Hydraulic Stimulation of Fracture Permeability in Volcanic and Metasedimentary Rocks at the Desert Peak Geothermal Field, Nevada
Abstract
An integrated study of fluid flow, fracturing, stress and rock mechanical properties is being conducted to develop the geomechanical framework for creating an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) through hydraulic stimulation. This stimulation is being carried out in the relatively impermeable well 27-15 located on the margins of the Desert Peak Geothermal Field, in silicified rhyolite tuffs and metamorphosed mudstones at depths of ~0.9 to 1.1 km and ambient temperatures of ~180 to 195° C. Extensive drilling-induced tensile fractures seen in image logs from well 27-15 indicate that the direction of the minimum horizontal principal stress, Shmin, is 114±17°. This orientation is consistent with normal faulting on ESE- and WNW-dipping normal faults also seen in these image logs. A hydraulic fracturing stress test conducted at 931 m indicates that the magnitude of Shmin is 13.8 MPa, which is ~0.61 of the calculated vertical stress, Sv. Coulomb failure calculations using these stresses and friction coefficients measured on core indicate that shear failure should be induced on pre-existing fractures once fluid pressures are increased ~2.5 MPa or more above the ambient formation fluid pressure. The resulting activation of faults well-oriented for shear failure should generate a zone of enhanced permeability propagating to the SSW, in the direction of nearby geothermal injection and production wells, and to the NNE, into an unexploited part of the field. Stimulation of well 27-15 began in August 2010, and is being monitored by flow-rate/pressure recording, a local seismic network, periodic temperature-pressure-flowmeter logging, tracer tests and pressure transient analyses. An initial phase of shear stimulation was carried out over 110 days at low pressures (< Shmin) and low injection rates (< 380 l/min), employing stepwise increases in pressure to induce shear failure along pre-existing natural fractures. This phase increased injectivity by one order of magnitude. Chelating agents and mud acid treatments were then used to dissolve mineral precipitates and open up partially sealed fractures. This chemical stimulation phase only temporarily increased injectivity and worsened the stability of the wellbore. A large-volume hydraulic fracturing operation was subsequently carried out at high pressures (> Shmin) and high injection rates (up to 2800 l/min) over 23 days to promote fluid pressure transfer to greater distances from the borehole, resulting in an additional 4-fold increase in injectivity. Locations of microseismic events induced by these operations plus tracer testing showed growth of the stimulated volume between well 27-15 and active geothermal wells located ~0.5 to 2 km to the SSW, as predicted by the stress model. Future plans for the Desert Peak EGS project involve augmenting the seismic array before executing additional hydraulic fracturing and shear stimulation to further improve the injection performance of well 27-15.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AGUFM.H31L..07H
- Keywords:
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- 1822 HYDROLOGY / Geomechanics;
- 8010 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY / Fractures and faults;
- 8135 TECTONOPHYSICS / Hydrothermal systems;
- 8164 TECTONOPHYSICS / Stresses: crust and lithosphere