A sensitivity analysis of a single extraction well from deep geothermal aquifers in the Cheshire Basin, UK

Deep hot sedimentary aquifers (HSAs) are targeted for geothermal exploitation in the Cheshire Basin, UK. In this study, a single extraction well targeting the Collyhurst Sandstone Formation was modelled on MATLAB coupling heat and fluid flux. The Collyhurst Sandstone Formation in the Crewe area of the Cheshire Basin is expected to be found at a depth of 2.8 to 3.5 km, and was chosen as an area for geothermal exploration due to the high demand for energy.Model results suggest that low-enthalpy, deep geothermal systems with thick HSAs are affected by both geological and engineering parameters. The results of this study highlight that the thermal gradient, hydraulic conductivity, production rate, length and position of the well screen are the key parameters capable of affecting the success and viability of any single well scheme. Poor planning during exploration and development can hinder the productivity of any single well scheme and these parameters must be considered to fully understand the risk. Engineering parameters, such as the length of the well screen, can be used during well planning to mitigate geological risks in the aquifer, whilst the results presented can also be used as a guide for energy potential under varying conditions.

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The Elswick Field, Bowland Basin, UK Onshore

Geological Society London Memoirs ◽

10.1144/m52-2017-29 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 62-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mathew Hampson ◽

Heather Martin ◽

Lucy Craddock ◽

Thomas Wood ◽

Ellie Rylands

Keyword(s):

Electricity Generation ◽

Alluvial Fan ◽

Reservoir Quality ◽

Gas Field ◽

Water Contact ◽

Depositional Processes ◽

Well Field ◽

Domal Structure ◽

Single Well ◽

Sandstone Formation

AbstractThe Elswick Field is located within Exploration Licence EXL 269a (Cuadrilla Resources Ltd is the operator) on the Fylde peninsula, West Lancashire, UK. It is the first producing onshore gas field to be developed by hydraulic fracture stimulation in the region. Production from the single well field started in 1996 and has produced over 0.5 bcf for onsite electricity generation. Geologically, the field lies within a Tertiary domal structure within the Elswick Graben, Bowland Basin. The reservoir is the Permian Collyhurst Sandstone Formation: tight, low-porosity fluvial desert sandstones, alluvial fan conglomerates and argillaceous sandstones. The reservoir quality is primarily controlled by depositional processes further reduced by diagenesis. Depth to the reservoir is 3331 ft TVDSS with the gas–water contact at 3400 ft TVDSS and with a net pay thickness of 38 ft.

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Anatomy of the magmatic plumbing system of Los Humeros Caldera (Mexico): implications for geothermal systems

10.5194/se-2019-86 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Federico Lucci ◽

Gerardo Carrasco-Núñez ◽

Federico Rossetti ◽

Thomas Theye ◽

John C. White ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volcanic Belt ◽

Mineral Chemistry ◽

Volcanic Complex ◽

Geothermal Systems ◽

Plumbing System ◽

Geothermal Exploration ◽

Geothermal Fields ◽

Mexican Volcanic Belt ◽

Plumbing Systems ◽

Magmatic Plumbing System

Abstract. Understanding the anatomy of magma plumbing systems of active volcanoes is essential not only for unraveling magma dynamics and eruptive behaviors, but also to define the geometry, depth and temperature of the heat sources for geothermal exploration. The Pleistocene-Holocene Los Humeros volcanic complex is part of the Eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Central Mexico) and it represents one of the most important exploited geothermal fields in Mexico with ca. 90 MW of produced electricity. A field-based petrologic and thermobarometric study of lavas erupted during the Holocene (post-Caldera stage) has been performed with the aim to decipher the anatomy of the magmatic plumbing system existing beneath the caldera. New petrographical, whole rock major element data and mineral chemistry were integrated within a suite of inverse thermobarometric models. Compared with previous studies where a single voluminous melt-controlled magma chamber (or "Standard Model") at shallow depths was proposed, our results support a more complex and realistic scenario characterized by a heterogeneous multilayered system comprising a deep (ca. 30 km) basaltic reservoir feeding progressively shallower and smaller distinct stagnation layers, pockets and batches up to very shallow conditions (1 kbar, ca. 3 km). Evolution of melts in the feeding system is mainly controlled by differentiation processes via fractional crystallization, as recorded by polybaric crystallization of clinopyroxenes and orthopyroxenes. Moreover, this study attempts to emphasize the importance to integrate field-petrography, texture observations and mineral chemistry of primary minerals to unravel the pre-eruptive dynamics and therefore the anatomy of the plumbing system beneath an active volcanic complex, which notwithstanding the numerous existing works is still far to be well understood. A better knowledge of the heat source feeding geothermal systems is very important to improve geothermal exploration strategies.

