GEODE Series - Webinar: Well Modelling Applied to Geothermal Resource Evaluation

The GEODE consortium is a catalyst for geothermal innovation that brings together subject-matter experts from the oil and gas (O&G) and geothermal sectors to leverage best practices and knowledge from O&G to help expand the use of geothermal technology. As part of that mission, GEODE is creating venues and events to facilitate the dissemination of geothermal and O&G knowledge. This webinar, hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is part of a series of webinars and conversations designed for professionals and students entering the workforce who are interested in learning more about the synergies in skills and technologies between geothermal and O&G. In the initial stage of evaluating a geothermal resource, there is usually a lot of uncertainty due to a lack of information. Nevertheless, the goal is to use whatever information is available to get a general idea of what the energy potential of that geothermal resource could be. This webinar will explore a general workflow that allows a preliminary evaluation of a geothermal resource using a simplified well model and nodal analysis and exposing the differences with the numerical reservoir simulation techniques. With this preliminary assessment, it is possible to enhance our understanding of complex subsurface systems and decrease uncertainty by having a possible prediction and optimization of geothermal resource potential. We will present how to use general parameters such as pressure, geothermal gradients, well trajectory, completion design, heat transfer coefficients, flow rates, and different reservoir models to understand the resource potential and analyze the impact of the associated uncertainty in each case study. By combining all these elements, it is possible to combine flow and thermal modelling and quickly evaluate dependence of key variables and where data collection programs could be focused. In turn, this analysis allows us to establish preliminary values of thermal power and understand what the projection could be in terms of electrical power of the geothermal resource being analyzed. Speakers: Elkin Santafé, Reservoir Engineering Discipline Advisor at Baker Hughes Yamal Askoul, Global Subject Matter Expert in Reservoir Engineer at Baker Hughes Moderator: Dmitrii Zunde, Geoscience Advisor at Baker Hughes Geothermal Energy from Oil and Gas Demonstrated Engineering (GEODE) is a consortium led by Project InnerSpace and SPE and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO). Learn more: www.geode.energy