Heat Extraction Simulation of the Habanero 1 and 3 Doublet Based on a Conditioned Discrete Fracture Network Model

Abstract

The Habanero 1 and 3 doublet is the major component in the original electricity generation plan of the Geodynamics geothermal project in the Cooper Basin of South Australia. Various heat extraction studies have been conducted based on simplified models such as a single fracture connecting the two wells or on a representation of the reservoir as an equivalent porous medium. In our approach, a more realistic fracture model is constructed conditional on the seismic events generated during the fracture stimulation of the reservoir. The fluid flow and heat transfer are then solved using the equivalent pipe approach based on a simplified heat exchange model. The results are compared with those from other studies. We demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of combining a discrete fracture network with the equivalent pipe approach to solve industrial-scale geothermal problems such as simulating heat extraction from the Habanero reservoir.