A new fractal model for quantitatively investigating the contribution of microstructural evolution to geothermal extraction

Abstract

As one of the most fundamental clean energy sources, geothermal energy extraction and application has undergone extensive research and analysis. Understanding fluid seepage behavior in the pore and fracture microstructure of complex reservoir is fundamental to the extraction. In this study, we provide a novel method for measuring the interplay between pore microstructure and thermal–hydrological–mechanical coupling. The fractal geothermal model developed in this study was validated for correctness by comparison with field extraction data, published model, and analytical solution. For studying thermal conduction, seepage, and fracture-matrix interactions in geothermal reservoirs, the fractal seepage model proposed in this research is superior to the traditional cubic seepage model, according to the findings. Permeability increases by about 11.7% as fractal dimension increases by 0.4%. In addition, both the produced fluid temperature and the mean reservoir temperature are inversely proportional to the pore fractal dimension and initial porosity. We can infer that different structural parameters will have an array of effects on seepage resulting from geothermal extraction, which cannot be predicted using cubic permeability models. This provides new ideas for geothermal extraction practitioners.