Optimisation of heat recovery from low-enthalpy aquifers with geological uncertainty using surrogate response surfaces and simple search algorithms

Optimisation of doublet well spacing in low-enthalpy geothermal systems is addressed by defining a novel objective function that is based on the Coefficient of Performance (CoP) and energy sweep efficiency. The definition of objective function that separates performance-based criteria from economic factors, allows us to better observe the...

Interference between geothermal doublets across a fault under subsurface uncertainty: Implications for field development and regulation

Direct Use Geothermal Systems (DUGS) are increasing their installed capacity worldwide and denser developments with multiple doublets are becoming more common. Interference between doublets therefore becomes an additional concern to subsurface uncertainties. Faults can be either barriers or conduits to flow and can affect the fluid pathways...

A locally conservative mixed finite element framework for coupled hydro-mechanical–chemical processes in heterogeneous porous media

This paper presents a mixed finite element framework for coupled hydro-mechanical–chemical processes in heterogeneous porous media. The framework combines two types of locally conservative discretization schemes: (1) an enriched Galerkin method for reactive flow, and (2) a three-field mixed finite element method for coupled fluid flow and...

Well productivity evaluation in deformable single-fracture media

Evaluations and interpretations of reservoir productivity are frequent in geothermal, groundwater and hydrocarbon research and applications. In this study, we consider the closure of fractures around production wells due to compaction that can affect the productivity value, i.e. the ability of subsurface formations for transporting the desired...

Flow in porous media with low dimensional fractures by employing enriched Galerkin method

This paper presents the enriched Galerkin discretization for modeling fluid flow in fractured porous media using the mixed-dimensional approach. The proposed method has been tested against published benchmarks. Since fracture and porous media discontinuities can significantly influence single- and multi-phase fluid flow, the heterogeneous and...

Interdependencies between physical, design and operational parameters for direct use geothermal heat in faulted hydrothermal reservoirs

Interest in direct use geothermal systems is increasing due to their ability to supply renewable, environmentally friendly heat. Such systems are mostly developed in conduction dominated geological settings where faults are often encountered. Interdependencies between physical, design and operational parameters make it difficult to assess the...

Corrigendum to “Interdependencies between physical, design and operational parameters for direct use geothermal heat in faulted hydrothermal reservoirs” [Geothermics, 86 (2020) 101806](S0375650519303785)(10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101806)

As the code was actively developed during the time of publication, the published data suffer from an error with regards to the discount factor applied during the NPV calculation. The published data NPV has been calculated for periods of 100 days, while the discount rate applied was the quoted Annual Discount Rate (ADR) value of the manuscript...

Towards optimisation of geothermal heat recovery: An example from the West Netherlands Basin

The Netherlands experienced the fastest European expansion of geothermal energy exploitation in the past decade. The first Dutch geothermal sites proved that Hot Sedimentary Aquifers exploitation can play an important role in a future low-carbon energy mix. In this study, we estimate that with the expansion rate of the past four years,...

Investigation of the synergy potential of oil and geothermal energy from a fluvial oil reservoir

Geothermal projects, as renewable energy projects, are not economically attractive in most places of the world at the current state of development; for this reason, subsidies are required by energy and environmental authorities in order to increase the interest in such projects. In this paper, we assess and model strategies for integration of...

Upscaling Geothermal Heat: Synthetic Models Advising Field Development (PPT)

Synergy potential for oil and geothermal energy exploitation

A new solution for harvesting energy simultaneously from two different sources of energy by combining geothermal energy production and thermal enhanced heavy oil recovery is introduced. Numerical simulations are employed to evaluate the feasibility of generating energy from geothermal resources, both for thermally enhanced oil recovery from a...

The impact of reduction of doublet well spacing on the Net Present Value and the life time of fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifer doublets

This paper evaluates the impact of reduction of doublet well spacing, below the current West Netherlands Basin standard of 1000 to 1500 m, on the Net Present Value (NPV) and the life time of fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifer (HSA) doublets. First, a sensitivity analysis is used to show the possible advantage of such reduction on the NPV. The...

An integrated workflow for stress and flow modelling using outcrop-derived discrete fracture networks

Fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs is often controlled by subseismic-scale fracture networks. Although the fracture network can be partly sampled in the direct vicinity of wells, the inter-well scale network is poorly constrained in fractured reservoir models. Outcrop analogues can provide data for populating domains of the...

An evaluation of interferences in heat production from low enthalpy geothermal doublets systems

Required distance between doublet systems in low enthalpy geothermal heat exploitation is often not fully elucidated. The required distance aims to prevent negative interference influencing the utilisation efficiency of doublet systems. Currently production licence areas are often issued based on the expected extent of the reinjected cold...

The influence of facies heterogeneity on the doublet performance in low-enthalpy geothermal sedimentary reservoirs

A three-dimensional model is used to study the influence of facies heterogeneity on energy production under different operational conditions of low-enthalpy geothermal doublet systems. Process-based facies modelling is utilised for the Nieuwerkerk sedimentary formation in the West Netherlands Basin to construct realistic reservoir models...

The relation between well spacing and Net Present Value in fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifer geothermal doublets: a West Netherlands Basin case study

This paper analyzes the relation between well spacing and Net Present Value of a Hot Sedimentary Aquifer geothermal doublet. First, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the effect of uncertainty of geological and production parameters on the Net present Value. Second a finite-element approach is utilized to study the effect of...

Thermally-enhanced oil recovery from stranded fields: Synergy potential for geothermal and oil exploitation

Influence of fluvial sandstone architecture on geothermal energy production

Fluvial sandstone reservoirs composed of stacked meander belts are considered as potential geothermal resources in the Netherlands. Net-to-gross, orientation and stacking pattern of the channel belts is of major importance for the connectivity between the injection and production well in such reservoirs. Understanding the influence of the...