Modeling subsidence due to geothermal fluid production

Conference · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5275160

Lippmann, M J; Narasimhan, T N; Witherspoon, P A

Currently, liquid dominated geothermal systems hold the maximum promise for exploiting geothermal energy in the United States. The principal characteristic of such systems is that most of the heat is transferred by flowing water, which also controls subsurface fluid pressures and stress changes. The reduction in pore pressures brought about by geothermal fluid extraction is potentially capable of causing appreciable deformation of the reservoir rocks leading to displacements at the land surface. In order to foresee the pattern and magnitude of potential ground displacements in and around producing liquid dominated geothermal fields, a numerical model has been developed. Conceptually, the simulator combines conductive and convective heat transfer in a general three dimensional heterogeneous porous medium with a one-dimensional deformation of the reservoir rocks. The capabilities of the model and its potential applicability to field cases are illustrated with examples considering the effects of temperature and pressure dependent properties, material heterogeneities and previous stress history.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5275160
• Report Number(s): LBL-7007; CONF-771027-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
DEFORMATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID WITHDRAWAL
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT TRANSFER
HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POROUS MATERIALS
RESERVOIR ROCK