Numerical study of the impact of fluid density on the pressure distribution and stimulated volume in the Soultz HDR reservoir

Baujard, C.; Bruel, Dominique

doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2006.10.004

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…There remains considerable uncertainty as to how the above processes interact and what rock mass characteristics and injection metrics control the dominant mechanisms (Evans et al, 2005a;Jung, 2013). Thermo-hydromechanically coupled numerical models have become widely used for analyzing relevant aspects of reservoir stimulation in retrospective (e.g., Baujard and Bruel, 2006;Rutqvist and Oldenburg, 2008;Baisch et al, 2010; or as prospective tools for predicting reservoir behavior or alternative stimulation strategies (e.g., McClure and Horne, 2011;Zang et al, 2013;Gischig et al, 2014;McClure, 2015;Yoon et al, 2014). The fact that such numerical models must be parameterized from sparse quantitative field-scale data is a major limitation of all those studies.…”

Section: Stimulation By Hydraulic Shearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

et al. 2018

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Abstract. In this contribution, we present a review of scientific research results that address seismo-hydromechanically coupled processes relevant for the development of a sustainable heat exchanger in low-permeability crystalline rock and introduce the design of the In situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) experiment at the Grimsel Test Site dedicated to studying such processes under controlled conditions. The review shows that research on reservoir stimulation for deep geothermal energy exploitation has been largely based on laboratory observations, large-scale projects and numerical models. Observations of full-scale reservoir stimulations have yielded important results. However, the limited access to the reservoir and limitations in the control on the experimental conditions during deep reservoir stimulations is insufficient to resolve the details of the hydromechanical processes that would enhance process understanding in a way that aids future stimulation design. Small-scale laboratory experiments provide fundamental insights into various processes relevant for enhanced geothermal energy, but suffer from (1) difficulties and uncertainties in upscaling the results to the field scale and (2) relatively homogeneous material and stress conditions that lead to an oversimplistic fracture flow and/or hydraulic fracture propagation behavior that is not representative of a heterogeneous reservoir. Thus, there is a need for intermediate-scale hydraulic stimulation experiments with high experimental control that bridge the various scales and for which access to the target rock mass with a comprehensive monitoring system is possible. The ISC experiment is designed to address open research questions in a naturally fractured and faulted crystalline rock mass at the Grimsel Test Site (Switzerland). Two hydraulic injection phases were executed to enhance the permeability of the rock mass. During the injection phases the rock mass deformation across fractures and within intact rock, the pore pressure distribution and propagation, and the microseismic response were monitored at a high spatial and temporal resolution.

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Section: Stimulation By Hydraulic Shearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

et al. 2018

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“…Bruel (2002) investigated the impact of induced thermal stresses during circulation tests at the Soultz site at a regional scale. More recently Baujard and Bruel (2006) studied the influence of fluid density differences on the pressure distribution in the reservoir during stimulation and fluid circulation tests. Higgins (2006) reported that geomechanics is a powerful tool for reservoir characterization in oil field exploration.…”

Section: Modeling Coupled Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model can be used to estimate the elastic deformation of the fractured system during production and injection, which can then be used to estimate future geo process changes in the fracture network under different scenarios. Baujard and Bruel (2006) developed a numerical model to interpret and predict the pressure distribution in HDR/ EGS reservoirs when fluids of different density were reinjected. The density difference between the native reservoir fluid and the injectate can play a significant role in the hydraulic stimulation of the reservoir.…”

Section: Reservoir Hydraulicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the geomechanical facies approach and comparison of exploration and evaluation methods used at Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) and Spa Urach (Germany) geothermal sites

Tenzer¹,

Park

Kolditz

et al. 2010

Environ Earth Sci

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Earth-reservoirs are increasingly exploited today with the extraction of resources, such as heat and hydrocarbons, and the large-scale emplacement of waste, such as CO 2 sequestration. The characterization, site investigation, predictive modeling and long-term monitoring are dependent on the processes being investigated and modeled. In most cases complex coupled processes have to be addressed in a geologically complex rock mass system. In this paper we present a conceptual holistic framework known as geomechanical facies linking all the scales of investigation, characterization and reservoir development methods. We demonstrate this concept on the work undertaken during the design and development of the enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) systems at the forefront of European HotDry-Rock (HDR) technology, Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) and Spa Urach (Germany). Soultz-sous-Forêts is situated within granitic rocks and an active tectonic graben system in the central part of the Rhine Graben. It presents conditions of lithology, temperature, stress, hydraulics and geochemistry that are very different from those at Spa Urach, located in a very dense gneiss formation in the South German crystalline complex. Spa Urach exhibits more elastic behavior and is set tectonically within an almost inactive strike-slip stress field described in more detail in Sects. ''Drill core analysis'' and ''Hydraulic stimulation at Spa Urach''. This paper compares the exploration and field development methods used at these two sites against the back drop of the geomechanical facies concept. Issues addressed include the key parameters for flow and heat transport properties, coupled hydro-mechanical process identification, the success of the HDR reservoir as a heat exchanger and exploration techniques applicable to the different facies. Identification of the key geomechanical facies gives an indication as to which technologies will prove more efficient in the application of HDR technology. The results of this study will hopefully help in developing heat recovery schemes for the long-term economical operation of future HDR plants and EGS as well as assist in the understanding of engineered geosystems.

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“…Bruel (2002) investigated the impact of induced thermal stresses during circulation tests in the Soultz site at the regional scale. More recently (Baujard and Bruel, 2006) studied the influence of fluid density differences on the pressure distribution in the reservoir during stimulation and fluid circulation tests.…”

Section: Soultz-sous-forets (France)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geothermal Reservoir Simulation

Kolditz

Blöcher

Clauser

et al. 2010

Geothermal Energy Systems

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Numerical study of the impact of fluid density on the pressure distribution and stimulated volume in the Soultz HDR reservoir

Cited by 28 publications

References 8 publications

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

Application of the geomechanical facies approach and comparison of exploration and evaluation methods used at Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) and Spa Urach (Germany) geothermal sites

Geothermal Reservoir Simulation

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