Analysis of Injection-Backflow Tracer Tests in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs

Analysis of Injection-Backflow Tracer Tests in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs PDF Author:
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Languages : en
Pages :

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Tracer tests have been an important technique for determining the flow and reservoir characteristics in various rock matrix systems. While the interwell tracer tests are aimed at the characterization of the regions between the wells, single-well injection-backflow tracer tests may be useful tools of preliminary evaluation, before implementing long term interwell tracer tests. This work is concerned with the quantitative evaluation of the tracer return profiles obtained from single well injection-backflow tracer tests. First, two mathematical models of tracer transport through fractures, have been reviewed. These two models are based on two different principles: Taylor Dispersion along the fracture and simultaneous diffusion in and out of the adjacent matrix. Then the governing equations for the transport during the injection-backflow tests have been solved. Finally the results were applied to field data obtained from Raft River and East Mesa geothermal fields. In order to determine the values of the parameters of the models that define the transport mechanisms through fractures a non-linear optimization technique was employed. 26 refs., 10 figs.

Analysis of Injection-Backflow Tracer Tests in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs

Analysis of Injection-Backflow Tracer Tests in Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Tracer tests have been an important technique for determining the flow and reservoir characteristics in various rock matrix systems. While the interwell tracer tests are aimed at the characterization of the regions between the wells, single-well injection-backflow tracer tests may be useful tools of preliminary evaluation, before implementing long term interwell tracer tests. This work is concerned with the quantitative evaluation of the tracer return profiles obtained from single well injection-backflow tracer tests. First, two mathematical models of tracer transport through fractures, have been reviewed. These two models are based on two different principles: Taylor Dispersion along the fracture and simultaneous diffusion in and out of the adjacent matrix. Then the governing equations for the transport during the injection-backflow tests have been solved. Finally the results were applied to field data obtained from Raft River and East Mesa geothermal fields. In order to determine the values of the parameters of the models that define the transport mechanisms through fractures a non-linear optimization technique was employed. 26 refs., 10 figs.

Tracer Recovery and Mixing from Two Geothermal Injection-Backflow Studies

Tracer Recovery and Mixing from Two Geothermal Injection-Backflow Studies PDF Author:
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Languages : en
Pages :

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Injection-backflow tracer testing on a single well is not a commonly used procedure for geothermal reservoir evaluation, and, consequently, there is little published information on the character or interpretation of tracer recovery curves. Two field experiments were conducted to develop chemical tracer procedures for use with injection-backflow testing, one on the fracture-permeability Raft River reservoir and the other on the matrix-permeability East Mesa reservoir. Results from tests conducted with incremental increases in the injection volume at both East Mesa and Raft River suggests that, for both reservoirs, permeability remained uniform with increasing distance from the well bore. Increased mixing during quiescent periods, between injection and backflow, at Raft River suggest an area near the well bore that has a hydrologic character different from the far well bore environment. Increased flow rates for East Mesa testing resulted in a general decrease in mixing. Comparison of recovery curves from the Raft River reservoir with those from the East Mesa reservoir suggests that mixing is greatest, and therefore permeability is greatest, in the fractured reservoir. These test results indicate that injection-backflow testing with tracers can be used successfully to characterize flow in the near-well bore environment.

Response of East Mesa and Raft River Reservoirs to Injection - Backflow Testing

Response of East Mesa and Raft River Reservoirs to Injection - Backflow Testing PDF Author:
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Category : Geothermal engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Analysis of tracer recovery curves from injection-backflow testing at two geothermal reservoirs reveals large differences in responsebetween the two. The east Mesa reservoir is in a layered sandstone matrix, and tracer behavior can be adequately described by porous media theory. As the volume of water injected into the reservoir increases and, consequently, the depth of penetration into the formation, the ratio of dispersive flux to advective flux decreases, indicating the increasing importance of advective transport. This effect can be seen in normalized tracer recovery curves that become more symmetrical with greater injection volume. At the Raft River site, the reservoir is dominated by a single major fracture zone. Injecting larger volumes of water into the fracture does not change the shape of the normalized tracer recovery curves. This indicates that the dispersion coefficient increases proportionally to the distance traveled by the injection front. Differences in the shape of tracer recovery curves are related to fundamental differences in reservoir characteristics. Long tails on the tracer recovery curves at Raft River suggest a dual porosity reservoir with a secondary fracture network connected to the major fracture. Such findings may considerably affect calculations of secondary heat recovery using injection wells.

