scholarly journals A Semi-Analytical Method for Three-Dimensional Heat Transfer in Multi-Fracture Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Liu ◽  
Yanyong Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Method ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Rock Matrix ◽  
Multiple Fractures ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Production Temperature

Multiple fractures have been proposed for improving the heat extracted from an enhanced geothermal system (EGS). For calculating the production temperature of a multi-fracture EGS, previous analytical or semi-analytical methods have all been based on an infinite scale of fractures and one-dimensional conduction in the rock matrix. Here, a temporal semi-analytical method is presented in which finite-scale fractures and three-dimensional conduction in the rock matrix are both considered. Firstly, the developed model was validated by comparing it with the analytical solution, which only considers one-dimensional conduction in the rock matrix. Then, the temporal semi-analytical method was used to predict the production temperature in order to investigate the effects of fracture spacing and fracture number on the response of an EGS with a constant total injection rate. The results demonstrate that enlarging the spacing between fractures and increasing the number of fractures can both improve the heat extraction; however, the latter approach is much more effective than the former. In addition, the temporal semi-analytical method is applicable for optimizing the design of an EGS with multiple fractures located equidistantly or non-equidistantly.

Convective heat transfer of water flowing in intersected rock fractures for enhanced geothermal extraction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuedu chen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer ◽  
Convective Heat ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Rock Fractures ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Dead End

<p>Numerous intersected rock fractures constitute the fracture network in enhanced geothermal systems. The complicated convective heat transfer behavior in intersected fractures is critical to the heat recovery in fractured geothermal reservoirs. A series of three-dimensional intersected fracture models are constructed to perform the flow-through heat transfer simulations. The geometries effects of dead-end fractures on the heat transfer are evaluated in terms of intersected angles, apertures, lengths, and the connectivity. The results indicate that annular streamlines appear in the rough dead-end fracture and cause an ellipsoidal distribution of the cold front. Compared to the steady flow in plate dead-end fractures, the fluid flow formed in the rough dead-end fracture enhances the heat transfer. Both the outlet water temperature T<sub>out</sub> and heat production Q present the largest when the intersected angle is 90°. A larger intersected angle and longer length extension of the intersected dead-end fracture, raising T<sub>out</sub> and Q, are beneficial to the heat production, while increasing the aperture is ineffective. Solely increasing numbers of dead-end fractures poses a little increase on T<sub>out</sub> and Q. More significant heat extraction is obtained through connecting these dead-end fractures with the main flow fracture forming the flow network.</p>

Analysis of influencing factors of heat extraction from enhanced geothermal systems considering water losses

Energy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 274-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Long Cheng ◽  
Chang-Long Wang ◽  
Yong-Le Nian ◽  
Bing-Bing Han ◽  
Jian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Water Losses

Simulation of heat extraction from CO2-based enhanced geothermal systems considering CO2 sequestration

Energy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Long Wang ◽  
Wen-Long Cheng ◽  
Yong-Le Nian ◽  
Lei Yang ◽  
Bing-Bing Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Sequestration ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems

scholarly journals Design, modeling, and evaluation of a doublet heat extraction model in enhanced geothermal systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 232-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yidong Xia ◽  
Mitchell Plummer ◽  
Earl Mattson ◽  
Robert Podgorney ◽  
Ahmad Ghassemi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Extraction Model

scholarly journals Deep learning for extracting micro-fracture: Pixel-level detection by convolutional neural network

2020 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Yejin Kim ◽  
Seong Jun Ha ◽  
Tae sup Yun
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Convolutional Neural Network ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Hydraulic Stimulation ◽  
Roughness Analysis

Hydraulic stimulation has been a key technique in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and the recovery of unconventional hydrocarbon resources to artificially generate fractures in a rock formation. Previous experimental studies present that the pattern and aperture of generated fractures vary as the fracking pressure propagation. The recent development of three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography allows visualizing the fractures for further analysing the morphological features of fractures. However, the generated fracture consists of a few pixels (e.g., 1-3 pixels) so that the accurate and quantitative extract of micro-fracture is highly challenging. Also, the high-frequency noise around the fracture and the weak contrast across the fracture makes the application of conventional segmentation methods limited. In this study, we adopted an encoder-decoder network with a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on deep learning method for the fast and precise detection of micro-fractures. The conventional image processing methods fail to extract the continuous fractures and overestimate the fracture thickness and aperture values while the CNN-based approach successfully detects the barely seen fractures. The reconstruction of the 3D fracture surface and quantitative roughness analysis of fracture surfaces extracted by different methods enables comparison of sensitivity (or robustness) to noise between each method.

scholarly journals Thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling study of heat extraction and flow processes in enhanced geothermal systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 229-240
Author(s):  
Dejian Zhou ◽  
Alexandru Tatomir ◽  
Martin Sauter
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Analytical Solutions ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Heat Production Rate

