In this study, the authors performed a modeling study to investigate key physical processes and design considerations for a geothermal system created from multistage hydraulic stimulation. The simulator used can handle the full life cycle in a single continuous simulation—multistage fracturing and long-term circulation. The simulations demonstrated how multistage fracturing enables large flow rates and relatively efficient sweep of heat through large volumes of rock, but mechanical opening of fractures exacerbated thermal short-circuiting. The authors integrated the simulator with an optimization algorithm to solve a hypothetical engineering design problem to maximize net present value by optimizing well spacing, fracture spacing, and flow rate. The optimization shows how a balance can be struck between rate acceleration and mitigation of thermal breakthrough. 

This presentation is from the 2022 SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition.  

• Paper Number: SPE- 209186-MS 
• Published: 25 January 2022 
• Authors: Mark McClure; Charles Kang; Garrett Fowler 

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