Optimum control parameters and long-term productivity of geothermal reservoirs using coupled thermo-hydraulic process modelling

Musa D. Aliyu and Hua-Peng Chen

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 112, issue C, 151-165

Abstract: Knowing the long-term performance of geothermal energy extraction is crucial to decision-makers and reservoir engineers for optimal management and sustainable utilisation. This article presents a three-dimensional, numerical model of coupled thermo-hydraulic processes, in a deep heterogeneous geothermal reservoir overlain and underlain by impermeable layers, with discrete fracture. The finite element method is employed in modelling the reservoir, after conducting a verification study to test the capability of the solver and the results obtained are in agreement with the existing models. The model is then used to investigate the responses of human control parameters (injection flow rate, fluid injection temperature, and lateral well spacing) on reservoir productivity, using different operation scenarios. The injection flow rate is found to be more efficient, concerning reservoir productivity, than the other two parameters. To this end, the study concludes that, by varying some parameters in the subsurface, reservoir productivity can be optimised efficiently. The numerical model developed provides in-depth insight to stakeholders and reservoir engineers concerning the essential parameters to control during exploration and exploitation.

Keywords: Geothermal energy extraction; Coupled thermo-hydraulic; Discrete fracture; Finite element method; Parameters analyses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117304172
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:112:y:2017:i:c:p:151-165

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.032

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

More articles in Renewable Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().