Real-time temperature monitoring and flow control for improved heat extraction in enhanced geothermal systems

Qitao Zhang and Arash Dahi Taleghani

Energy, 2025, vol. 314, issue C

Abstract: Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) rely heavily on efficient water circulation through fractures to maximize heat extraction. Unfortunately, the geometry and properties of these fractures cannot be determined precisely, leading to potential challenges in controlling heat flow. This study proposes a novel approach utilizing real-time temperature monitoring and flow control systems to maximize heat extraction. The proposed system consists of downhole temperature monitoring sensors and flow control devices. By continuously monitoring produced fluid temperatures along the wellbore and dynamically adjusting flow rates to different fractures, the system can effectively mitigate thermal short-circuiting. Field-scale simulations demonstrate significant improvements by using the proposed system: a 40 K increase in overall production temperature and a 60 % enhancement in heat extraction efficiency after 50 years of EGS operation compared to the uncontrolled flow case. Furthermore, the simulations reveal that distributing more fluid to low-permeability and hot fractures maximizes reservoir utilization and elevates produced fluid temperatures. Besides, continuous flow management with targeted shutdowns emerges as the most effective long-term strategy, highlighting the value of real-time downhole flow control. This research advances EGS operation by introducing a self-regulating system that dynamically optimizes heat extraction across multiple flow paths, ensuring sustained high-efficiency EGS operation and maximizing project lifespan.

Keywords: Enhanced geothermal systems; Thermal short-circuiting; Real-time downhole flow control; Early thermal breakthrough; Inter-fracture interference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224040520

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134274

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