Brown, C. S. and Falcone, G. (2024) Investigating heat transmission in a wellbore for low-temperature, open-loop geothermal systems. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 48, 102352. (doi: 10.1016/j.tsep.2023.102352)
![[img]](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
315794.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 11MB |
Abstract
Heat transfer processes in geothermal wellbores are an essential component to overall system performance, but can be overlooked in subsurface modelling studies that tend to focus on reservoir response. This study addresses heat transfer in the wellbore through a comprehensive modelling study of 10 different parameters on OpenGeoSys software designed to evaluate heat losses during open-loop production conditions for typical low-temperature (<100 °C) single phase geothermal systems. Models were set-up to focus on wellbore effects only, using a single production well with constant fluid inlet temperature boundary condition. Results indicate that under base case conditions for a 2-km deep well surrounded by rock formations with a thermal conductivity of 2.5 W/(m.K) and bottom-hole temperature of 60 °C, the difference in inlet (reservoir) and production (wellhead) temperature at the end of a 40-year production period is 2.06 °C. This corresponds to minimum heat losses into the surrounding formations of -63.3 W/m, which is ∼7 % of the thermal power recorded at the wellhead (assuming a rejection temperature of 30 °C) and a 3.4 % difference to bottom-hole temperature. These losses in heat can be significant, particularly when in combination with surface losses through the heat exchanger or in the reservoir through thermal breakthrough. Wellbore insulation can reduce losses, but it would appear this only impacts the short-term. Wellbore performance can also be improved, with heat losses minimized, when developing wells above the reservoir interval in low thermal conductivity rock with high geothermal gradients.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | would like to show appreciation to the UKRI EPSRC (grant reference numbers EPSRC EP/T022825/1 and EPSRC EP/T023112/1) for funding this research. The funding sources are for the NetZero GeoRDIE (Net Zero Geothermal Research for District Infrastructure Engineering) and INTEGRATE (Integrating seasoNal Thermal storagE with multiple enerGy souRces to decArobonise Thermal Energy) projects, respectively. |
| Keywords: | Geothermal, geothermal wellbore, numerical modelling, OpenGeoSys, production well. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Brown, Dr Christopher and Falcone, Professor Gioia |
| Creator Roles: | Brown, C. S.Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing Falcone, G.Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review and editing |
| Authors: | Brown, C. S., and Falcone, G. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy |
| Journal Name: | Thermal Science and Engineering Progress |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 2451-9049 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2451-9049 |
| Published Online: | 22 December 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 48:102352 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons license |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Funder and Project Information
Funder and Project Information