Setting up TOUGH2 simulations of geothermal reservoirs is still often carried out manually, by editing input files. However, for complex simulations this process can be labour-intensive and error-prone. Partly in response to this problem, various graphical interfaces for TOUGH2 have been produced. While these can reduce the likelihood of input errors and make simple simulations easier, graphical interfaces often limit the full capability of the TOUGH2 simulator. More importantly, neither manual or graphical methods lend themselves easily to automation, which is desirable for more complex simulations.

A third approach, so far relatively unexplored, is that of scripting. The PyTOUGH library has been developed to enable the user to control potentially all aspects of a TOUGH2 simulation (from grid generation and model setup through execution, post-processing and analysis) via simple Python scripts. This approach avoids the limitations of both manual and graphical methods, and makes possible complex simulations involving, for example, suites of many model runs with varying parameters (including permeabilities, heat inputs and levels of grid resolution).

Here the possibilities of the PyTOUGH scripting approach are demonstrated using both idealised and real-world TOUGH2 applications.

Press the Back button in your browser, or search again.

Copyright 2011, University of Auckland: Readers who download papers from this site should honor the copyright of the original authors and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.