Simulation of multi-phase and multi-physical coupled process in fractured rocks: Application in geothermal development

A unified pipe-network method is developed to understand the mechanism of multi-phase and multi-physical coupled processes in the development of enhanced geothermal systems by explicitly introducing discontinuities. An equivalent parameter analysis strategy is proposed to quantitatively evaluate heat transfer in the framework of local thermal non equilibrium. The efficiency of geothermal development using supercritical carbon dioxide as working fluid is investigated. Evolution of fracture conductivity in heat mining is numerically captured in response to chemical reactions and mechanical behaviors. Field application using the current simulation tool if performed to optimize heat-mining strategies for a geothermal reservoir at Groß Schönebeck.