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The Meager Mountain Geothermal Project stands as one of the pioneering geothermal energy initiatives in its early stages of resource development. Despite its abundant geothermal heat resources, no prior studies have systematically evaluated the potential of implementing coaxial borehole heat exchangers on site. This study addresses this research gap by presenting a comprehensive heat transfer model for an underground closed-loop geothermal system utilizing a single coaxial well. Finite element analysis incorporated fluid and solid heat transfer, as well as solid mechanics. The results obtained facilitated the construction of the temperature and thermal stress profiles induced by the cooling effects resulting from years of heat extraction. After 25 years of operation, the outlet temperature has reached approximately 74 °C, and the maximum radial tensile thermal stress amounts to ~47 MPa. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that higher fluid velocities contribute to more perturbed temperature and stress distributions. The study attained maximum thermal and electric power outputs of 208 kW and 17 kW, respectively. This research also underscores the significant impact of geothermal gradient and well length on BHE design, with longer wells yielding more power, especially at higher injection velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the burgeoning interest in mitigating anthropogenic CO2 emissions, carbonate reservoirs have emerged as promising sequestration sites due to their substantial storage potentials. However, the complexity of CO2 storage in carbonate reservoirs exceeds that in conventional sandstone reservoirs, predominantly due to the rapid interactions occurring between the injected CO2, brine, and carbonate rock matrix. In this study, a numerical model integrated with the chemical CO2–brine–rock matrix interaction was developed to analyze the carbonate rock dissolution process and the physical property variations of different carbonate gas reservoirs during the CO2 injection and sequestration process. More specifically, a total of twenty scenarios were simulated to examine the effects of lithology, pore size, pore–throat structures, and CO2 injection rate on carbonate rock matrix dissolution and reservoir property variation. Calcite is significantly easier and quicker to react with CO2-solvated brine than dolomite; as a result, limestones exhibit an expedited rock dissolution and pore volume increase, along with a slower pressure buildup in comparison to dolomites. Also, the carbonate reservoir with a smaller pore size has a higher rock dissolution rate than one with a larger pore size. Furthermore, the simulation results show injected CO2 can modify the pore-dominant carbonate reservoir to a more pronounced extent than the fracture-dominant carbonate reservoir. Lastly, the carbonate rock dissolution is more obvious at a lower CO2 injection rate. The insights derived from this research aid evaluations related to CO2 injectivity, storage capacity, and reservoir integrity, thereby paving the way for environmentally and structurally sound carbon sequestration strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]