Abstract. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are widely used in the development and application of geothermal energy production. They usually consist of two deep boreholes (well doublet) circulation systems, with hot water being abstracted, passed through a heat exchanger, and reinjected into the geothermal reservoir. Recently, simple analytical solutions have been proposed to estimate water pressure at the abstraction borehole. Nevertheless, these methods do not consider the influence of complex geometrical fracture patterns and the effects of the coupled thermal and mechanical processes. In this study, we implemented a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model to simulate the processes of heat extraction, reservoir deformation, and groundwater flow in the fractured rock reservoir. The THM model is validated with analytical solutions and existing published results. The results from the systems of single fracture zone and multi-fracture zones are investigated and compared. It shows that the growth of the number and spacing of fracture zones can effectively decrease the pore pressure difference between injection and abstraction wells; it also increases the production temperature at the abstraction, the service life-spans, and heat production rate of the geothermal reservoirs. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis on the flow rate is also implemented. It is observed that a larger flow rate leads to a higher abstraction temperature and heat production rate at the end of the simulation, but the pressure difference may become lower.

Heat Flux to Fluids Within a Rock Fracture in a Geothermal System

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin Crandall ◽  
Goodarz Ahmadi ◽  
Grant Bromhal
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Rock Fracture ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Ct Scanner

Fractures in rocks enable the motion of fluids through the large, hot geologic formations of geothermal reservoirs. The heat transfer from the surrounding rock mass to the fluid flowing through a fracture depends on the geometry of the fracture, the fluid/solid properties, and the flow rate through the fracture. A numerical study was conducted to evaluate the changes in heat transfer to the fluid flowing through a rock fracture with changes in the flow rate. The aperture distribution of the rock fracture, originally created within Berea sandstone and imaged using a CT-scanner, is well described by a Gaussian distribution and has a mean aperture of approximately 0.6 mm. Water was used as the working fluid, enabling an evaluation of the efficiency of heat flux to the fluid along the flow path of a hot dry geothermal system. As the flow through the fracture was increased to a Reynolds number greater than 2300 the effect of channeling through large aperture regions within the fracture were observed to become increasingly important. For the fastest flows modeled the heat flux to the working fluids was reduced due to a shorter residence time of the fluid in the fracture. Understanding what conditions can maximize the amount of energy obtained from fractures within a hot dry geologic field can improve the operation and long-term viability of enhanced geothermal systems.

scholarly journals Longevity of Enhanced Geothermal Systems with Brine Circulation in Hydraulically Fractured Hydrocarbon Wells

Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Zuo ◽  
Weijermars
Keyword(s):  
Limit State ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Heat Equations ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Horizontal Fracture ◽  
Rock Temperature

A simple, semi-analytical heat extraction model is presented for hydraulically fractured dry reservoirs containing two subparallel horizontal wells, connected by a horizontal fracture channel, using injected brine as the working fluid. Heat equations are used to quantify the heat conduction between fracture walls and circulating brine. The brine temperature profiles are calculated for different combinations of fracture widths, working fluid circulation rates, and initial fracture wall temperatures. The longevity of the geothermal heat extraction process is assessed for a range of working fluid injection rates. Importantly, dry geothermal reservoirs will not recharge heat by the geothermal flux on the time scale of any commercial heat extraction project. A production plan is proposed, with periodic brine circulation maintained in a diurnal schedule with 8 h active production alternating with 16 h of pump switched off. A quasi-steady state is achieved after both the brine temperature and rock temperature converge to a limit state allowing fracture-wall reheating by conduction from the rock interior in the diurnal production schedule. The results of this study could serve as a fast tool for assisting the planning phase of geothermal reservoir design as well as for operational monitoring and management.

Study of heat extraction and flow process by fully coupled thermal- hydro- mechanical model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejian Zhou ◽  
Alexandru Tatomir ◽  
Martin Sauter
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Model ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Fractured Rock ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Initial Permeability ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal Systems ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Flow Process ◽  
Fully Coupled

<p>Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are widely used in the development and application of geothermal energy. They usually consist of two parallel deep boreholes, where cold water is injected into one borehole and abstracted at the second one after being heated when passing through the fractured network system. Recently, simple analytical solutions have been proposed to estimate the water pressure at the output. Nevertheless, these methods do not take into account the influences of the coupled thermal and mechanical processes. In this research study we build a fully coupled Thermal – Hydro-mechanical model (THM model) to simulate the processes of heat extraction, deformation and water flow in the nearby fractured rock formations. The influences of single thermal – hydraulic and mechanical – hydraulic effects were compared with the fully coupled and decoupled results, showing that temperature influences mostly the water pressure in the second borehole, compared with temperature. The mechanical effect alone has little influences on the water pressure. A sensitive analysis was also conducted to study which parameters affect the simulation results the most. It was shown that the initial permeability and temperature are playing the main roles in this simulation.</p>

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