Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems

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This paper describes the applications of the fractured continuum model to the different enhanced geothermal systems reservoir conditions. The capability of the fractured continuum model to generate fracture characteristics expected in enhanced geothermal systems reservoir environments are demonstrated for single and multiple sets of fractures. Fracture characteristics are defined by fracture strike, dip, spacing, and aperture. This paper demonstrates how the fractured continuum model can be extended to represent continuous fractured features, such as long fractures, and the conditions in which the fracture density varies within the different depth intervals. Simulations of heat transport using different fracture settings were compared with regard to their heat extraction effectiveness. The best heat extraction was obtained in the case when fractures were horizontal. A conventional heat extraction scheme with vertical wells was compared to an alternative scheme with horizontal wells. The heat extraction with the horizontal wells was significantly better than with the vertical wells when the injector was at the bottom.

Citation Formats

Sandia National Laboratories. (2014). Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems [data set]. Retrieved from https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/438.
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Kalinina, Elena A., Klise, Katherine A., McKenna, Sean A., Hadgu, Teklu, and Lowry, Thomas S. Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems. United States: N.p., 06 May, 2014. Web. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/438.
Kalinina, Elena A., Klise, Katherine A., McKenna, Sean A., Hadgu, Teklu, & Lowry, Thomas S. Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems. United States. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/438
Kalinina, Elena A., Klise, Katherine A., McKenna, Sean A., Hadgu, Teklu, and Lowry, Thomas S. 2014. "Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems". United States. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/438.
@div{oedi_438, title = {Applications of Fractured Continuum Model to Enhanced Geothermal System Heat Extraction Problems}, author = {Kalinina, Elena A., Klise, Katherine A., McKenna, Sean A., Hadgu, Teklu, and Lowry, Thomas S.}, abstractNote = {This paper describes the applications of the fractured continuum model to the different enhanced geothermal systems reservoir conditions. The capability of the fractured continuum model to generate fracture characteristics expected in enhanced geothermal systems reservoir environments are demonstrated for single and multiple sets of fractures. Fracture characteristics are defined by fracture strike, dip, spacing, and aperture. This paper demonstrates how the fractured continuum model can be extended to represent continuous fractured features, such as long fractures, and the conditions in which the fracture density varies within the different depth intervals. Simulations of heat transport using different fracture settings were compared with regard to their heat extraction effectiveness. The best heat extraction was obtained in the case when fractures were horizontal. A conventional heat extraction scheme with vertical wells was compared to an alternative scheme with horizontal wells. The heat extraction with the horizontal wells was significantly better than with the vertical wells when the injector was at the bottom.}, doi = {}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/438}, journal = {}, number = , volume = , place = {United States}, year = {2014}, month = {05}}

Details

Data from May 6, 2014

Last updated Jun 23, 2017

Submitted Aug 29, 2014

Organization

Sandia National Laboratories

Contact

Thomas Lowry

505.284.9735

Authors

Elena A. Kalinina

Sandia National Laboratories

Katherine A. Klise

Sandia National Laboratories

Sean A. McKenna

IBM Research

Teklu Hadgu

Sandia National Laboratories

Thomas S. Lowry

Sandia National Laboratories

DOE Project Details

Project Lead Eric Hass

Project Number FY14 AOP 1.1.5.5

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