Utilization Of Geothermal Resources Research Articles

Generalized model for predicting the thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils

As a renewable energy, geothermal is considered as one of the important approaches to mitigate the energy crisis and climate change. The thermal conductivity of soils is a key parameter required in the utilization of geothermal resources, and it plays an important role in engineering, environmental science, earth science, and agriculture. Generally, the existing models that predict the thermal conductivity of soil are limited to specific types of soil and specific conditions. As a result, it is difficult to apply these models to engineering practice. Therefore, a simple, efficient, and generalized model capable of predicting the thermal conductivity of soils is necessary. In this work, a generalized model for calculating the thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils is established. This model considers the initial dry density, initial water content, temperature, and mineral composition. The proposed generalized model is based on a large amount of measured data from different countries and regions. Its validity is verified after being cross-validated with a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model. Compared with two existing models, the proposed model achieves the best thermal conductivity estimation of fine-grained soils. Additionally, it has a wide range of applications, requires only a few parameters, and does not need recalibration.

Distribution, exploitation, and utilization of intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in eastern China

The part of China, east of the Hu Huanyong Line, is commonly referred to as eastern China. It is characterized by a high population density and a well-developed economy; it also has huge energy demands. This study assesses and promotes the large-scale development of geothermal resources in eastern China by analyzing deep geological structures, geothermal regimes, and typical geothermal systems. These analyses are based on data collected from geotectology, deep geophysics, geothermics, structural geology, and petrology. Determining the distribution patterns of intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in the region helps develop prospects for their exploitation and utilization. Eastern China hosts superimposed layers of rocks from three major, global tectonic domains— namely Paleo-Asian, Circum-Pacific, and Tethyan rocks. The structure of its crust and mantle exhibits a special flyover pattern, with basins and mountains as well as well-spaced uplifts and depressions alternatively on top. The lithosphere in Northeast China and North China is characterized by a thin, low density crust and mantle, whereas the lithosphere in South China has a thin, low density crust and a thick, high density mantle. The middle and upper crust contain geobodies with high conductivity and low velocity, with varying degrees of development that create favorable conditions for the formation and enrichment of geothermal resources. Moderate-to-high temperature geothermal resources are distributed in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic basins in eastern China, although moderate temperature geothermal resources with low abundance dominate. Porous sandstone reservoirs, karstified fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs, and fissured granite reservoirs are the main types of geothermal reservoirs in this region. Under the currently available technical conditions, the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in eastern China favor direct utilization over large-scale geothermal power generation. In Northeast China and North China, geothermal resources could be applied for large-scale geothermal heating purposes; geothermal heating could be applied during winter along parts of the Yangtze River while geothermal cooling would be more suitable for summer there; geothermal cooling could also be applied to much of South China. Geothermal resources can also be applied to high value-added industries, to aid agricultural practices, and for tourism.

Experimental investigation of water-rock reaction for the reinjection of sandstone geothermal reservoirs: A case from Neogene Guantao Formation in Tianjin

Reinjection is of importance to ensure the sustainable utilization of geothermal resources. However, there are still challenges for achieving complete reinjection of pore-type sandstone reservoirs. Taking Neogene sandstone in Tianjin as an example, water-rock reaction experiments under four reinjection fluids at 60 °C and 15 MPa were designed and performed. From the point of view of inner pores and permeability, the variations of pH, TDS and mineral compositions were compared, and their influences on the reinjection were analyzed. Responses of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes to water-rock reactions were obtained. Further, the statistical method including principal component analysis, cluster analysis and Pearson relevance analysis revealed the intrinsic correlations among 9 major hydrochemical compositions, 41 trace elements and 6 mineral compositions during the water-rock reactions. Test results showed that nanofiltration treatment water had more advantages as an alternative reinjection fluid, and the municipal tap water was not recommended. It was found that specific trace elements (e.g. Cu, Pb, Ni, Co, Rb) can be used as potential indicators of dissolution or precipitation of sandstone minerals (e.g. quartz, calcite, ankerite, clay minerals). The present results can provide helpful references for optimal selection of reinjection fluids as well as monitoring and evaluation of geothermal reservoirs.

