Modeling of multiphase mass and heat transfer in fractured high-enthalpy geothermal systems with advanced discrete fracture methodology

Abstract

Multiphase mass and heat transfer are ubiquitous in the subsurface within manifold applications. The presence of fractures over several scales and complex geometry magnifies the uncertainty of the heat transfer phenomena, which will significantly impact, or even dominate, the dynamic transport process. Capturing the details of fluid and heat transport within the fractured system is beneficial to the subsurface operations. However, accurate modeling methodologies for thermal high-enthalpy multiphase flow within fractured reservoirs are quite limited. In this work, multiphase flow in fractured geothermal reservoirs is numerically investigated. A discrete-fracture model is utilized to describe the fractured system. To characterize the thermal transport process accurately and efficiently, the resolution of discretization is necessarily optimized. A synthetic fracture model is firstly selected to run on different levels of discretization with different initial thermodynamic conditions. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to compare the convergence and computational efficiency of simulations. The numerical scheme is implemented within the Delft Advanced Research Terra Simulator (DARTS), which can provide fast and robust simulation to energy applications in the subsurface. Based on the converged numerical solutions, a thermal Péclet number is defined to characterize the interplay between thermal convection and conduction, which are the two governing mechanisms in geothermal development. Different heat transfer stages are recognized on the Péclet curve in conjunction with production regimes of the synthetic fractured reservoir. A fracture network, sketched and scaled up from a digital map of a realistic outcrop, is then utilized to perform a sensitivity analysis of the key parameters influencing the heat and mass transfer. Thermal propagation and Péclet number are found to be sensitive to flow rate and thermal parameters (e.g., rock heat conductivity and heat capacity). This paper presents a numerical simulation framework for fractured geothermal reservoirs, which provides the necessary procedures for practical investigations regarding geothermal developments with uncertainties.