The use of modeling in drawing up guidelines for the exploitation of the Khankala geothermal field (Chechen Republic)

Abstract

Nowadays, geothermal waters have become an important form of energy and many researchers have put to the forefront the issue of “sustainability” of the geothermal reservoir development. Reinjection of the used fluid during exploitation allows minimizing the possible negative effect on the environment and maintaining the reservoir pressure and therefore the initial high flow rates. However, it has a major disadvantage—a gradual temperature decrease in an aquifer, which needs to be taken into account. The most effective methods assessing this disadvantage are based on numerical modeling, which has been actively implemented in all areas of science. In the current paper, mathematical modeling is applied for the Khankala geothermal field in the Chechen Republic to forecast changes in the temperature regime of the resource and define the optimal exploitation scenario to achieve its sustainable development.