Geomechanical simulation of the stress tensor rotation caused by injection of cold water in a deep geothermal reservoir
Abstract
Abstract We present a three‐dimensional thermohydromechanical numerical study of the evolution and distribution of the stress tensor within the northwest part of The Geysers geothermal reservoir (in California), including a detailed study of the region around one injection well from 2003 to 2012. Initially, after imposing a normal faulting stress regime, we calculated local changes in the stress regime around injection wells. Our results were compared with previously published studies in which the stress state was inferred from inverting the focal plane mechanism of seismic events. Our main finding is that changes in stress tensor orientation are caused by injection‐induced progressive cooling of the reservoir, as well as by the seasonal variations in injection rate. Because of the gravity flow and cooling around a liquid zone formed by the injection, the vertical stress reduction is larger and propagates far below the injection well. At the same time, the horizontal stress increases, mostly because of stress redistribution below and above the cooling area. These two phenomena cause the rotation of the stress tensor and the appearance of a strike‐slip regime above, inside, and below the cooling area. The cooling and the associated rotation of the stress regime can play a significantmore »
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Calpine Corp., Middletown, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1410323
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1402223
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 120; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9313
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; enhanced geothermal system; stress state rotation; microseismicity; thermohydromechanical simulation
Citation Formats
Jeanne, Pierre, Rutqvist, Jonny, Dobson, Patrick F., Garcia, Julio, Walters, Mark, Hartline, Craig, and Borgia, Andrea. Geomechanical simulation of the stress tensor rotation caused by injection of cold water in a deep geothermal reservoir. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1002/2015JB012414.
Jeanne, Pierre, Rutqvist, Jonny, Dobson, Patrick F., Garcia, Julio, Walters, Mark, Hartline, Craig, & Borgia, Andrea. Geomechanical simulation of the stress tensor rotation caused by injection of cold water in a deep geothermal reservoir. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012414
Jeanne, Pierre, Rutqvist, Jonny, Dobson, Patrick F., Garcia, Julio, Walters, Mark, Hartline, Craig, and Borgia, Andrea. Thu .
"Geomechanical simulation of the stress tensor rotation caused by injection of cold water in a deep geothermal reservoir". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012414. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1410323.
@article{osti_1410323,
title = {Geomechanical simulation of the stress tensor rotation caused by injection of cold water in a deep geothermal reservoir},
author = {Jeanne, Pierre and Rutqvist, Jonny and Dobson, Patrick F. and Garcia, Julio and Walters, Mark and Hartline, Craig and Borgia, Andrea},
abstractNote = {Abstract We present a three‐dimensional thermohydromechanical numerical study of the evolution and distribution of the stress tensor within the northwest part of The Geysers geothermal reservoir (in California), including a detailed study of the region around one injection well from 2003 to 2012. Initially, after imposing a normal faulting stress regime, we calculated local changes in the stress regime around injection wells. Our results were compared with previously published studies in which the stress state was inferred from inverting the focal plane mechanism of seismic events. Our main finding is that changes in stress tensor orientation are caused by injection‐induced progressive cooling of the reservoir, as well as by the seasonal variations in injection rate. Because of the gravity flow and cooling around a liquid zone formed by the injection, the vertical stress reduction is larger and propagates far below the injection well. At the same time, the horizontal stress increases, mostly because of stress redistribution below and above the cooling area. These two phenomena cause the rotation of the stress tensor and the appearance of a strike‐slip regime above, inside, and below the cooling area. The cooling and the associated rotation of the stress regime can play a significant role in the observed long‐term deepening of the microseismicity below active injection wells.},
doi = {10.1002/2015JB012414},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth},
number = 12,
volume = 120,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Characteristic of In Situ Stress and Its Control on the Coalbed Methane Reservoir Permeability in the Eastern Margin of the Ordos Basin, China
journal, May 2016
- Zhao, Junlong; Tang, Dazhen; Xu, Hao
- Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 49, Issue 8
Evaluating Micro-Seismic Events Triggered by Reservoir Operations at the Geothermal Site of Groß Schönebeck (Germany)
journal, May 2018
- Blöcher, Guido; Cacace, Mauro; Jacquey, Antoine B.
- Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol. 51, Issue 10
Analysis of seismic moment tensors and in situ stress during Enhanced Geothermal System development at The Geysers geothermal field, California
journal, August 2018
- Boyd, O. Sierra; Dreger, Douglas S.; Gritto, Roland
- Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 215, Issue 2
Hybrid focal mechanism determination: constraining focal mechanisms of injection induced seismicity using in situ stress data
journal, August 2018
- Mukuhira, Y.; Fuse, K.; Naoi, M.
- Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 215, Issue 2