Hydraulic and thermal fracturing techniques for successful stimulation in unconventional geothermal energy recovery

W.G.P. Kumari; P.G. Ranjith; M.S.A. Perera; B. L. Avanthi Isaka

doi:10.21701/bolgeomin.131.3.006

Autores/as

W.G.P. Kumari University of Wollongong
P.G. Ranjith Monash University
M.S.A. Perera Monash University
B. L. Avanthi Isaka Monash University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.131.3.006

Palabras clave:

escaneo CT, geotérmica, fracturación hidráulica, permeabilidad, fracturación térmica

Resumen

Los sistemas geotérmicos mejorados o no convencionales (EGSs) se han identificado recientemente como recursos geotérmicos potenciales que se pueden utilizar para extraer el calor atrapado en formaciones geológicas profundas. Sin embargo, debido a la baja porosidad de formación en estos sistemas, se debe crear artificialmente un intercambiador subterráneo de calor para aumentar la permeabilidad del reservorio. En EGSs se han adoptado un número de técnicas de estimulación del reservorio para aumentar su permeabilidad, incluyendo la fracturación hidráulica y la fracturación térmica. El objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar una comprensión profunda de estas técnicas de estimulación del reservorio basada en nuestro actual trabajo de experimentos en laboratorio. Se ha hecho una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura reciente en dicha temática, y se han llevado a cabo ensayos avanzados de laboratorio para entender las técnicas de fracturación hidráulica y térmica bajo condiciones del reservorio. Se llevaron a cabo experimentos utilizando equipos triaxiales para rocas a altas presiones y altas temperaturas y se realizaron tratamientos de temple por inyección de agua fría en rocas graníticas calentadas a diferentes
temperaturas. También se llevaron a cabo experimentos de flujo continuo sobre rocas graníticas fracturadas e intactas y los resultados se compararon con la producción predicha con estimulación. Se empleó tecnología de escaneo CT para determinar las característica a micro-escala que se derivaban de la estimulación. El trabajo experimental ha revelado que la propagación de trayectorias y aperturas de fracturas hidráulicas y térmicas está controlado por esfuerzos y temperatura in-situ así como la heterogeneidad de la matriz rocosa. Aunque las fracturas inducidad contrubuyen sustancialmente al aumento de la permeabilidad del reservorio, eran igualmente sensitivas a cambios en los esfuerzos y temperatura debido al mayor esfuerzo efectivo y a la expansión volumétrica inducida térmicamente.

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Citas

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