Geochemical equilibrium modeling of the Auburn Thermal Energy Storage Field Test

Abstract

Prior to field development, any candidate Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) site should be subjected to a well-documented set of laboratory and/or small-scale field tests including: • Groundwater cation and anion concentrations dissolved silica pH Eh suspended solids dissolved gases • Rock or sediment particulate plugging water sensitivity mineralogy bulk chemistry thermo-mechanical properties thermal diffusivity 6) With laboratory and/or small field loop equipment designed to simulate STES operating conditions, simultaneous permeability and stress-strain measurements should be made for site-specific sediment samples being treated with heated groundwater. Emphasis should be on permeability degradation, volumetric strain increases, and water quality alterations.

Review of Simulation Techniques for Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES)

“…Only recently has work been done on the chemical reactions associated with ATES (Stottlemyre et al 1979 andStottlemyre et al 1980). Therefore, most of the material in this section is taken from the fields of geothermal and petroleum reservoir engineering.…”

“…Absence of other data also limits the use of geochemical models. According to Stottlemyre et al (1979), prior to field development, the following geochemical and related data should be collected for an ATES site:…”