Potential for heat production by retrofitting abandoned gas wells into geothermal wells

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220128
• Publication Date: 2019-08-06T17:30:44Z
• Authors: Asif Mehmood; Jun Yao; Dongyan Fan; Kelvin Bongole; Junrong Liu; Xu Zhang
• Keywords: Thermal energy; Geothermal heating; Energy source

Using abandoned gas wells as geothermal resources for energy production is an effective way to extract from geological formations. These have the potential significantly contribute in rising global demand without requiring land disruption resulting deep drilling or digging, processes necessary extraction formations via more traditional methods. In this paper, a method proposed. The offers efficient, economical, and environmentally-conscious generate electricity. A mathematical model of thermal hydraulic coupling process constructed, 3D numerical generated study by retrofitting reservoir into reservoir. model, heat fluid flow are analyzed over period 50 years. production, electricity generation, recovery lifetime indicate that commercially viable dual well system can produce effectively. Dual-well systems contain at least one injection well. They composed two-way which flows returns having absorbed surrounding rocks. Sensitivity analysis main parameters controlling average outlet temperature sedimentary reveals suitable source energy. This be harvested whose use fluids differs closed-loop circulation borehole exchanger. Here, it demonstrated oil fields repurposed sources provide low-cost economically sustainable.