Modeling Subsidence Due to Geothermal Fluid Production

Download or read book Modeling Subsidence Due to Geothermal Fluid Production written by and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Currently, liquid dominated geothermal systems hold the maximum promise for exploiting geothermal energy in the United States. The principal characteristic of such systems is that most of the heat is transferred by flowing water, which also controls subsurface fluid pressures and stress changes. The reduction in pore pressures brought about by geothermal fluid extraction is potentially capable of causing appreciable deformation of the reservoir rocks leading to displacements at the land surface. In order to foresee the pattern and magnitude of potential ground displacements in and around producing liquid dominated geothermal fields, a numerical model has been developed. Conceptually, the simulator combines conductive and convective heat transfer in a general three dimensional heterogeneous porous medium with a one-dimensional deformation of the reservoir rocks. The capabilities of the model and its potential applicability to field cases are illustrated with examples considering the effects of temperature and pressure dependent properties, material heterogeneities and previous stress history.