Geothermal Design Tool (GeoDT)

Abstract

Advanced modelling capabilities are currently available to evaluate hydraulic fracture stimulation, fracture network fluid flow, subsurface fluid-rock heat and mass transfer, multi-well flow dynamics, geomechanical coupling, geochemical coupling, and long-term electrical power production. While all these components should be considered together in the optimized design of wells and well fields, no models are yet known to us that couple all these processes efficiently and intuitively enough for timely making during ongoing projects. Our aim here is not to develop a new model to add to the existing collection of high-fidelity and high-performance codes. Instead, our goal is to develop a fast decision making assistance tool. This tool targets the early stages of new field development, when uncertainties are very high and data is sparse to non-existent. By cruel coincidence, this early development timeframe is also when informed decisions are most critical to the success of a geothermal development project. To achieve our goal, we must focus on high-priority controllable parameters such as well placement. The site parameters are limited to those that can be reasonably characterized by common low-cost methods or are defaulted to estimations based on published values. A key element of our approach is to start by including the complexity of what can occur in the natural environment to avoid oversimplifications that would yield misleading or incorrect guidance for decision making.