Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model
The Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) constructs an artificial thermal reservoir by hydraulic fracturing to extract heat economically from hot dry rock. As the core element of the EGS heat recovery process, mass and heat transfer of working fluid mainly occurs in fractures. Since the direction of the...
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MDPI AG
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/280 |
| _version_ | 1811183915418779648 |
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| author | Zhixue Sun Ying Xin Jun Yao Kai Zhang Li Zhuang Xuchen Zhu Tong Wang Chuanyin Jiang |
| author_facet | Zhixue Sun Ying Xin Jun Yao Kai Zhang Li Zhuang Xuchen Zhu Tong Wang Chuanyin Jiang |
| author_sort | Zhixue Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) constructs an artificial thermal reservoir by hydraulic fracturing to extract heat economically from hot dry rock. As the core element of the EGS heat recovery process, mass and heat transfer of working fluid mainly occurs in fractures. Since the direction of the natural and induced fractures are generally perpendicular to the minimum principal stress in the formation, as an effective stimulation approach, horizontal well production could increase the contact area with the thermal reservoir significantly. In this paper, the thermal reservoir is developed by a dual horizontal well system and treated as a fractured porous medium composed of matrix rock and discrete fracture network. Using the local thermal non-equilibrium theory, a coupled THM mathematical model and an ideal 3D numerical model are established for the EGS heat extraction process. EGS heat extraction capacity is evaluated in the light of thermal recovery lifespan, average outlet temperature, heat production, electricity generation, energy efficiency and thermal recovery rate. The results show that with certain reservoir and production parameters, the heat production, electricity generation and thermal recovery lifespan can achieve the commercial goal of the dual horizontal well system, but the energy efficiency and overall thermal recovery rate are still at low levels. At last, this paper puts forward a series of optimizations to improve the heat extraction capacity, including production conditions and thermal reservoir construction design. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:04:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-40522776efaa4de59d604cf63779aba7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:04:53Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-40522776efaa4de59d604cf63779aba72022-12-22T04:22:49ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-01-0111228010.3390/en11020280en11020280Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM ModelZhixue Sun0Ying Xin1Jun Yao2Kai Zhang3Li Zhuang4Xuchen Zhu5Tong Wang6Chuanyin Jiang7School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaGeotechnical Engineering Research Institute, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, 283, Goyang-daero, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10223, KoreaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaThe Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) constructs an artificial thermal reservoir by hydraulic fracturing to extract heat economically from hot dry rock. As the core element of the EGS heat recovery process, mass and heat transfer of working fluid mainly occurs in fractures. Since the direction of the natural and induced fractures are generally perpendicular to the minimum principal stress in the formation, as an effective stimulation approach, horizontal well production could increase the contact area with the thermal reservoir significantly. In this paper, the thermal reservoir is developed by a dual horizontal well system and treated as a fractured porous medium composed of matrix rock and discrete fracture network. Using the local thermal non-equilibrium theory, a coupled THM mathematical model and an ideal 3D numerical model are established for the EGS heat extraction process. EGS heat extraction capacity is evaluated in the light of thermal recovery lifespan, average outlet temperature, heat production, electricity generation, energy efficiency and thermal recovery rate. The results show that with certain reservoir and production parameters, the heat production, electricity generation and thermal recovery lifespan can achieve the commercial goal of the dual horizontal well system, but the energy efficiency and overall thermal recovery rate are still at low levels. At last, this paper puts forward a series of optimizations to improve the heat extraction capacity, including production conditions and thermal reservoir construction design.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/280enhanced geothermal systemTHM couplinghorizontal wellheat extraction capacitynumerical simulation |
| spellingShingle | Zhixue Sun Ying Xin Jun Yao Kai Zhang Li Zhuang Xuchen Zhu Tong Wang Chuanyin Jiang Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model Energies enhanced geothermal system THM coupling horizontal well heat extraction capacity numerical simulation |
| title | Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model |
| title_full | Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model |
| title_short | Numerical Investigation on the Heat Extraction Capacity of Dual Horizontal Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Based on the 3-D THM Model |
| title_sort | numerical investigation on the heat extraction capacity of dual horizontal wells in enhanced geothermal systems based on the 3 d thm model |
| topic | enhanced geothermal system THM coupling horizontal well heat extraction capacity numerical simulation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/280 |
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