An Overview of the EGS Collab Project: Field Validation of Coupled Process Modeling of Fracturing and Fluid Flow at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, Lead, SD
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) development will require an ability to accurately predict the flow rates and temperatures of the production wells. While simple in concept, complex heterogeneous fracture pathways can lead to channeling, short-circuiting, and premature thermal breakthrough complicating EGS. The EGS Collab project will establish a suite of intermediate-scale (~10-20 m) field test beds coupled with stimulation and interwell flow tests to provide a basis to better understand the fracture geometries and processes that control heat transfer between rock and stimulated fractures. These experiments will provide a means of testing tools, codes, and concepts that could later be employed under geothermal reservoir conditions at FORGE and in EGS. We will perform well-controlled, in situ experiments focused on rock fracture behavior and permeability enhancement. Pre- and post-test modeling of each test will allow for model prediction and validation. Comprehensive instrumentation will be used to collect high-quality, high-resolution geophysical and fracture characterization and fluid flow data. ,These data will be analyzed and compared with models and field observations to further elucidate the basic relationships between stress, induced seismicity, and permeability enhancement. To the maximum extent achievable, we will observe and quantify other key governing parameters that impact permeability, and attempt to understand how these parameters might change throughout the development and operation of an EGS project with the goal of enabling commercial viability of EGS. The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota was selected as the EGS Collab project experimental site based on the evaluation of information from several sites. Our team has designed and constructed the first field experiment planned for this project, which is supported by the US Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1559104
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-137949
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Proceedings of the 43rd Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University, February 12-14, 2018, Stanford, California
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
EGS Collab Project: Status, Tests, and Data
The EGS Collab Hydroshear Experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility – Siting Criteria and Evaluation of Candidate Sites