A Numerical Simulator for Flow in Geothermal Wellbores

Abstract

A computer program has been developed to simulate the flow of hot water or steam water mixture in geothermal wellbores. Given the temperature, pressure and flow rate of the water (or steam water mixture) at the bottom of the well; the diameter, length and fricition factor of the wellbore; and the static temperature profile along the wellbore, the program calculates the pressure, temperature, enthalpy and steam quality of the steam water mixture (or water, if no flashing takes place) at the wellhead or at any specified depth in the wellbore. Conversely, given the lfuid conditions at the wellhead, the program can calculate the fluid condition downhole. Thus, the pgram provides a continuous profile of the flowing pressure, temperature, enthalphy and steam quality in the wellbore. This prgram uses an improved, more effiicent approach than the ones reported in teh literature. So far the program has been tested successfully for two wells from the East Mesa geothermal field.