IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v253y2019ic40.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919312437
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113569?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Salimzadeh, Saeed & Nick, Hamidreza M. & Zimmerman, R.W., 2018. "Thermoporoelastic effects during heat extraction from low-permeability reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 546-558.
    2. Slatlem Vik, Hedda & Salimzadeh, Saeed & Nick, Hamidreza M., 2018. "Heat recovery from multiple-fracture enhanced geothermal systems: The effect of thermoelastic fracture interactions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 606-622.
    3. Vogt, Christian & Iwanowski-Strahser, Katja & Marquart, Gabriele & Arnold, Juliane & Mottaghy, Darius & Pechnig, Renate & Gnjezda, Daniel & Clauser, Christoph, 2013. "Modeling contribution to risk assessment of thermal production power for geothermal reservoirs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 230-241.
    4. Saeid, Sanaz & Al-Khoury, Rafid & Nick, Hamidreza M. & Barends, Frans, 2014. "Experimental–numerical study of heat flow in deep low-enthalpy geothermal conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 716-730.
    5. Willems, C.J.L. & M. Nick, H., 2019. "Towards optimisation of geothermal heat recovery: An example from the West Netherlands Basin," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 582-593.
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Watanabe, Noriaki & Saito, Kohei & Okamoto, Atsushi & Nakamura, Kengo & Ishibashi, Takuya & Saishu, Hanae & Komai, Takeshi & Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi, 2020. "Stabilizing and enhancing permeability for sustainable and profitable energy extraction from superhot geothermal environments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Mahon, Harry & O'Connor, Dominic & Friedrich, Daniel & Hughes, Ben, 2022. "A review of thermal energy storage technologies for seasonal loops," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    3. Liu, Guihong & Wang, Guiling & Zhao, Zhihong & Ma, Feng, 2020. "A new well pattern of cluster-layout for deep geothermal reservoirs: Case study from the Dezhou geothermal field, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 484-499.
    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).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Willems, C.J.L. & M. Nick, H., 2019. "Towards optimisation of geothermal heat recovery: An example from the West Netherlands Basin," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 582-593.
    2. Liu, Guihong & Wang, Guiling & Zhao, Zhihong & Ma, Feng, 2020. "A new well pattern of cluster-layout for deep geothermal reservoirs: Case study from the Dezhou geothermal field, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 484-499.
    3. Wang, Yang & Voskov, Denis & Khait, Mark & Saeid, Sanaz & Bruhn, David, 2021. "Influential factors on the development of a low-enthalpy geothermal reservoir: A sensitivity study of a realistic field," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 641-651.
    4. Ziabakhsh-Ganji, Zaman & Nick, Hamidreza M. & Donselaar, Marinus E. & Bruhn, David F., 2018. "Synergy potential for oil and geothermal energy exploitation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1433-1447.
    5. Daniilidis, Alexandros & Alpsoy, Betül & Herber, Rien, 2017. "Impact of technical and economic uncertainties on the economic performance of a deep geothermal heat system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 805-816.
    6. 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).
    7. Yu, Likui & Wu, Xiaotian & Wang, Yadan & Ma, Weiwu & Liu, Gang, 2020. "Stratified rock hydraulic fracturing for enhanced geothermal system and fracture geometry evaluation via effective length," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 713-723.
    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. Slatlem Vik, Hedda & Salimzadeh, Saeed & Nick, Hamidreza M., 2018. "Heat recovery from multiple-fracture enhanced geothermal systems: The effect of thermoelastic fracture interactions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 606-622.
    10. 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.
    11. Saeed Mahmoodpour & Mrityunjay Singh & Ramin Mahyapour & Sri Kalyan Tangirala & Kristian Bär & Ingo Sass, 2022. "Numerical Simulation of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processes at Soultz-sous-Forêts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-21, December.
    12. Mahmoodpour, Saeed & Singh, Mrityunjay & Turan, Aysegul & Bär, Kristian & Sass, Ingo, 2022. "Simulations and global sensitivity analysis of the thermo-hydraulic-mechanical processes in a fractured geothermal reservoir," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    13. Santamarta, Juan C. & García-Gil, Alejandro & Expósito, María del Cristo & Casañas, Elías & Cruz-Pérez, Noelia & Rodríguez-Martín, Jesica & Mejías-Moreno, Miguel & Götzl, Gregor & Gemeni, Vasiliki, 2021. "The clean energy transition of heating and cooling in touristic infrastructures using shallow geothermal energy in the Canary Islands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 505-515.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. Xin-Yue Duan & Di Huang & Wen-Xian Lei & Shi-Chao Chen & Zhao-Qin Huang & Chuan-Yong Zhu, 2023. "Investigation of Heat Extraction in an Enhanced Geothermal System Embedded with Fracture Networks Using the Thermal–Hydraulic–Mechanical Coupling Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-19, April.
    17. 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.
    18. Anna Wachowicz-Pyzik & Anna Sowiżdżał & Leszek Pająk & Paweł Ziółkowski & Janusz Badur, 2020. "Assessment of the Effective Variants Leading to Higher Efficiency for the Geothermal Doublet, Using Numerical Analysis‒Case Study from Poland (Szczecin Trough)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, May.
    19. 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.
    20. Compernolle, Tine & Welkenhuysen, Kris & Petitclerc, Estelle & Maes, Dries & Piessens, Kris, 2019. "The impact of policy measures on profitability and risk in geothermal energy investments," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:253:y:2019:i:c:40. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.