STANDARDISED RESERVOIR MODEL DESIGN FOR SIMULATING PRESSURE TRANSIENTS IN GEOTHERMAL WELLS

Abstract

The need for numerical models to simulate geothermal pressure transients has been long recognised. In the last few years various studies have used the TOUGH2 reservoir simulator to model different well tests, in each case with a different model setup. Important features such as the skin effect and wellbore storage are incorporated differently or are sometimes not present. Rarely is the model setup fully described or the reasoning given. In this study all the best features of the reported models to date are incorporated into one and the model design is described and justified. The sensitivities of the model are investigated. This model design is suggested as a useful standard as the use of TOUGH2 for simulating well tests grows, hopefully beyond the academic sphere and into the wider geothermal industry