Models of the Kawareu geothermal reservoir

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:602624

White, S P; Kissling, W M; McGuinness, M J ^[1]

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1. Victoria Univ., Wellington (New Zealand)

There has been extensive numerical modelling of the Kawerau geothermal reservoir. Early work by Grant (1977) considered lumped parameter models and provided estimates of re-charge coefficients for the field. Two large-scale three-dimensional models have been developed. Both of these models treat the reservoir as having at least three distinct permeable zones. A shallow zone (above {approximately}400 in) located above the huka formation, a zone at moderate depth ({approximately}800 in) largely associated with andesetic and rhyolitic volcanics and zone(s) associated with faulting in the greywacke basement. Most production is from rock types with low intrinsic permeability; permeability in production zones is believed to be mostly associated with fracturing. This view is consistent with interference test interpretations. This paper will review the early models and also consider in some detail a recent TOUGH2 model. We also consider the use of an inverse modelling program ITOUGH2, as an aid to parameter determination.

• OSTI ID: 602624
• Report Number(s): CONF-971048--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
58 GEOSCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
KAWERAU GEOTHERMAL FIELD
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEW ZEALAND
PERMEABILITY
RESERVOIR ROCK
T CODES