TIG 9 - Reservoir Development & Engineering

Leader: Peter Dowd, University of Adelaide

Scope:
Objective: Investigate technologies for enhancing geothermal reservoirs for commercial heat extraction.

Initiatives:

Complete:
A PIRSA report titled ‘A Steady-State Pressure Model for Water Flow in a Hydraulically Fractured Geothermal Reservoir’ by William Cibich that includes a model that runs under Microsoft Excel was completed in February 2008

Tied Grant 9.3 (formerly 4.3): Full life cycle water requirements for deep geothermal energy developments in South Australia – Draft report submitted by Hot Dry Rocks Pty Ltd for peer review in November 2008

In Progress:
A number of Tied Grant projects are in progress including:
•    Geochemistry, Corrosion and Scaling in HDR Energy Extraction Systems
•    Adelaidean reservoir characterisation
•    3D reconstruction of the Adelaide Geosyncline

Planned:
•    Compile a list of available numerical models (algorithms) for fracture characterisation and then    evaluate these to determine the best model as well as the benefits and disadvantages of each. (Literature review plus model ‘shootout’).
•    Scan for pre-existing Geothermal Data Handbooks and build up to include information learnt from overseas projects and to date from Australian projects.
•    Promote international collaboration: create scholarships for students to study under experts overseas and to bring the knowledge back to Australia, also aim to bring technical experts to Australia to hold technical workshops going into detail on certain topics of interest.
•    A literature review of EGS logging tools such as image logging, bore hole measurements etc. What tools should be used, which are the best to use, and what is not of value?
•    Develop 3D stochastic modelling and simulation of fracture networks and fracture propagation in crystalline rocks (P A Dowd & C Xu, University of Adelaide) – see attached Project Outline.

Three-dimensional stochastic modelling and simulation of fracture networks and fracture propagation in crystalline rocks (P A Dowd and C Xu).

The following aims will build on previous innovative, internationally acknowledged, approaches to develop an integrated, three-dimensional, stochastic spatial modelling framework for the simulation of more reliable and realistic fracture networks for geothermal engineering applications.
Data integration
Aim 1.    Derive a systematic and consistent framework for integrating the various types of data to obtain reliable and consistent parameters for stochastic models.
Stochastic conditional simulation of fractures and fracture networks
Aim 2.    Incorporate multivariate spatial correlations in the stochastic fracture model so that more realistic fracture simulations can be achieved.
Aim 3.    Establish a stochastic fracture propagation model for geothermal reservoir stimulation.
Aim 4.    Derive a framework for conditioning three-dimensional fracture simulations by two-dimensional fracture data.
Generic assessment of simulated fracture networks
Aim 5.    Derive a three-dimensional connectivity index as a generic property model to describe the flow characteristics and mechanical behaviour of three-dimensional fracture networks. 

List of sub-TIG Topics:

Key issues to be addresses by TIG - 9 include but not limited to:

Reservoir characterisation
 3D Stochastic modelling and simulation of fracture networks
Fracture stimulation
 Geochemistry, Corrosion and Scaling
Tabulation of projects
Theme
Project Name
Summary of key projects, key contact and links to detail
Research Partners
AGEG TIG 9
Engineering EGS
Geochemistry, Corrosion and Scaling in HDR Energy Extraction Systems

 
Determine the effect of variations in geochemical composition of circulating water on clogging of fracture networks in reservoir rock. Final report (pdf)
•  U Adel (Ngothai & O’Neil)
•  S.A Museum (Brugger)
•  Ian Warke Inst. U of SA (Pring)
• Geodynamics (Wyborn)
•  Petratherm (Reid)		•  Eden Energy (Jeffress)
•  Greenrock (Larking)
•  Geothermal Resources (Johnson)
•  PIRSA (Malavazos)


AGEG TIG 9
Engineering EGS		Full life-cycle water requirements for deep geothermal energy developments in South Australia

Water requirements for each step of geothermal through production will be quantified. An atlas of available water resources; processes for accessing these resources; and (possibly) software for calculating water requirements for specific projects will be developed.  The aims are to allow individual project managers to manage water availability, and the industry to counter potential community concerns over water use for geothermal projects. Final Report (pdf) and Appendix 1 (pdf) •  Hot Dry Rocks Pty Ltd (HDRPL: Beardsmore, Baria, Cordon, Walsh, Waining & Cooper)
•  PIRSA (Hill)
•  Panax
(de Graaf)

AGEG TIG 9
Geology EGS		Adelaidean reservoir characterisation
Characterise Adelaidean rocks for their potential to serve as heat exchange reservoirs within geothermal insulators and potential for geosequestration reservoirs in the vicinity of coal-fired electricity plants in the Port Augusta region. Final report (PDF), aquifer summaries (XLS), core summaries (XLS), data sequences (XLS) and stratigraphy summaries (XLS).
•  U Adel. (Ainsworth)
•  Petratherm (Reid)
•  Eden Energy(Jeffress)

•  Torrens (Matthews)
•  PIRSA (Hill)

AGEG TIG 9
Geology EGS		3D geological modelling of the Adelaide Geosyncline - Application to geothermal exploration
Produce a geologically and geophysically sound 3D model of the Adelaide Geosyncline from studies of outcrop geology (existing geological maps, satellite images analysis, field work) and potential field data (gravity and magnetic data) interpretation and forward modelling.  Final Report (pdf)
•  U Adel. (Backe & Giles)
•  U of Pau (France);

•  U of Toulouse (France)
•  HDRPL (Beardsmore)
•  Torrens (Matthews)

AGEG TIG 9
EGS
Rock fracture for hot rock enhanced geothermal systems
Preliminary work for an ARC discovery project application. Develop a stochastic fracture propagation model, a multivariate fracture simulation model and a three dimensional connectivity index for modelling the spatial and flow characteristics of the fracture system in the granite reservoir.
Links: Final report (pdf 68 KB) and AGEC2010 paper (pdf 739 KB)
 •  U Adel (Ngothai & O’Neil)
•  Geodynamics (Wyborn)
 

AGEG TIG Report Meeting #5, 20 - 21 November 2008