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The Integration of 3D Modeling and Simulation to Determine the Energy Potential of Low-Temperature Geothermal Systems in the Pisa (Italy) Sedimentary Plain

Energies ◽

10.3390/en11061591 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1591 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alessandro Sbrana ◽

Paola Marianelli ◽

Giuseppe Pasquini ◽

Paolo Costantini ◽

Francesco Palmieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Modeling And Simulation ◽

3D Modeling ◽

Geothermal Systems ◽

Energy Potential

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Hydrochemistry in Geothermal Investigations in Iceland Techniques and Applications

Hydrology Research ◽

10.2166/nh.1979.0021 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 10 (2-3) ◽

pp. 191-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stefán Arnórsson

Keyword(s):

Water Movement ◽

Areal Extent ◽

Geothermal Systems ◽

Environmental Aspects ◽

Mixing Processes ◽

Geothermal Exploration ◽

Flow Mixing ◽

Surface Exploration ◽

Exploration Phase

The role of hydrochemistry in geothermal exploration and development is described. During the surface exploration phase hydrochemistry is particularly useful in delineating regional ground-water movement, in estimating underground temperatures, and in mapping the areal extent of geothermal systems. From data obtained through exploratory and investigation, drilling hydrochemistry yields information on the direction of underground geothermal water flow, mixing processes, boiling in the aquifer, and distribution of underground temperatures. It also contributes significantly in defining and solving scaling and corrosion problems and is relevant for environmental aspects of fluid disposal and constructional design.

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The Design and Execution of an Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer Pilot Test

SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering ◽

10.2118/154318-pa ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (04) ◽

pp. 423-431 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A.. Sharma ◽

A.. Azizi-Yarand ◽

B.. Clayton ◽

G.. Baker ◽

P.. McKinney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tracer Tests ◽

Tracer Test ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Chemical Tracer ◽

The Us ◽

Single Well ◽

Initial Discovery ◽

Sandstone Formation ◽

Field Perspective ◽

Alkaline Surfactant Polymer

Summary A tertiary alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) pilot flood was implemented during 2010 in the Illinois basin of the US, and is continuing currently. With initial discovery of the Bridgeport sandstone formation in the early 1900s and more than 60 years of waterflooding, the pilot was designed to demonstrate that ASP flooding could produce sufficient quantities of incremental oil to sanction a commercial project. Laboratory experiments, including corefloods, were performed to determine the optimal chemical formulation for the pilot and to provide essential parameters for a numerical-simulation model. Polymer-injectivity tests, single well chemical tracer tests (SWCTTs), and an interwell-tracer-test (IWTT) program were all performed to prepare for and support a full interpretation of the pilot results. A field laboratory was run through the duration of the pilot to monitor the quality of the injection and production fluids, which turned out to be critical to the success of the pilot. We present the results and interpretation of the ASP pilot to date, the challenges faced during the project, and the lessons learned from the field perspective.

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Thermal hydrology and heat flow of Beowawe geothermal area, Nevada

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/1.1441492 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 618-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Christian Smith

Keyword(s):

