Coupled thermal-hydraulic-chemical modelling of enhanced geothermal systems

Abstract

The study investigates thermal-, hydraulic- and chemically coupled processes of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). On the basis of the two existing numerical codes, the finite element program fracture and the geochemical module of chemtough, frachem was developed, to simulate coupled thermal–hydraulic–chemical (THC) processes, accounting for the Soultz specific conditions such as the high salinity of the reservoir fluid and the high temperatures. The finite element part calculates the thermal and hydraulic field and the geochemical module the chemical processes. According to the characteristics of the Soultz EGS reservoir, the geochemical module was modified.