In the "double-porosity" approach to the simulation of rigid geothermal reservoirs there are several options available in formulating the governing equations. The most basic method requires for each fluid phase the solution of four equations: the mass and energy balances for both the fractures and the porous matrix. It is customary to sum the equations forth e fluid phases to eliminate condensation terms from the equations. When a double porosity approach is employed, fracture-matrix exchange terms arise; these terms require constitutive assertions to solve the resulting equations. Alternatively, one may add the fracture and porous matrix equations together. This procedure not only eliminates the troublesome fracture-matrix exchange terms from explicit consideration but also reduces the number of dependent variables and equations. The various summation procedures result in the transfer of information to terms which usually lead to a more diffuse solution.

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