Thermal Stimulation of Geothermal Reservoirs and Laboratory Investigation of Thermally Induced Fractures

摘要

Thermal stimulation of geothermal wells is a production enhancement technique that is an attractive option to operators of geothermal fields as a way to enhance and revitalize well performance capabilities through injection of cold water into the geothermal reservoir. This paper presents a review of thermal stimulation procedures that have been carried out at various geothermal fields worldwide. The role of fracture formation, cleaning, and re-opening has been attributed to successful thermal stimulations, but the exact role of each process is still under investigation. To understand these processes, laboratory experiments attempting to induce thermal fracturing in Icelandic outcrop analogs are presented.