A Novel Geothermal Wellbore Model Based on the Drift-Flux Approach

Yin Yuan, Weiqing Li (), Jiawen Zhang, Junkai Lei, Xianghong Xu and Lihan Bian
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Yin Yuan: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Weiqing Li: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Jiawen Zhang: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Junkai Lei: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Xianghong Xu: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Lihan Bian: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Geothermal energy, being a clean energy source, has immense potential, and accurate wellbore modeling is crucial for optimizing the drilling process and ensuring safety. This paper presents a novel geothermal wellbore model based on the drift-flux approach, tested under three different temperature and pressure well conditions. The proposed model integrates the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, incorporating the gas–liquid two-phase flow drift-flux model and heat transfer model. The key features include handling the heat transfer between the formation and the wellbore, addressing the slip relationship between the gas and liquid phases, and accounting for wellbore friction. The nonlinear equations are discretized using the finite difference method, and the highly nonlinear system is solved using the Newton–Raphson method. The numerical simulation, validation, and comparison with existing models demonstrate the enhanced accuracy of this model. In our tests, the model achieved a high accuracy in calculating the bottom-hole pressure and temperature, with mean relative errors (MREs) significantly lower than those of other models. For example, the MREs for the bottom-hole pressure and temperature of the Rongxi area well in Xiongan, calculated by this model, are 1.491% and 1.323%, respectively. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring drilling safety. Comparisons indicate that this approach significantly outperforms others in capturing the complex dynamics of geothermal wellbores, making it a superior tool for geothermal energy development.

Keywords: geothermal energy; geothermal wellbore modeling; drift-flux model; finite difference method; bottom-hole pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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