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The feasibility of developing a geothermal heating system in naturally fractured formations of northern Songliao Basin was investigated. The flow conductivity of reservoir natural fractures was analyzed based on fracture orientations and present stress regimes. A 2D discrete fracture network model was established based on the field geological data and Monte Carlo simulation method. The hydraulic properties of the geothermal reservoir were calculated using a self-developed MATLAB code, which is programmed based on graph-theoretic flow network and hydrologic balance theory. The equivalent permeability of the DFN model, representative elementary volume (REV), and permeability tensor were studied based on the model. Finally, the heat production performance of the geothermal reservoir was numerically investigated. Research results show that the production temperature maintains at a stable level during 30 years of heat production. The system shows high energy efficiency due to the low energy consumption of the injection and production pumps. Research results in this work can provide preliminary understanding of hydraulic property and heat production of geothermal reservoir in the research area. The research methodology can also be applied in the analysis of other geothermal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the feasibility of using enhanced geothermal system correlation techniques (hydraulic fracturing and heat extraction) to develop medium–low temperature geothermal resources for heating purposes in northeast China is investigated. A detailed experiment on field hydraulic fracturing stimulation is conducted. Combining with numerical simulation approaches, heat production potential of this system is forecasted. Field hydraulic stimulation results indicate that the matrix acidizing treatment significantly limits near wellbore friction loss. For network fracturing treatment, however, the formation of branching fractures and its enhancing effects on reservoir flow conductivity needs to be verified by production tests in the future. The geometric dimension and flow conductivity of the induced fracture are determined by numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing process. The accuracy of the numerical model is verified through matching well head pressure curve. Parameters including production flow rate, flow impedance, production temperature, heat extraction rate and energy efficiency are determined through the simulation results of heat production forecast. The results indicate that thermal energy production from the stimulated reservoir is satisfactory for heating purpose. However, water flow impedance maintains at a relative high level during production period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the feasibility of generating electricity from EGS (enhanced geothermal systems) by oilfield produced water circulating through reservoir stimulated by staged fracturing technology for horizontal wells is investigated based on the geological data of Xujiaweizi area, located in the Daqing Oilfield, northeast China. HDR (hot dry rock) resource potential assessment is carried out by using volumetric method. Reservoir stimulation is numerically simulated based on the geological data of well YS-1 and field fracturing experience in this region. Geometric dimensions and flow conductivity of the resulting fracture are imported into the hydro-thermal model to calculate the electricity generation potential of the proposed EGS power plant. An EGS design scheme is proposed based on the simulation results. The system is also evaluated from the economic and environmental aspects. The results indicate that HDR resource in Xujiaweizi area is of great potential for development. Through the staged fracturing technology for horizontal wells, electricity generation power of the proposed EGS project can roughly meet the commercial standard. For 20 years of continuous production, power generation from the proposed EGS power plant is economic feasible. Meanwhile, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daqing City in Northern Songliao Basin (China) requires huge amounts of electric power and thermal energy for oil processing and resident support each year. We used actual geological and logging data of deep well YS-2 in Daqing oilfield to investigate electricity generation and heating potential from enhanced geothermal systems in tight rock and naturally fractured formations (3850–4500 m) using different reservoir stimulation methods. We then proposed optimized hydraulic fracturing and heat extraction strategies for each formation. Results indicate that the Yingcheng formation is suitable for the development of HDR (hot dry rock) resources in this region. Heat output in the stimulated naturally fractured formation is obviously higher than that in the tight rock formation. The development of HDR resources in the naturally fractured formation should be prioritized. In middle-low temperature (about 160 °C), tight rock formation still has great potential for heating supply, but the structure has poor capacity for electricity generation because of the low appropriate injection rate resulting from low reservoir temperature. However, when a high temperature reservoir is selected, electricity generation is feasible from tight formation by using gel-proppant hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal well technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]