# Thermo-hydrodynamic modelling in silicoclastic reservoirs: case study of the Albian geothermal reservoir at Saclay, Paris Basin, France

Codjo Thomas Florent Essou, Benjamin Brigaud, Miklos Antics, Pierre Ungemach, Perrine Mas, Remy Deschamp, Eric Lasseur, Yara El Bayssari,

Gillian Bethune

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Codjo Thomas Florent Essou, Benjamin Brigaud, Miklos Antics, Pierre Ungemach, Perrine Mas, et al.. Thermo-hydrodynamic modelling in silicoclastic reservoirs: case study of the Albian geothermal reservoir at Saclay, Paris Basin, France. 28ème Réunion des Sciences de la Terre, Société géologique de France, Oct 2023, Rennes, France. hal-05297692

HAL Id: hal-05297692

https://hal.science/hal-05297692v1

Submitted on 4 Oct 2025

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Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Thermo-hydrodynamic modelling in silicoclastic
reservoirs: case study of the Albian geothermal
reservoir at Saclay, Paris Basin, France

Codjo Thomas Florent Essou*¹, Benjamin Brigaud², Miklos Antics³, Pierre Ungemach⁴,
Perrine Mas⁵, Remy Deschamp⁶, Eric Lasseur⁷, Yara El Bayssari⁸, and Gillian Bethune⁹

¹Université Paris Saclay Geofluid – Ingénieur-Doctorant – France

²Université Paris Saclay – Professeur – France

³Geofluid – Directeur – France

⁴Geofluid – Gérant – France

⁵Université Paris Saclay – doctorante – France

⁶IFP-Energie Nouvelle – Professeur – France

⁷BRGM – Sédimentologue – France

⁸Université Paris Saclay – Graduate – France

⁹Geofluid IFP-Energie Nouvelle – Ingénieur Recherche – France

Résumé

Conceptual geological models aim at producing a coherent image of the investigated porous media. Such reservoir models, generally calibrated on the production data histories, facilitate predictions addressing the development of the geothermal resources. However, in order to reduce uncertainties and to improve prediction of interference between geothermal wells or early thermal breakthrough using numerical flow simulators, a custom designed approach is suggested. In the present study, the geological models were based on careful examination of historical core descriptions and well-log analysis using PETREL to obtain 3D models. These geomodels are used to simulate the mass and heat transfers via TOUGH3, ECLIPSE300 and PUMAFLOW softwares. Several calibration simulations of the temperature, pressure and flow patterns were performed, based on the last three years (2019-2022) geothermal production histories of the Saclay geothermal development site, located 20 km southwest of Paris. We show that using a high-resolution 3D grid simulation workflow constrained by sedimentary facies, it was possible to operate the simulations from different software now available. These software allow us to solve the flow and heat transfers in a structurally complex and heterogeneous multilayered geothermal reservoirs. We also compare simulation of water drawdown on different grids. TOUGH3, ECLIPSE300 and PUMAFLOW codes are used to predict the future flow and temperature evolutions, suggesting that all codes are adapted to simulate flow and thermal breakthrough. Ultimately, we were able to predict the preferential flow paths related to the heterogeneity of the targeted Albian siliciclastic reservoir in the Paris Basin. Preferential paths are recognized in the upper part of the reservoir (clean shoreface sand) and locally at the base of the reservoir where coarse sand facies are present. In the future, we recommend to produce only clean shoreface sands (Sables de Frécambault Formation) present in the upper part of the reservoir and the

<footnote>*Intervenant</footnote>
coarse channel sands (*Sables Verts*) at the base of the reservoir present locally in some wells. The rest of the reservoir contains too many clays and need to be isolated from production, thus limiting the risk of well plugging during reinjection.

**Mots-Clés:** Clastic, Geothermal, Reservoirs, Models, Flow simulations