Quantifying Geological Uncertainty and Optimizing Technoeconomic Decisions for Geothermal Reservoirs
Quantifying Geological Uncertainty and Optimizing Technoeconomic Decisions for Geothermal Reservoirs

Author: Ahinoam Pollack

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Globally, 25% percent of greenhouse gas emissions result from electricity generation that is powered by burning fossil fuels. To mitigate climate change due to these emissions, we must increase the electricity portion generated by low-carbon resources, such as geothermal energy. One of the major barriers for geothermal development is financial risk due to geological uncertainty. Production from a geothermal well highly depends on the unknown location of subsurface geological structures, such as faults. Faults are the most important part of geothermal systems because they host the hydrothermal fluids. In geothermal systems, cold rain-water seeps to hot areas in the subsurface and heats up. This hydrothermal fluid then upwells through subsurface faults towards the surface. Geothermal energy developers need to find these faults to: drill wells to intersect these faults, pump out the hot pressurized water and use the water to turn turbines and generate electricity. Yet, characterizing the structure of faults carrying hydrothermal fluids is extremely difficult and uncertain. Traditionally, geoscientists assess the subsurface structure by collecting many different datasets, interpreting the datasets manually, and creating a single model of fault locations. This method, however, is often inaccurate and does not provide any information about geological uncertainty and ensuing financial risk. In this work, we show that geological uncertainty has been a major challenge for developing geothermal systems, specifically enhanced geothermal systems. Using a synthetic case study, we demonstrate that information about geological uncertainty can influence the process of making decisions regarding reservoir management. we then describe a method for generating geologically realistic structural models of geothermal reservoirs that match observed data and apply this stochastic inversion method on real data from the Patua Geothermal Field in Nevada. To conclude, we provide a case study of how geological uncertainty quantified at Patua Geothermal Field can be used to inform the choice of reservoir development actions.

Quantifying Uncertainty in Subsurface Systems
Quantifying Uncertainty in Subsurface Systems

Author: Céline Scheidt

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2018-06-19

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 1119325838

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Under the Earth's surface is a rich array of geological resources, many with potential use to humankind. However, extracting and harnessing them comes with enormous uncertainties, high costs, and considerable risks. The valuation of subsurface resources involves assessing discordant factors to produce a decision model that is functional and sustainable. This volume provides real-world examples relating to oilfields, geothermal systems, contaminated sites, and aquifer recharge. Volume highlights include: A multi-disciplinary treatment of uncertainty quantification Case studies with actual data that will appeal to methodology developers A Bayesian evidential learning framework that reduces computation and modeling time Quantifying Uncertainty in Subsurface Systems is a multidisciplinary volume that brings together five major fields: information science, decision science, geosciences, data science and computer science. It will appeal to both students and practitioners, and be a valuable resource for geoscientists, engineers and applied mathematicians. Read the Editors' Vox: eos.org/editors-vox/quantifying-uncertainty-about-earths-resources

Introduction to Geological Uncertainty Management in Reservoir Characterization and Optimization
Introduction to Geological Uncertainty Management in Reservoir Characterization and Optimization

Author: Reza Yousefzadeh

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-04-08

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13: 3031280792

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This book explores methods for managing uncertainty in reservoir characterization and optimization. It covers the fundamentals, challenges, and solutions to tackle the challenges made by geological uncertainty. The first chapter discusses types and sources of uncertainty and the challenges in different phases of reservoir management, along with general methods to manage it. The second chapter focuses on geological uncertainty, explaining its impact on field development and methods to handle it using prior information, seismic and petrophysical data, and geological parametrization. The third chapter deals with reducing geological uncertainty through history matching and the various methods used, including closed-loop management, ensemble assimilation, and stochastic optimization. The fourth chapter presents dimensionality reduction methods to tackle high-dimensional geological realizations. The fifth chapter covers field development optimization using robust optimization, including solutions for its challenges such as high computational cost and risk attitudes. The final chapter introduces different types of proxy models in history matching and robust optimization, discussing their pros and cons, and applications. The book will be of interest to researchers and professors, geologists and professionals in oil and gas production and exploration.

Flow and Heat Transfer in Geothermal Systems
Flow and Heat Transfer in Geothermal Systems

Author: Aniko Toth

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2016-10-11

Total Pages: 396

ISBN-13: 0128005254

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Flow and Heat Transfer in Geothermal Systems: Basic Equations for Description and Modeling Geothermal Phenomena and Technologies is the ideal reference for research in geothermal systems and alternative energy sources. Written for a wide variety of users, including geologists, geophysicists, hydro-geologists, and engineers, it offers a practical framework for the application of heat and flow transport theory. Authored by two of the world's foremost geothermal systems experts, whose combined careers span more than 50 years, this text is a one-stop resource for geothermal system theory and application. It will help geoscientists and engineers navigate the wealth of new research that has emerged on the topic in recent years. - Presents a practical and immediately implementable framework for understanding and applying heat and flow transport theory - Features equations for modelling geothermal phenomena and technologies in full detail - Provides an ideal text for applications in both geophysics and engineering

Geothermal Well Test Analysis
Geothermal Well Test Analysis

Author: Sadiq J. Zarrouk

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2019-04-30

Total Pages: 367

ISBN-13: 0128149477

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Geothermal Well Test Analysis: Fundamentals, Applications and Advanced Techniques provides a comprehensive review of the geothermal pressure transient analysis methodology and its similarities and differences with petroleum and groundwater well test analysis. Also discussed are the different tests undertaken in geothermal wells during completion testing, output/production testing, and the interpretation of data. In addition, the book focuses on pressure transient analysis by numerical simulation and inverse methods, also covering the familiar pressure derivative plot. Finally, non-standard geothermal pressure transient behaviors are analyzed and interpreted by numerical techniques for cases beyond the limit of existing analytical techniques. Provides a guide on the analysis of well test data in geothermal wells, including pressure transient analysis, completion testing and output testing Presents practical information on how to avoid common issues with data collection in geothermal wells Uses SI units, converting existing equations and models found in literature to this unit system instead of oilfield units

Exploratory Potential Methods in Geothermal Power Generation
Exploratory Potential Methods in Geothermal Power Generation

Author: Willi Freeden

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2024

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 3031544129

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The book provides the geoscientific context, that arises in gravimetric/magnetometric exploration. It essentially uses mathematics as a key technology for modeling issues on the basis of analysis and interpretation according to dense and precise gravitational/magnetic measurements. It is dedicated to surface and deep geology with potential data primarily of terrestrial origin. The book spans the interdisciplinary arc from geoengineering, especially geodesy, via geophysics to geomathematics and geology, and back again. It presents the recently published pioneering and groundbreaking multiscale mollifier methodologies realizing the bridging transfer from gravitational/magnetic measurements to approximative/numerical mollifier wavelet decorrelations with novel geologic prospects and layer-structure determination as outcome. Using the specific example of the German Saarland region, new important fields of application, especially for areas with mining-related cavities, will be opened up and subjected to an in-depth geologic detection.