Summary
Geothermal energy is potentially available from rock at elevated temperatures in the Earth’s crust but which lacks circulating fluids to transport the energy to the surface. This resource has become known as the Hot Dry Rock energy source. Two alternative extraction concepts have been proposed and this paper details the results of a field experiment designed to stimulate many fractures at the wellbore. Unfocused explosive charges were used to produce optimum radial fracture patterns that could then be enhanced by hydraulic stimulation. The resulting system is extremely complex but the results indicate that this combination of fracturing techniques is essential to overcome the strength and impermeability of the granite fabric
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References
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© 1980 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg
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Batchelor, A.S., Pearson, C.M., Halladay, N.P. (1980). The Enhancement of the Permeability of Granite by Explosive and Hydraulic Fracturing. In: Strub, A.S., Ungemach, P. (eds) Advances in European Geothermal Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9059-3_90
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9059-3_90
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