We are pleased to announce that Rahim Habibi, doctoral researcher at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT (Germany), will give the SFB 1313 "Pretty Porous Science Lecture" #65. His talk will be on "Coupling thermo-hydro-mechanical reservoir modeling with earthquake dynamics: a tool to simulate induced seismicity in faulted geothermal systems".
Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 4 pm
Speaker: Rahim Habibi, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT (Germany)
Title: "Coupling thermo-hydro-mechanical reservoir modeling with earthquake dynamics: a tool to simulate induced seismicity in faulted geothermal systems"
Venue: Multi Media Lab (MML), U1.003, Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart, Campus Vaihingen. If you are interested in participating in the lecture online, please contact samaneh.vahiddastjerdi@mechbau.uni-stuttgart.de
Abstract
A numerical approach to model the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) response of faulted geothermal reservoirs including earthquake dynamic rupture is proposed. It couples two finite-element numerical codes, one based on the MOOSE framework and the other on the SeisSol software. The former is used to simulate the THM response of the faulted reservoir to fluid injection operations. The latter is applied to simulate the dynamic seismic response of the reactivated fault(s). For the coupling, a script was written to call and execute each code, manage the feedback of the corresponding results, and loop over time. Thus, the coupled modeling starts with the MOOSE-based code to simulate the THM behavior in relation to the operation until fault failure. For the time being, the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion is used. Once the failure has occurred, the SeisSol code is called to simulate the dynamic seismic rupture on the fault based on the MOOSE outputs, e.g. stress field. The results of the SeisSol code, e.g. stress changes, will be imported into the MOOSE-based code to continue the simulation after the seismic event. Therefore, the outputs of each code are considered as initial counterpart conditions for the next step in the loop. Looping will continue for the predefined duration of the field operation. A synthetic single-layer model containing a reservoir and a fault was developed to check the capability of the workflow. The model is initialized with a prescribed strike-slip stress regime and then injection takes place until the first fault reactivation time. The approach can also be used for calibrating physical parameters such as the critical slip-weakening distance.
About Rahim Habibi
Rahim Habibi is a Research Associate (as a PhD candidate) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, within the Institute of Applied Geosciences (AGW). His research focuses on the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior of geothermal reservoirs, emphasizing fluid injection effects, fault reactivation, and induced seismicity. He is involved in the INSIDE project, which investigates induced seismicity and ground deformation in the Molasse Basin of southern Germany due to the operation of geothermal plants.
Rahim holds a Master of Science in Tunneling and Underground Spaces Engineering from the University of Urmia (2016) in Iran. His main background is in Geomechanics.
His work contributes to advancing geothermal energy systems, aiming to enhance their safety and efficiency for sustainable energy solutions.
Habibi holds a Master of Science in Tunneling and Underground Spaces Engineering from the University of Urmia (2016) in Iran. His main background is in Geomechanics.
His work contributes to advancing geothermal energy systems, aiming to enhance their safety and efficiency for sustainable energy solutions.