Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GEOPRO (Accurate Geofluid Properties as key to Geothermal Process Optimisation)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-11-01 al 2021-04-30
The GEOPRO project aims to generate targeted advances in the understanding and modelling of geofluid characteristics. The user objectives of the project include supporting geothermal users by:
• Supporting improved design efficiency – knowledge-based design of wellbore, pipework, heat exchangers for optimal conversion of the primary energy into electrical power;
• Enabling knowledge-based design activities for best control of the constraining fluid phenomena (such as scale formation, outgassing, and cavitation during changes in temperature and pressure), maximising uptime and operational effectiveness of the plant;
• Providing underpinning knowledge for the future exploration and exploitation of supercritical systems through improved “vectors to ore” arising from the ability to better use fluid chemistry to predict deep subterranean conditions.
As such, the project will work towards improving the a) accuracy and consistency of key thermodynamic and kinetic input data, and b) accuracy of the respective Equations of state (EoS) to develop a set of robust, user-friendly tools that would help to optimise sustainable reservoir management, power and heat production and reinjection strategies.
• Supporting improved design efficiency – knowledge-based design of wellbore, pipework, heat exchangers for optimal conversion of the primary energy into electrical power;
• Enabling knowledge-based design activities for best control of the constraining fluid phenomena (such as scale formation, outgassing, and cavitation during changes in temperature and pressure), maximising uptime and operational effectiveness of the plant;
• Providing underpinning knowledge for the future exploration and exploitation of supercritical systems through improved “vectors to ore” arising from the ability to better use fluid chemistry to predict deep subterranean conditions.
As such, the project will work towards improving the a) accuracy and consistency of key thermodynamic and kinetic input data, and b) accuracy of the respective Equations of state (EoS) to develop a set of robust, user-friendly tools that would help to optimise sustainable reservoir management, power and heat production and reinjection strategies.
In the reporting period the following activities have taken place:
• Report on relevant information on gap and priority analysis for geochemical datasets and equations of state (EoS).
• Design and development of a multi-phase flow loop for geothermal fluids
• Improvements and enhancements of the Flowphys1D flow assurance software, followed by building of models and performing flow assurance simulations for GEOPRO geothermal sites
• Report on relevant information on gap and priority analysis for geochemical datasets and equations of state (EoS).
• Design and development of a multi-phase flow loop for geothermal fluids
• Improvements and enhancements of the Flowphys1D flow assurance software, followed by building of models and performing flow assurance simulations for GEOPRO geothermal sites
GEOPRO aims to generate advances in understanding and modelling of geofluid properties that has wide applicability across a majority of geothermal installations to ensure consistent behaviour across significantly different applications.
GEOPRO impacts include:
Optimized energy extraction from existing systems (through tighter controls allowing strategically reduced safety margins) to remain within the production constraints of scaling, corrosion etc.
Reduced OPEX costs through the ability to thermodynamically minimise scale formation at key points (flash points, heat exchangers, lower temperature reinjection) through control-oriented modeling
The ability to better design well layouts, pipe dimensions, coatings using dynamic multi-phase geothermal flow assurance simulations coupled with a Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) tool
Improved knowledge of reservoir fluid characteristics, allowing more accurate chemical thermometry and enthalpy calculations, and the ability to “vector in” onto productive reservoirs during exploration
Improving the ability to expand the reinjection technology of waste water and green-house gases like CO2, H2S and CH4 that are currently being emitted to the atmosphere
GEOPRO impacts include:
Optimized energy extraction from existing systems (through tighter controls allowing strategically reduced safety margins) to remain within the production constraints of scaling, corrosion etc.
Reduced OPEX costs through the ability to thermodynamically minimise scale formation at key points (flash points, heat exchangers, lower temperature reinjection) through control-oriented modeling
The ability to better design well layouts, pipe dimensions, coatings using dynamic multi-phase geothermal flow assurance simulations coupled with a Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) tool
Improved knowledge of reservoir fluid characteristics, allowing more accurate chemical thermometry and enthalpy calculations, and the ability to “vector in” onto productive reservoirs during exploration
Improving the ability to expand the reinjection technology of waste water and green-house gases like CO2, H2S and CH4 that are currently being emitted to the atmosphere