Numerical Modeling and Performance Prediction of Balcova Geothermal Field, Turkey

Abstract

The Balcova geothermal field, located in the Izmir Bay area of the Aegean coast of Turkey, is the first field utilized in Turkey for direct heat application. Today, the total residential area being heated by the produced water is around 2,470,000 m2. The produced water with a temperature range of 100-140°C has low dissolved solids and noncondensable gas content. The field has production characteristics of 1800 m3/hour at peak times of the heating period and about 300 m3/hour during summer months, when water is needed for balneology. On average, 85% of the produced fluid is reinjected after its energy is taken into heating centers. The field currently has 11 production, 6 reinjection and 4 observation wells. We recently constructed a three-dimensional numerical simulation model of the field using the TOUGH2 software. A natural-state model was established based on the conceptual model of the field and further calibrated by the available production/injection data, recorded pressure-temperature values from production wells and water level measurements from observation wells for 1996-2012. Future performance of the field was discussed after forecasting runs. Results show that production could be sustained for the next 15 years with the existing production/injection scheme.