An Updated Computer Model of the Rotorua Geothermal Field

Abstract

Two improvements have recently been made to the model of the Rotorua Geothermal Field, developed at the University of Auckland. First, a finer, regular rectangular model grid is used. Secondly, a Leapfrog-based geological model and an alteration model are used to better define the permeability structure of the computer model.
With a new regular rectangular grid, we can run the model with AUTOUGH2 or Waiwera, and with the Waiwera version we are able to use iWaiwera for rapid parameter estimation (inverse modelling).
With this computer model, based on a better geoscientific conceptual model, we have obtained a good match to the large suite of downhole temperatures and to the pressure histories measured in a small number of wells.