Study on geothermal energy self-recycling extraction and ScCO2 storage in the horizontal well annuli with fracture network system

Abstract

With the extensive exploitation of fossil fuels, a substantial number of production and injection wells have been or are on the verge of being abandoned. However, many of these wells present viable opportunities for geothermal energy extraction, as they are situated in geothermal reservoirs with favourable temperatures. In alignment with carbon neutrality policies, supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) has emerged as the preferred working fluid for geothermal extraction, facilitating subsequent storage. This study has developed three transient models to characterize the heat and mass transfer processes of ScCO2 circulating within a horizontal wellbore and the reservoir's fracture network. Finite element method and Comsol Multiphysics 6.1 software are employed to solve these models. Results show that ScCO2 efficiently flows from the annuli into the hydraulic fracture network and then circulates back through the annuli completing a self-recycling heat extraction process. The findings reveal several key insights: (a) Lower injection mass flow rates and flow rates lead to more efficient extraction of thermal energy within horizontal wellbores. (b) Low-temperature ScCO2 enhance thermal energy recovery. (c) The larger the coverage area of the fracture network, the more effective the heat extraction. (d) The efficiency of heat extraction and ScCO2 storage in the horizontal well-fracture network self-circulation system is 3 to 5 times and 6 to 7 times higher than that of the horizontal well self-recycling and injection-production systems. (e) Periodic thermal extraction proves to be more efficient than continuous methods. (f) The cumulative heat production of the vertical dual well injection-production system is the highest, reaching 2.45 × 1011 kJ. But it's still lower than the self-circulating system. The heat extraction effect of the diagonal dual well injection-production system is the lowest, which is 1.83 × 1011 kJ. (g) Three developed transient models facilitate efficient heat extraction and ScCO2 storage reservoir screening and evaluation. In conclusion, the self-recycling system has achieved efficient heat extraction and carbon dioxide storage, providing a theoretical basis for future energy conversion and management.