Flow and Contaminant Transport in Fractured Rock

Flow and Contaminant Transport in Fractured Rock PDF Author: Jacob Bear
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080916473
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 575

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Book Description
In the past two or three decades, fractured rock domains have received increasing attention not only in reservoir engineering and hydrology, but also in connection with geological isolation of radioactive waste. Locations in both the saturated and unsaturated zones have been under consideration because such repositories are sources of heat and potential sources of groundwater contamination. Thus, in addition to the transport of mass of fluid phases in single and multiphase flow, the issues of heat transport and mass transport of components have to be addressed.

Energy Research Abstracts

Energy Research Abstracts PDF Author:
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Category : Power resources
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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The Use of Tracers to Analyze the Effects of Reinjection Into Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs

The Use of Tracers to Analyze the Effects of Reinjection Into Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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This paper discusses the use of tracers as a reservoir engineering tool in fractured geothermal reservoirs. The principle concern in injecting cooler spent fluids into a fractured reservoir is that the fluids may move through high permeability channels and return to the production wells after contacting a relatively small volume of rock. As a consequence of this rapid transport, the fluids will be only partially reheated and after a short period time will effectively mine the heat from the limited volume of rock. The production wells will then experience a rapid and premature reduction in thermal output. Tracers can be used to infer the existence of high mobility conduits between injection and production wells and to monitor chemical changes of an injected fluid. Since tracer arrival precedes thermal breakthrough, tracer tests are a very useful forecasting tool.

Analysis of Tracer and Thermal Transients During Reinjection

Analysis of Tracer and Thermal Transients During Reinjection PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Book Description
This work studied tracer and thermal transients during reinjection in geothermal reserviors and developed a new technique which combines the results from interwell tracer tests and thermal injection-backflow tests to estimate the thermal breakthrough times. Tracer tests are essential to determine the degree of connectivity between the injection wells and the producing wells. To analyze the tracer return profiles quantitatively, we employed three mathematical models namely, the convection-dispersion (CD) model, matrix diffusion (MD) model, and the Avodnin (AD) model, which were developed to study tracer and heat transport in a single vertical fracture. We considered three types of tracer tests namely, interwell tracer tests without recirculation, interwell tracer tests with recirculation, and injection-backflow tracer tests. To estimate the model parameters, we used a nonlinear regression program to match tracer return profiles to the solutions.

Injection Through Fractures

Injection Through Fractures PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Tracer tests are conducted in geothermal reservoirs as an aid in forecasting thermal breakthrough of reinjection water. To interpret tracer tests, mathematical models have been developed based on the various transport mechanisms in these highly fractured reservoirs. These tracer flow models have been applied to interpret field tests. The resulting matches between the model and field data were excellent and the model parameters were used to estimate reservoir properties. However, model fitting is an indirect process and the model's ability to estimate reservoir properties cannot be judged solely on the quality of the match between field data and model predictions. The model's accuracy in determining reservoir characteristics must be independently verified in a closely controlled environment. In this study, the closely controlled laboratory environment was chosen to test the validity and accuracy of tracer flow models developed specifically for flow in fractured rocks. The laboratory tracer tests were performed by flowing potassium iodide (KI) through artificially fractured core samples. The tracer test results were then analyzed with several models to determine which best fit the measured data. A Matrix Diffusion model was found to provide the best match of the tracer experiments. The core properties, as estimated by the Matrix Diffusion model parameters generated from the indirect matching process, were then determined. These calculated core parameters were compared to the measured core properties and were found to be in agreement. This verifies the use of the Matrix Diffusion flow model in estimating fracture widths from tracer tests.

Workshop Report

Workshop Report PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Geothermal engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Effects of Water Injection Into Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs

Effects of Water Injection Into Fractured Geothermal Reservoirs PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Reinjection of water into fractured geothermal reservoirs holds potential both for improvement and degradation of total energy recovery. The replacement of reservoir fluid can mean support of placement of reservoir pressures and also more efficient thermal energy recovery, but at the same time the premature invasion of reinjected water back into production wells through high permeability fractures can reduce discharge enthalpy and hence deliverability and useful energy output. Increases in reservoir pressure and maintenance of field output have been observed in operating fields, but unfortunately so too have premature thermal breakthroughs. The design of reinjection schemes, therefore, requires careful investigation into the likely effects, using field experimentation. This paper summarizes field experience with reinjection around the world, with the intention of elucidating characteristics of possible problems. The results summarized in this paper fall into three categories of interest: permeability changes dye to injection (both increases and decreases); the path followed by injected water (as indicated by tracer tests); and the thermal and hydraulic influences of injection on the reinjection well itself and on surrounding producers. [DJE-2005].