Simulation studies on Enhanced Geothermal Systems with CO2 as a working fluid
Abstract
Supercritical CO2 has recently been considered as a working fluid in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), given its non-ionic nature, larger expansivity and lower viscosity compared to water. In addition, an EGS with supercritical CO2 as a working fluid may also act as a mechanism for CO2 sequestration. To explore this, one must understand the various interactions that may take place between the reservoir rock and the supercritical CO2. In this work, we perform simulations in two and three dimensions using the massively parallel flow and transport code PFLOTRAN, to study these interactions under various conditions (aqueous, non-aqueous and two-phase). The two dimensional results using PFLOTRAN are compared with simulations made using the TOUGH2 code. Numerical studies examining mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions that may occur in EGS that use supercritical CO2 are also shown, in addition to preliminary indications of which well placements may enable optimal flow rates and simultaneous CO2 sequestration.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AGUFM.H21C1126K
- Keywords:
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- 1009 GEOCHEMISTRY / Geochemical modeling;
- 1011 GEOCHEMISTRY / Thermodynamics;
- 1847 HYDROLOGY / Modeling