The Influence of Decline Rates and Pressure Interference Effects on the Economic Viability of Vapor-Phase Geothermal Reservoir Development

Abstract

The sensitivity of the economic feasibility of of geothermal reservoirs electric power generation to decline rate and intra-reservoir pressure interference effects in vapor dominated reservoirs are examined. Decline rate can be shown to be the primary controlling factor in determining economic viability due to the sensitivity of infill drill requirements to variance in decline rate over long-term (30 year) production. The additional influence intra-reservoir pressure interference between wells and well-groups is examined to establish:

a) The initial impacts of multi-well production groups on individual well and well-group performance.

b) The long-term influence of inter-well inference from original well groups and infill drilling;