Mathematical modeling of the behavior of geothermal systems under exploitation

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6709739

Bodvarsson, G S

Analytical and numerical methods were used in this investigation to model the behavior of geothermal systems under exploitation. The work is divided into three parts: 1) development of a numerical code, 2) theoretical studies of geothermal systems, and 3) field applications. A new single-phase three-dimensional simulator, capable of solving heat and mass flow problems in a saturated, heterogeneous porous or fractured medium was developed. The simulator uses the integrated finite difference method for formulating the governing equations and an efficient sparse solver for the solution of the linearized equations. In the theoretical studies, various reservoir engineering problems were examined. These include 1) well-test analysis, 2) exploitation strategies, 3) injection into fractured rocks, and 4) fault-charged geothermal reservoirs. Numerical simulators were used to analyze injection test data from Krafla, Iceland, and to model the Baca field in New Mexico. Analysis of these test yields values for transmissivity and storativity of the Krafla reservoir. The Baca simulations show that due to the low transmissivity it is questionable whether the reservoir can supply steam for the proposed 50 MW/sub e/ power plant for 30 years.

• OSTI ID: 6709739
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150200* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS