The Relation Between Well Spacing and Net Present Value in Fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifer Geothermal Doublets: a West Netherlands Basin Case Study

Willems, C.J.L. , Goense, T., Maghami Nick, H. M. and Bruhn, D.F. (2016) The Relation Between Well Spacing and Net Present Value in Fluvial Hot Sedimentary Aquifer Geothermal Doublets: a West Netherlands Basin Case Study. 41st Workshop on Geothermal Resevoir Engineering, Stanford, CA, USA, 22-24 Feb 2016.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relation between well spacing and Net Present Value of a Hot Sedimentary Aquifer geothermal doublet. First, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the effect of uncertainty of geological and production parameters on the Net present Value. Second a finite-element approach is utilized to study the effect of fluvial facies architecture on geothermal energy production. For this purpose detailed fluvial facies architecture models are created utilizing a process-based facies modelling approach. These models and reservoir properties are based on a geological dataset of the Lower Cretaceous Nieuwerkerk Formation in the West Netherlands Basin (WNB). Results of the sensitivity analysis show that a 10% variation in well spacing from a 1000m base case scenario could vary the NPV by 10%. The minimal required well spacing is dependent on the reservoir thickness, flow rate and the allowed production temperature drop. The simulations results show that the theoretical advantage of a reduction in well spacing could be balanced by a poor well connectivity between the wells because of the characteristic of fluvial reservoir architecture.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Willems, Dr Cees
• Authors: Willems, C.J.L., Goense, T., Maghami Nick, H. M., and Bruhn, D.F.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy