Abstract
Simple models are discussed to evaluate reservoir lifetime and heat recovery factor in geothermal aquifers used for urban heating. By comparing various single well and doublet production schemes, it is shown that reinjection of heat depleted water greatly enhances heat recovery and reservoir lifetime, and can be optimized for maximum heat production. It is concluded that geothermal aquifer production should be unitized, as is already done in oil and gas reservoirs.
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Abbreviations
- a :
-
distance between doublets in multi-doublet patterns, meters
- A :
-
area of aquifer at base temperature, m2 drainage area of individual doublets in multi-doublet patterns, m2
- D :
-
distance between doublet wells, meters
- h :
-
aquifer thickness, meters
- H :
-
water head, meters
- Q :
-
production rate, m3/sec.
- r e :
-
aquifer radius, meters
- r w :
-
well radius, meters
- R g :
-
heat recovery factor, fraction
- s :
-
water level drawdown, meters
- ∆t :
-
producing time, sec.
- T :
-
aquifer transmissivity, m2/sec.
- v :
-
stream-channel water velocity, m/sec.
- ∆θ :
-
actual temperature change, °C
- ∆θ′:
-
theoretical temperature change, °C
- θ :
-
water temperature, °C
- λ :
-
heat conductivity, W/m/°C
- λ r :
-
rock heat conductivity, W/m/°C
- ρ a c a :
-
aquifer heat capacity, J/m3/°C
- ρ a c r :
-
rock heat capacity, J/m3/°C
- ρ w c w :
-
water heat capacity, J/m3/°C
- ϕ :
-
aquifer porosity, fraction
References
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Gringarten, A. C. and Sauty, J. P. (1975), A theoretical study of heat extraction from aquifers with uniform regional Flow, J. Geophys. Res. 80 (35), 49–56.
Matthews, C. S. and Russell, D. G., Pressure build-up and flow tests in wells, Monograph Series (Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, Dallas (Tex.), USA, (1967) vol. 1.
Muffler, L. J. P. and Cataldi, R. (1977), Methods for regional assessment of geothermal resources, Larderello Workshop on Geothermal Resource Assessment and Reservoir Engineering, Sept. 12–16, Larderello (Italy).
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© 1979 Springer Basel AG
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Gringarten, A.C. (1979). Reservoir Lifetime and Heat Recovery Factor in Geothermal Aquifers used for Urban Heating. In: Rybach, L., Stegena, L. (eds) Geothermics and Geothermal Energy. Contributions to Current Research in Geophysics (CCRG). Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-6525-8_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-6525-8_26
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-6527-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-6525-8
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