Comparative study on effects of macroscopic and microscopic fracture structures on the performance of enhanced geothermal systems

Ling Wang, Zhenjiao Jiang and Chengying Li

Energy, 2023, vol. 274, issue C

Abstract: The spatial configuration of fracture structures controls the efficiency of heat production in enhanced geothermal systems. However, it is still impossible to fully characterize complex fracture structures, because in practice limited information is available in deep geothermal reservoirs. A simplified representation of fracture structures is necessary, but requires insight into the major parameter(s) controlling the flow and heat transport. In this study, we examine fracture structures at macroscopic and microscopic scales; the fracture orientation is used to characterize the macroscopic fracture structure, and the mean, standard deviation and correlation length of apertures are used to represent the microscopic fracture structure. Effects of these parameters on flow and heat transport and subsequently on heat production are systematically analyzed and compared. It is found that the effect of macroscopic structure on heat production is dependent on the density-driven flow induced by temperature contrast in geothermal systems, and the effect of microscopic structure is related to perturbations in flow paths, cross-sectional flow area and density-driven flow. A sensitivity analysis clarifies that in enhanced geothermal systems, priority should be given to characterize the macroscopic structure of the fracture network, followed by the estimation of the mean and correlation length of fracture apertures.

Keywords: Fracture structure; Enhanced geothermal system; Heat production; Flow and heat transport; Sensitivity analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:274:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223006941

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127300

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