Heat Flow ◽

Fault Zone ◽

Water Table ◽

Thermal Gradient ◽

Thermal Water ◽

Cold Water ◽

Flow System ◽

Thermal Flow ◽

Geothermal Exploration ◽

Hydrologic Data

Inflections in temperature‐depth profiles from forty 150 m thermal gradient holes define a shallow thermal flow system in the Whirlwind Valley near the Beowawe Geysers. U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic data reveal the vertical and west‐to‐east components of cold water flow at the water table above the thermal flow system. The temperature inflections break most abruptly in areas with a downward component of flow at the water table. The inflections are thought to indicate the level where the buoyant thermal water maintains a dynamic equilibrium with the overlying cold water. Combining these geophysical and hydrologic data suggests areas away from The Geysers where thermal water may rise from the deep reservoir into the alluvium. These leakage areas may be viable geothermal exploration targets. Even if the temperatures of the leakage were subeconomic, knowledge of where upwelling occurs could be helpful in assessing the potential for energy production. The systematic acquisition of hydrologic data is recommended as a standard component of hydrothermal resource exploration programs. Measurements of thermal conductivity from chip samples from the shallow holes and from Chevron Resources Company’s Ginn 1–13 geothermal exploration hole (2917 m T.D.) enable inferences based on heat flow. The average heat flow east of the Dunphy Pass fault zone, [Formula: see text], may be representative of background in this portion of the Battle Mountain high heat flow province. Thermal gradient and conductivity data from the deep well have a wide range of values (65–144°C/km, [Formula: see text]) but produce a relatively constant heat flow of [Formula: see text] above a depth of 1600 m. The shallow data indicate that the area with similarly high surficial heat flow extends as far east as the Dunphy Pass fault zone, suggesting that this Miocene rift boundary may form the eastern margin of the Beowawe hydrothermal system.

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Efficiency of single-well geothermal systems with multi-lateral drills

Geothermics ◽

10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101928 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 89 ◽

pp. 101928

Author(s):

Selçuk Erol ◽

Virginie Harcouët-Menou ◽

Ben Laenen ◽

Peter Bayer

Keyword(s):

Geothermal Systems ◽

Single Well

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Geothermal exploration in the Fell Sandstone Formation (Mississippian) beneath the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: the Newcastle Science Central Deep Geothermal Borehole

Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology ◽

10.1144/qjegh2016-053 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 350-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Paul L. Younger ◽

David A. C. Manning ◽

David Millward ◽

Jonathan P. Busby ◽

Charles R. C. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

City Centre ◽

Geothermal Exploration ◽

Sandstone Formation ◽

The City ◽

Newcastle Upon Tyne

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Reply to Norini and Groppelli's comment on “Estimating the depth and evolution of intrusions at resurgent calderas: Los Humeros (Mexico)” by Urbani et al. (2020)

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-12-1111-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1111-1124

Author(s):

Stefano Urbani ◽

Guido Giordano ◽

Federico Lucci ◽

Federico Rossetti ◽

Gerardo Carrasco-Núñez

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Environment ◽

Tectonic Deformation ◽

Structural Studies ◽

Geothermal Systems ◽

Secondary Porosity ◽

Geothermal Exploration ◽

Deformation Structures ◽

Transient Rheology ◽

History Of ◽

Volcanic Pile

Abstract. Structural studies in active caldera systems are widely used in geothermal exploration to reconstruct volcanological conceptual models. Active calderas are difficult settings to perform such studies mostly because of the highly dynamic environment, dominated by fast accumulation of primary and secondary volcanic deposits, the variable and transient rheology of the shallow volcanic pile, and the continuous feedbacks between faulting, secondary porosity creation, and geothermal fluid circulation, alteration and cementation that tend to obliterate the tectonic deformation structures. In addition, deformation structures can be also caused by near- and far-field stress regimes, which include magmatic intrusions at various depths, the evolving topography and regional tectonics. A lack of consideration of all these factors may severely underpin the reliability of structural studies. By rebutting and providing a detailed discussion of all the points raised by the comment of Norini and Groppelli (2020) to the Urbani et al. (2020) paper, we take the opportunity to specify the scientific rationale of our structural fieldwork and strengthen its relevance for geothermal exploration and exploitation in active caldera geothermal systems in general and, particularly, for the Holocene history of deformation and geothermal circulation in the Los Humeros caldera. At the same time, we identify several major flaws in the approach and results presented in Norini and Groppelli (2020), such as (1) the lack of an appropriate ranking of the deformation structures considering an inventory method for structural analysis; (2) the misinterpretation and misquoting of Urbani et al. (2020) and other relevant scientific literature; and (3) irrelevant and contradictory statements within their comment.

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