Hydraulic and Thermal Stimulation Program at Raft River Idaho, A DOE EGS
- Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States); University of Utah
- Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
A Department of Energy Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) stimulation program has injected over 254 million gallons of water into the well RRG-9 ST1 since the summer of 2013. Three major stimulations have been conducted during the program increasing injection flow rates from less than 20 gpm to 550 gpm. Geologic, water chemistry, microseismic activity, and borehole imaging data have been used to develop a conceptual model describing possible flow paths of this injected water. This model contains two major fracture zones one of which intersects the RRG-9 ST1 wellbore. Modified Hall and injectivity index plots constructed using injection flow rates, surface temperatures, and wellhead pressures show steady improvement in the injectivity of the well. Here, the injectivity index has risen from 0.15 gpm/psi to 2.0 gpm/ psi. A pressure falloff test conducted on April 28, 2015 indicates a reservoir permeability of 1,220 md and -5.38 skin factor. The well stimulation program was simulated numerically using an Idaho National Laboratory reservoir simulation code, FALCON. These simulations show a significant increase in the permeability of connecting fracture pathways after each stimulation event.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0000215; FG36-08GO18189
- OSTI ID:
- 1781419
- Journal Information:
- GRC Transactions, Journal Name: GRC Transactions Vol. 39
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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