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Performance of low-enthalpy geothermal systems: Interplay of spatially correlated heterogeneity and well-doublet spacings

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  • Babaei, Masoud
  • Nick, Hamidreza M.

Abstract

The low-enthalpy geothermal systems are commonly deployed in sedimentary geological settings that feature significant levels of deposition-induced heterogeneity. In this paper, realistic levels of heterogeneity in the form of varying porosity variance and spatial correlation lengths are considered for a 3D geothermal system. Using 2600 computationally intensive numerical simulations of two doublets placed in a checkboard pattern, the influence of well and doublet spacings on performance metrics of low-enthalpy geothermal systems are investigated. The simulations strongly support that in varyingly heterogeneous systems, the lifetimes of operation are shorter, and depending on isotropicity or anisotropicity of correlated heterogeneity, the lifetimes vary. Most notably the anisotropically correlated heterogeneity can lead to either positive impact (by diverting the cold water plume) or negative impact (by facilitating an early breakthrough of cold water plume) on the lifetime of the operation compared to isotropically correlated heterogeneity. We also calculate the boundary of the region around the wells designated as the “license area” (where the cold water front reaches to or where a threshold temperature drop of 1 °C occurs). By doing so, it is found that the operator can assume larger extents (of up to 50%) for the license areas of the aquifer than the ones conventionally assumed. To minimize the impact of heterogeneity on operation, the best practice was found to place the doublets in the same spacings as of the wells. Moreover, it is found that the well distance can be significantly shorter than what is commonly realised for heterogeneous geothermal aquifers.

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  • Babaei, Masoud & Nick, Hamidreza M., 2019. "Performance of low-enthalpy geothermal systems: Interplay of spatially correlated heterogeneity and well-doublet spacings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:253:y:2019:i:c:40
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Salimzadeh, S. & Grandahl, M. & Medetbekova, M. & Nick, H.M., 2019. "A novel radial jet drilling stimulation technique for enhancing heat recovery from fractured geothermal reservoirs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 395-409.
    7. Chen, Mingjie & Tompson, Andrew F.B. & Mellors, Robert J. & Abdalla, Osman, 2015. "An efficient optimization of well placement and control for a geothermal prospect under geological uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 352-363.
    8. Willems, Cees J.L. & Nick, Hamidreza M. & Weltje, Gert Jan & Bruhn, David F., 2017. "An evaluation of interferences in heat production from low enthalpy geothermal doublets systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 500-512.
    9. Liu, Guihong & Pu, Hai & Zhao, Zhihong & Liu, Yanguang, 2019. "Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical modeling on well pairs in heterogeneous porous geothermal reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 631-653.
    10. Saeid, Sanaz & Al-Khoury, Rafid & Nick, Hamidreza M. & Hicks, Michael A., 2015. "A prototype design model for deep low-enthalpy hydrothermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 408-422.
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    4. Daniilidis, Alexandros & Saeid, Sanaz & Doonechaly, Nima Gholizadeh, 2021. "The fault plane as the main fluid pathway: Geothermal field development options under subsurface and operational uncertainty," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 927-946.
    5. Torsten Clemens & Maria-Magdalena Chiotoroiu & Anthony Corso & Markus Zechner & Mykel J. Kochenderfer, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence-Centric Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Field Development Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Wang, Gaosheng & Song, Xianzhi & Yu, Chao & Shi, Yu & Song, Guofeng & Xu, Fuqiang & Ji, Jiayan & Song, Zihao, 2022. "Heat extraction study of a novel hydrothermal open-loop geothermal system in a multi-lateral horizontal well," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    7. Jahanbani Veshareh, Moein & Thaysen, Eike Marie & Nick, Hamidreza M., 2022. "Feasibility of hydrogen storage in depleted hydrocarbon chalk reservoirs: Assessment of biochemical and chemical effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    8. Wang, Jiacheng & Zhao, Zhihong & Liu, Guihong & Xu, Haoran, 2022. "A robust optimization approach of well placement for doublet in heterogeneous geothermal reservoirs using random forest technique and genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PC).
    9. Gao, Xuefeng & Zhang, Yanjun & Cheng, Yuxiang & Huang, Yibin & Deng, Hao & Ma, Yongjie, 2022. "A novel strategy utilizing local fracture networks to enhance CBHE heat extraction performance: A case study of the Songyuan geothermal field in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    10. Jakub Szymiczek & Krzysztof Szczotka & Marian Banaś & Przemysław Jura, 2022. "Efficiency of a Compressor Heat Pump System in Different Cycle Designs: A Simulation Study for Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Li, Shengtao & Wen, Dongguang & Feng, Bo & Li, Fengyu & Yue, Dongdong & Zhang, Qiuxia & Wang, Junzhao & Feng, Zhaolong, 2023. "Numerical optimization of geothermal energy extraction from deep karst reservoir in North China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1071-1085.
    12. Norouzi, Amir Mohammad & Pouranian, Fatemeh & Rabbani, Arash & Fowler, Neil & Gluyas, Jon & Niasar, Vahid & Ezekiel, Justin & Babaei, Masoud, 2023. "CO2-plume geothermal: Power net generation from 3D fluvial aquifers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    13. Yu, Ruyang & Zhang, Kai & Ramasubramanian, Brindha & Jiang, Shu & Ramakrishna, Seeram & Tang, Yuhang, 2024. "Ensemble learning for predicting average thermal extraction load of a hydrothermal geothermal field: A case study in Guanzhong Basin, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).

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