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Title: Study of Foam Fracturing for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Using Model Material

Abstract

Foam fracturing is considered a potential approach to address water concerns with hydraulic fracturing in the development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In many EGS sites, water required for hydraulic fracturing is either unavailable, extremely costly or environmentally unsustainable. This paper presents work performed in the first year of a project sponsored by the U.S. DOE GTO Waterless Stimulation Initiative that investigates foam fracturing as an alternative approach to hydraulic fracturing. One element of this work explores foam formulations that are suitable for EGS conditions. A separate paper submitted to this workshop covers the relevant work on foam characterization (Thakore et al., 2020).This paper describes the development of an experimental setup for studying the applicability of foam fluids for hydraulic fracturing along with enhanced fracture efficiency through cyclic pressurization. The system is equipped with pulse rate automation, dual pulse valves for enhanced pulsation amplitudes, and other functions. It can perform static injection at a given pressurization rate, and pulsed injection at specified pulse size and rate. Both single-phase and foamed fluids can be used. Initial experimental results of foam fracturing using cement as a model material are reported. The observations from the experimental work will be presented and discussed.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. ORNL
  2. Temple University
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1606689
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 45th Annual Stanford Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering - Stanford, California, United States of America - 2/10/2020 10:00:00 AM-2/12/2020 10:00:00 AM
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Wang, Hong, Wang, Jy-An John, Polsky, Yarom, Ren, Fei, Li, Haoqi, Thakore, Virensinh, and Xi, Jiaxin. Study of Foam Fracturing for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Using Model Material. United States: N. p., 2020. Web.
Wang, Hong, Wang, Jy-An John, Polsky, Yarom, Ren, Fei, Li, Haoqi, Thakore, Virensinh, & Xi, Jiaxin. Study of Foam Fracturing for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Using Model Material. United States.
Wang, Hong, Wang, Jy-An John, Polsky, Yarom, Ren, Fei, Li, Haoqi, Thakore, Virensinh, and Xi, Jiaxin. 2020. "Study of Foam Fracturing for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Using Model Material". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1606689.
@article{osti_1606689,
title = {Study of Foam Fracturing for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Using Model Material},
author = {Wang, Hong and Wang, Jy-An John and Polsky, Yarom and Ren, Fei and Li, Haoqi and Thakore, Virensinh and Xi, Jiaxin},
abstractNote = {Foam fracturing is considered a potential approach to address water concerns with hydraulic fracturing in the development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In many EGS sites, water required for hydraulic fracturing is either unavailable, extremely costly or environmentally unsustainable. This paper presents work performed in the first year of a project sponsored by the U.S. DOE GTO Waterless Stimulation Initiative that investigates foam fracturing as an alternative approach to hydraulic fracturing. One element of this work explores foam formulations that are suitable for EGS conditions. A separate paper submitted to this workshop covers the relevant work on foam characterization (Thakore et al., 2020).This paper describes the development of an experimental setup for studying the applicability of foam fluids for hydraulic fracturing along with enhanced fracture efficiency through cyclic pressurization. The system is equipped with pulse rate automation, dual pulse valves for enhanced pulsation amplitudes, and other functions. It can perform static injection at a given pressurization rate, and pulsed injection at specified pulse size and rate. Both single-phase and foamed fluids can be used. Initial experimental results of foam fracturing using cement as a model material are reported. The observations from the experimental work will be presented and discussed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1606689}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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