Geothermal reservoir well stimulation program. First-year progress report

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5438172· OSTI ID:5438172

The Geothermal Reservoir Well Stimulation Program (GRWSP) group planned and executed two field experiments at the Raft River KGRA during 1979. Well RRGP-4 was stimulated using a dendritic (Kiel) hydraulic fracture technique and Well RRGP-5 was stimulated using a conventional massive hydraulic fracture technique. Both experiments were technically successful; however, the post-stimulation productivity of the wells was disappointing. Even though the artificially induced fractures probably successfully connected with the natural fracture system, reservoir performance data suggest that productivity remained low due to the fundamentally limited flow capacity of the natural fractures in the affected region of the reservoir. Other accomplishments during the first year of the program may be summarized as follows: An assessment was made of current well stimulation technology upon which to base geothermal applications. Numerous reservoirs were evaluated as potential candidates for field experiments. A recommended list of candidates was developed which includes Raft River, East Mesa, Westmorland, Baca, Brawley, The Geysers and Roosevelt Hot Springs. Stimulation materials (fracture fluids, proppants, RA tracer chemicals, etc.) were screened for high temperature properties, and promising materials selected for further laboratory testing. Numerical models were developed to aid in predicting and evaluating stimulation experiments. (MHR)

• Research Organization: Republic Geothermal, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC32-79AL10563
• OSTI ID: 5438172
• Report Number(s): DOE/AL/10563-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
COMMINUTION
EAST MESA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
FAILURES
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
Geothermal Legacy
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
IDAHO
KGRA
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PROPPING AGENTS
RAFT RIVER VALLEY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
ROOSEVELT HOT SPRINGS
SCREENING
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
UTAH
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS