in ATES wells : screen clogging

detection

Utrecht Science Park

Delft (Deltares / Tetra) (2013)

Fibre optic cables

(k1-k6, w1-w6)

ATES

(cold)

ATES

(heat)

Delft (Deltares Tetra) 2D results

Delft (Deltares / Tetra) (2D+1) results

Utrecht (Rijnsweerd)

large-scale building renovation

existing system with recent extension

10 november 2015

Utrecht (Rijnsweerd)

Installation monitoring network :

to drill, to dig & to splice

The enemy

10 november 2015

ASR aanleg

10 november 2015

Utrecht (Rijnsweerd) 1D results

klei

M50 300

ATES flow data are crucial for interpretation

10 november 2015

Brownfield redevelopment

Recirculation system

Research aim: early detection of screen

clogging / maintenance planning

Eindhoven Strijp-S

Eindhoven Strijp-S installation

Utrecht CS area

Energy potential fully claimed

But not fully used

What are the real spheres of

thermal influence ?

10 november 2015

Complex, dynamic

situation

>> cable installation still

to be done

www.cu2030.n

l

Utrecht CS area

The way forward: spatial planning of the

subsurface (formation of alliances)

10 november 2015