3D Seismic Survey at the Geothermal Research Platform Groß Schönebeck/Germany

Summary In February/March 2017 around the deep geothermal research platform Gros Schonebeck in Northeastern Germany an extensive 3D vibroseismic campaign was acquired and preliminary processed. It was aimed to image subsalt structures between 3.9 and 4.4 km depth with hydrothermal water of 150 °C for investigation of the principal suitability for geothermal power generation. The 3D surface survey was accompanied by a 3D VSP survey using the innovative DAS technique (distributed acoustic sensing) in two existing deep research wells. Realisation of the campaign was difficult as the area is part of a natural reserve with severe restrictions and obstacles. Finally, the field work was finished according to a detailed planning and supervising. Processing resulted in unmigrated and migrated CMP and CRS stacks with high data quality and well traceable sediment structures. The VSP data deliver exact time-depth and interval velocity profiles. Alltogether, a spatially consistent seismic interpretation can be performed with focus on deposits above the Zechstein salt to determine local layering and stressfield as well as on geothermal structures below the salt to detect possible fault systems and facies distributions. By this, statements on the principal use of deep geothermal resources in the North German Basin can be validated.