Mechanical Properties of High-Temperature Granite under Liquid Nitrogen Cooling

The cooling characteristics of liquid nitrogen can effectively weaken the mechanical properties of dry hot rock reservoirs, improve the porosity and permeability of dry hot rock, and thus improve the development and utilization of geothermal resources. In order to explore the weakening effect of liquid nitrogen cooling characteristics on high-temperature reservoir rocks, uniaxial compression tests, Brazil splitting tests, and three-point bending tests were conducted on high-temperature granite, and synchronous acoustic emission tests were conducted to monitor the damage evolution of rocks. It is found that under the action of liquid nitrogen, the elastic modulus, peak strength, fracture toughness, and other mechanical properties of granite decrease to varying degrees. At different initial temperatures, the damage degree of liquid nitrogen to granite is different. The higher the initial temperature of granite, the greater the damage effect of liquid nitrogen on granite. The low-temperature characteristics of liquid nitrogen not only have the effect of cracking damage on granite but also have the effect of thermal stress on granite. If the temperature difference between the two is large, the heat released in the combination process will be higher. The greater the temperature difference, the greater the damage to granite. Under the action of liquid nitrogen, the acoustic emission characteristics of granite also show different evolution laws, and the ringing count of rock increases significantly, which indicates that liquid nitrogen aggravates the internal damage of granite, making the rock more fractured during fracturing. The research results can provide some scientific guidance for the development and utilization of geothermal energy.

Preface

ITB International Geothermal Workshop 2022 was an event organized by ITB Geothermal Master Program which was held on August 2 – 4, 2022 on an online basis through a live virtual workshop (Webinar) via Zoom and YouTube. Followed by over 2200 participants from many different aspects of the geothermal community, such as academia, industries, and government. This year’s theme is “Geothermal Competitiveness in Supporting Net-Zero Emission: From Technical to Business Model”, which focuses more on the Prospecting and Utilization of Geothermal Energy and collaborating Indonesia Geothermal Stakeholders by inviting speakers from various aspects in geothermal energy.The 11th ITB International Geothermal Workshop is expected to become a melting pot for sharing knowledge, experiences and solving technical and non-technical geothermal issues in Indonesia. For this year’s event, the focus of discussions would be the development and innovation of technology for the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of geothermal resources, socio-economics, green investment, and competitive business models.List of Conference Details, Committee are available in this Pdf.

Present status and sustainable utilization of hydrothermal geothermal resources in Tianjin, China: a critical review

<abstract> <p>Tianjin, as one of the pioneering and most prominent cities in China, has a long history of harnessing geothermal energy. The geothermal resource available in Tianjin is primarily characterized as a low- to medium-temperature hydrothermal geothermal resource. This manuscript introduces the ongoing status and potential of geothermal utilization in China, with a particular focus on the characteristics and utilization status of geothermal resources in Tianjin, China. Moreover, the relevant strategies and challenges for cost-efficient sustainable utilization of Tianjin geothermal resources are identified. The formation parameters of heat storage characteristics of Tianjin geothermal resources are also discussed. In addition, the key paths, guidelines and challenges on how to solve the obstacles related to the geothermal resources development in Tianjin are also suggested. The summarized results indicate that the geothermal reservoirs exploited in Tianjin vary greatly, which include sandstone of Neogene Minghuazhen formation, Guantao formation, Ordovician and Cambrian and carbonate of Proterozoic Wumishan formation. Most of the exploitative geothermal resources (146 geothermal wells) in Tianjin have mainly been produced from the Wumishan formation of the Jixian system and the Guantao formation of the Neogene system. The current production capacity has been doubled, and a two-stage cascade utilization system has been established, incorporating geothermal power generation and geothermal heating. The geothermal utilization share in Tianjin is estimated to be 81.66% for heating, 16.6% for domestic hot water and 1.35% for bathing. In conclusion, notwithstanding the diversity of geothermal resources in Tianjin, it is difficult to guarantee the sustainable development and utilization of geothermal resources in Tianjin due to the unreasonable layout of geothermal wells, imbalance of production and reinjection. Hence, the integration of distributed temperature sensing and distributed strain sensing monitoring demonstrates significant promise and effectiveness in tracking water circulation and detecting flow localization problems as dynamic monitoring processes and smart thermal response tests should be recommended and established as a substantial feature required in the future utilization and development of geothermal resources in Tianjin.</p> </abstract>

Research progress and prospect of geothermal resources

The world is reducing the use of fossil energy. Reducing carbon emissions will help protect the atmospheric environment. Because geothermal resources are are green, clean and carbon free energy, these are much accounted of by many countries. This paper explains the geological and geophysical characteristics of geothermal resources, summarizes the research of classification and utilization of geothermal resources, and expounds the technical process and difficult problems in the utilization of geothermal resources. It is concluded that if the key problems of geothermal resources utilization are solved, there will be a broad prospect for the utilization of geothermal resources.

