EPC (France)
at GEOSCIENCES MONTPELLIER

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The SUBSURFACE group of GEOSCIENCES MONTPELLIER has been taking part in the ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) and IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) since 1991 (see summary)

In the IODP context, members of the group have been participating to an average of two scientific cruises per year. The group activity includes :

- In Montpellier, to provide training to scientists in the field of borehole geophysics and petrophysics to embark on the “Joides Resolution” (JR) or the so-called "Mission Specific Platforms" (MSP's).

- On board, to manage borehole geophysics measurements and to interface with the onboard scientific community (particularly co-chiefs), logging engineer, and operation superintendant.

- In the case of slimline drilling operations in the context of MSP's, deployment of slimline geophysical logging tools from EPC and CGHF.

- Post-cruise, to analyze borehole wall geophysical images recorded with Schlumberger (FMS, UBI) or ALT (OBI, ABI) sensors. For this, dedicated work stations are equiped with GEOFRAME, IESX and WELLCAD software packages.


Research focus

Scientific approach

The upper section of the Earth’s crust, or the “SUBSURFACE”
(from 10 m to 10 km), is the privileged site for numerous
and complex interactions between human activity and Earth’s processes.

The exploitation of subsurface reservoirs, underground waste storage, exploitation of energy resources (fossil and renewable), natural and anthropic risks,
or even urban, agricultural and industrial pollution remediation,
generate a number of questions that still remain unanswered.

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The team is structured to enable the deployment of field and lab geophysical, hydrodynamical, petrophysical, microstructural and geochemical techniques.

The investigations of the subsurface led by the SUBSURFACE group are performed either from borehole measurements and experiments (in the field), laboratory measurements or modeling (theoretical, digital or analogical).

This enables:
- investigation from µm to 10 km
- experimentation from µm to 100 m
And requires the development of:
- new tools and methods,
- new experimental protocoles,
- long term, in situ observatories.

Scientific topics

*Reservoir structures & dynamics

*Geothermalreservoirs
& hydrothermalism

*Geological CO2 storage

Research projects
ORE H+, ALIANCE, HiTI, IDESS, GIRELLE.

Infrastructures
CGHF, CEEL, borehole logging set-up