Micro-seismic events detected at Fenton Hill site.
Colors show time of event. Green lines show well locations.(99 KB file)
Since a typical geothermal reservoir lies 2,000 to 4,000 m (6,000 to 12,000 ft) below the surface, directly observing features is difficult. Cores recovered during drilling can show the rock types. Borehole televiewers can give direct images of fracture intersections with the wells. If stimulation is used to open fractures by high pressure pumping, micro-seismic signals can be detected. During operation, tracers can be injected and detected in the production wells. Also, during operation measurements of pressure, flow rates, and temperatures can help develop a conceptual model of a reservoir.
Active research is continuing in all these areas, with new technologies such as tomographic imaging being developed. At some time in the future, it will be possible to identify with greater confidence features of the reservoir. Such information will enable the development of more detailed reservoir simulations. Thus, our work developing computer programs is complementary to these developing technologies.
Micro-seismic events detected at Fenton Hill site.
Colors show time of event. Green lines show well locations.
(99 KB file)
The Dixie Valley reservoir is located near Reno, Nevada. The wells intersect a fault. A conceptual model of the reservoir shows the injection wells in blue and the production wells in red. For scale, the squares on the surface are 1 mile (5/3 km) on each side. We are developing a 3D analysis of this reservoir.
Conceptual
model of Dixie Valley reservoir.
(222 KB file)