TY - JOUR
T1 - Controls on geothermal heat recovery from a hot sedimentary aquifer in Guardbridge, Scotland
T2 - Field measurements, modelling and long term sustainability
AU - Comerford, A.
AU - Fraser-Harris, A.
AU - Johnson, G.
AU - McDermott, C. I.
N1 - Funded by EP/P026214/1
PY - 2018/11/1
Y1 - 2018/11/1
N2 - Geothermal heat from Hot Sedimentary Aquifers represents a promising intermediate (30°C) resource for district heating systems. A key control on the geothermal productivity of these aquifers is the architecture of faults, which can significantly enhance or reduce the natural permeability of these systems. We present the first three-dimensional coupled groundwater flow and heat transport numerical model, combining multiple data from field mapping and fracture surveys, of two intersecting major fault systems in Central-East Scotland. This includes fault-zone fracture permeability modelling, depth-dependent permeability modelling, geo-mechanical facies assessment and heat productivity estimates for single well and multiple well extraction scenarios. Simulations indicate that with careful location of extraction wells within permeable fault systems, production is sustainable for over 50 years for multiple-well extraction scenarios in this region.
AB - Geothermal heat from Hot Sedimentary Aquifers represents a promising intermediate (30°C) resource for district heating systems. A key control on the geothermal productivity of these aquifers is the architecture of faults, which can significantly enhance or reduce the natural permeability of these systems. We present the first three-dimensional coupled groundwater flow and heat transport numerical model, combining multiple data from field mapping and fracture surveys, of two intersecting major fault systems in Central-East Scotland. This includes fault-zone fracture permeability modelling, depth-dependent permeability modelling, geo-mechanical facies assessment and heat productivity estimates for single well and multiple well extraction scenarios. Simulations indicate that with careful location of extraction wells within permeable fault systems, production is sustainable for over 50 years for multiple-well extraction scenarios in this region.
KW - Fault
KW - Fracture
KW - Geothermal
KW - Hot sedimentary aquifers
KW - Permeability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049864527&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geothermics.2018.07.004
DO - 10.1016/j.geothermics.2018.07.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85049864527
SN - 0375-6505
VL - 76
SP - 125
EP - 140
JO - Geothermics
JF - Geothermics
ER -