[S24-2] Methods and instruments of experimental geothermics - application and recent evolution II

[S24-2-02] Geothermal field under development: monitoring using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

^○Sergey Cherkasov¹, Anvar Farkhutdinov², Arbi Shaipov³ (1.Vernadsky State Geological Museum of RAS (SGM RAS), 2.Bashkir State University (BSU), 3.Grozny State Oil Technological University (GSOTU))

Development of a geothermal reservoir requires a system of wells, pipelines and pumping equipment. Management and monitoring of such system is quite complicated, so, in 2016, a Geoscan 201 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with regular and infrared imaging cameras was used for a survey of the Khankala geothermal field (Chechen Republic, Russia). The reservoirs of the geothermal field are being exploitated with a number of old wells and a newly built (2015) doublet and Khankala Heat Geothermal Plant (KHGP). The survey's goals were: (a) – to locate the leaks of the old wells and pipelines, (b) – to compare an environmental impact of KHGP with and without reinjection of the geothermal fluid, and (c) – to evaluate a capacity of UAV-based monitoring methods for geothermal sites. As a result of the survey: (a) - 13 thermal anomalies have been allocated in the area of about 10 sq.km. Analysis of the anomalies facilitated determination of their sources: fire, pipelines, leaking wells, etc., which was confirmed by a ground check; (b) – temporal and spatial parameters of the heat pollution originated from KHGP without the fluid's reinjection have been evaluated; and (c) - a high potential of UAV surveys for environmental and technological monitoring of geothermal fields under exploitation, and/or development have been revealed.
The evaluation of the heat pollution has been studied on the basis of two UAV surveys executed with different regimes of the KHGP's exploitation. As a side effect, possibilities of using the plant as an experimental stand should be underlined taking into count high-level KHGP technologies facilitating the doublet, heat-exchangers, and the regime of the whole geothermal loop management.