Progress and prospect of mid-deep geothermal reinjection technology

Mid-deep geothermal reinjection technology is crucial for the sustainable development of geothermal resources,which has garnered significant attention and rapid growth in recent years.Currently,various geothermal reinjection technologies lag behind,lacking effective integration to address issues like low reinjection rates and thermal breakthrough.This paper reviews the basic principles and development history of mid-deep geothermal reinjection technology,focusing on various technical methods used in the process and analyzing their applicability,advantages,and disadvantages under different geological conditions.It highlights the unique challenges posed by deep geothermal resources,including high temperature,high pressure,high stress,chemical corrosion,and complex geological structures.Additionally,it addresses challenges in equipment selection and durability,system stability and operation safety,environmental impact,and sustainable development.Finally,the paper explores future directions for mid-deep geothermal reinjection technology,highlighting key areas for further research and potential pathways for technological innovation.This comprehensive analysis aims to accelerate the advancement of geothermal reinjection technology,offering essential guidance for the efficient reinjection and sustainable development of geothermal resources.

Research progress on temperature field evolution of hot reservoirs under low-temperature tailwater reinjection

This paper focuses on the study of the evolutionary mechanism governing the temperature field of geothermal reservoir under low-temperature tailwater reinjection conditions,which is crucial for the sustainable geothermal energy management.With advancing exploitation of geothermal resources deepens,precise understanding of this mechanism becomes paramount for devising effective reinjection strategies,optimizing reservoir utilization,and bolstering the economic viability of geothermal energy development.The article presents a comprehensive review of temperature field evolution across diverse heterogeneous thermal reservoirs under low-temperature tailwater reinjection conditions,and analyzes key factors influ-encing this evolution.It evaluates existing research methods,highlighting their strengths and limitations.The study identifies gaps in the application of rock seepage and heat transfer theories on a large scale,alongside the need for enhanced accuracy in field test results,particularly regarding computational effi-ciency of fractured thermal reservoir models under multi-well reinjection conditions.To address these shortcomings,the study proposes conducting large-scale rock seepage and heat transfer experiments,coupled with multi-tracer techniques for field testing,aimed at optimizing fractured thermal reservoir models'computational efficiency under multi-well reinjection conditions.Additionally,it suggests integrat-ing deep learning methods into research endeavors.These initiatives are of significance in deepening the understanding of the evolution process of the temperature field in deep thermal reservoirs and enhancing the sustainability of deep geothermal resource development.

An Experimental Study on Bio-Clogging in Porous Media during Geothermal Water Reinjection

To study the mechanism of bio-clogging in a porous medium during the reinjection of geothermal water and to improve reinjection efficiency, an indoor one-dimensional reinjection experiment was conducted based on the geological model of the geothermal reinjection demonstration project in Dezhou City. The biological process of porous media clogging was investigated by analyzing the variation of permeability within the medium, the main indexes of nutrient salts, and the content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). High-throughput sequencing, based on 16S rRNA, was used to analyze the characteristics and succession of microbial communities during the reinjection of geothermal water. The results of the study show that significant bio-clogging occurs during the reinjection of geothermal water, with an increase in the heterogeneity of the thermal reservoir medium, and a decrease in permeability. The extent of clogging gradually reduces with an increase in seepage path. Thus, thermal reservoir clogging is more serious closer to the water inlet. With an increase in the duration of reinjection, the permeability of the porous medium undergoes three stages: “rapid”, “decline-slow”, and “decrease-stable”. The results show that the richness and diversity of the bacterial community increase and decrease, respectively, during the reinjection process. Bacterial community succession occurs, and the bacterial communities mainly include the Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla. Pseudomonas and Devosia are respectively the dominant bacteria in the early and late stages of geothermal water reinjection.

Seepage-heat transfer coupling process of low temperature return water injected into geothermal reservoir in carbonate rocks in Xian County,China

Fracture seepage and heat transfer in the geothermal reservoir of carbonate rocks after the reinjection of low temperature geothermal return water is a complex coupling process,which is also the frontier of geothermal production and reinjection research.Based on the research of cascade comprehensive development of geothermal resources in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(Xian County),the carbonate geothermal reservoir of Wumishan formation in the geothermal field in Xian County is investigated.With the development of the discrete fracture network model and the coupling model of seepage and heat transfer,the numerical solution of seepage field and temperature field with known fracture network is reached using the finite element software COMSOL,and the coupling process of seepage flow and heat in carbonate rocks is revealed.The results show that the distribution of temperature field of fractured rocks in geothermal reservoir of carbonate rocks has strong non-uniformity and anisotropy.The fracture network is interpenetrated,which constitutes the dominant channel of water conduction,and along which the fissure water moves rapidly.Under the influence of convective heat transfer and conductive heat transfer,one of the main factors to be considered in the study of thermal breakthrough is to make the cold front move forward rapidly.When the reinjection and production process continues for a long time and the temperature of the geothermal reservoir on the pumping side drops to a low level,the temperature of bedrocks is still relatively high and continues to supply heat to the fissure water,so that the temperature of the thermal reservoir on the pumping side will not decrease rapidly to the water temperature at the inlet of reinjection,but will gradually decrease after a long period of time,showing an obvious long tail effect.The distribution of fractures will affect the process of seepage and heat transfer in carbonate reservoirs,which should be considered in the study of fluid thermal coupling in carbonate reservoirs.