Speaker
Description
Norway has approximately 75,000 geoenergy installations, with around 4,000 new systems established annually. The majority of geoenergy wells are drilled in urban areas. Except multi-wells installations in Oslo municipality, local authorities do not require permits to drill geoenergy wells.
However, there have been cases where geoenergy drilling and implementation has caused significant structural damage to nearby buildings, leading to lawsuits against the drillers and developers involved. This damage is primarily associated with the depletion of the groundwater table in sedimentary layers, leading to significant land subsidence.
NORCE and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) have developed a national Ground Motion Service (GMS) platform that uses spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) technology. Since 2014, this platform has been actively monitoring ground movements, and has provided insight into issues related to land subsidence and land uplift related to geoenergy activities.
The application of InSAR technology enables early detection of ground motion caused by changes in groundwater levels or permafrost formation due to geoenergy drilling and operations. This ability is important in understanding the movements associated with the installation and operation of geoenergy systems. It will also help formulate effective mitigation strategies, such as borehole grouting and advanced casing techniques, which can help reduce the risk of economic loss and enhancing public acceptance of geoenergy
