Injection and energy recovery in fractured geothermal reservoirs

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5284182

Bodvarsson, G S; O'Sullivan, M J; Pruess, K

Numerical studies of the effects of injection on the behavior of production wells completed in fractured two-phase geothermal reservoirs are presented. In these studies the multiple-interacting-continua (MINC) method is employed for the modeling of idealized fractured reservoirs. Simulations are carried out for a five-spot well pattern with various well spacings, fracture spacings, and injection fractions. The production rates from the wells are calculated using a deliverability model. The results of the studies show that injection into two-phase fractured reservoirs increases flow rates and decreases enthalpies of producing wells. These two effects offset each other so that injection tends to have small effects on the usable energy output of production wells in the short term. However, if a sufficiently large fraction of the produced fluids is injected, the fracture system may become liquid-filled and an increased steam rate is obtained. Studies show that injection greatly increases the long-term energy output from wells, as it helps extract heat from the reservoir rocks. If a high fraction of the produced fluids is injected, the ultimate energy recovery will increase manyfold.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5284182
• Report Number(s): CONF-830312-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE 11689
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600 -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
150906* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Reservoir Stimulation & Extraction Technology
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HEAT RECOVERY
INJECTION WELLS
MECHANICS
PRODUCTIVITY
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SIMULATION
WELL SPACING
WELLS