Quick Tools for Geothermal Development Planning

Abstract

In many cases, a quick method of assessing geothermal field development is needed. This is simply because the business environment is rapidly and constantly changing, and quick rearrangements of development plans are often required. Generally, this type of work starts with assessing the capacity of the geothermal field. This is done on the basis of a volumetric heat storage calculation. Once the potential is known, the decision of development capacity can be made more easily. However, prior to the decision, the nature of the hydrothermal system in question has to be understood (e.g. liquid, two-phase, or vapor dominated). This is needed to know the amount of liquid and vapor being extracted, separated, and re-injected into the reservoir. The number of the production and re-injection wells can then be derived. Later, the decline behavior of the reservoir throughout the entire lifetime of the project must be modeled. The model depicts the long term make-up wells scenario (e.g. what year, and how many). Finally, the project design can be optimized to yield the best economic values. Using the programs provided, this assessment of development can be completed in a manner of minutes.