Geothermal geological characteristics and exploitation potential in Nanyang Basin

Based on the geothermal geological conditions and the geothermal resources development and utilization data of Nanyang Basin for many years, the geothermal fields in the basin are divided according to the study of fault structures. According to the pumping test data of geothermal wells, the permeability coefficients of the thermal storage aquifers of the geothermal wells were calculated using the steady-flow Dupuit formula and Kusakin's empirical formula. In this paper, the water conductivity of thermal reservoir is calculated by using the method of line diagram and recovery water level, and the characteristics of thermal reservoir aquifer group, geothermal fluid flow field, and hydrochemistry are described systematically. Based on the analysis method of groundwater exploitation potential index, the development and utilization potential of geothermal resources is studied, which has certain reference significance for the development and utilization of geothermal resources of sedimentary basins.

Multi-mode and exergoeconomic analysis of a novel combined cooling, heating, and power system applied in the geothermal field

The exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources contribute to alleviating energy crisis and reducing environmental pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels. The energy systems driven by low-grade geothermal heat sources also have the potential for energy-saving and emission reduction. Among all kinds of energy systems, multi-mode systems with characteristics of various operation modes and flexible energy output have been widely concerned. In this work, a multi-mode CCHP system with a novel structure is proposed and driven by a closed type of geothermal heat source. The proposed parallel system is composed of a vapor compression heat pump cycle, an organic Rankine cycle, and a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The exergy efficiency and total product unit cost are selected as objective functions in multi-objective optimization processes to characterize system thermodynamic and exergoeconomic performances, respectively. The proposed system can operate in seven different modes to realize the conversion of power, heating, and cooling capacity output. The effects of main parameters, including evaporation pressure, condensing temperature, split ratio, etc, on system performances were studied. Results found that the coupling evaporator had the highest exergy destruction rate while the component turbine showed the largest capital cost. From the viewpoint of exergoeconomic performance, the turbine and coupling condenser were the most two important components. After that, the multi-objective optimization results revealed the limits of comprehensive system performance under such closed heat source conditions. Finally, the adjustable analysis found the performance range of the proposed system regulating the seven different operation modes. The exergy efficiency and total product unit cost fluctuated in the ranges of 18.68–52.64 % and 9.56–14.93 $/GJ, respectively.

Characteristics of Radiogenic Heat Production of Widely Distributed Granitoids in Western Sichuan, Southeast Tibetan Plateau

Abstract Investigating the genesis of geothermal resources requires a thorough understanding of the heat source mechanism, which is also a vital basis for the efficient exploration and utilization of geothermal resources. Situated in the eastern Himalayan syntax, western Sichuan is considered to be one of the main concentration regions of high-temperature geothermal resources in China. To date, various studies have been carried out to reveal the heat source and genesis of the abundant high-temperature resources in this area; however, studies on the contribution of the radioactive heat generated by the widely distributed granitoids to the high-temperature geothermal resources remain scarce. In order to resolve this knowledge gap, we attempted to obtain evidence from the geochemical data published in the literature in the past few decades. A total of 548 radiogenic heat production rate data were determined. The statistical data indicate that the average concentrations of the heat-producing elements U, Th, and K are 6.09±5.22 ppm, 26.74±16.78 ppm, and 3.51±0.82%, respectively. The calculated heat production values of the granitoids vary from 0.52 to 10.86 μW/m3, yielding an arithmetic average value of 3.74±2.15 μW/m3, which is higher than that of global Mesozoic–Cenozoic granites (3.09±1.62 μW/m3). Based on the heat production values, the capacity of the granitic batholiths to store heat was assessed, and the Dongcuo pluton was found to be the largest heat reservoir (382.88×1013 J/a). The distribution of the crustal heat flow was examined using the calculated heat production data and the stratigraphic structure obtained via deep seismic sounding in the study area. The results indicate that the crustal heat flow is 48.3–56.2 mW/m2, which is mainly contributed by the radioactive decay in the granitoids in the upper crust. The fact that it accounts for nearly half of the regional background heat flow indicates that the radiogenic heat from the granitoids is an important heat source for the formation of the thermal anomaly and the high-temperature geothermal resources in the study area. Thus, the results obtained in this study highlight the importance of the widely distributed granitoids to high-temperature geothermal resources in western Sichuan.

Evaluating the long-term sustainability of geothermal energy utilization from deep coal mines

Deep underground mines offer a great potential as low-enthalpy geothermal resource to be adopted in direct regional heating. In this paper, a parallel horizontal ground heat exchangers (pHGHE) system is introduced to utilize the geothermal resource in deep coal mines, however, the sustainability of the system in a long-run performance has not been well addressed in the previous study. This work presented a quantitative evaluation on the long-term sustainability of pHGHE system installed in backfilled stopes of deep coal mines. A novel numerical model is applied to characterize the heat transfer occurring between the horizontal pipes and backfill stopes. The proposed model was first verified to an analytical solution to determine the model reliability and accuracy. The validated numerical model was further applied to a typical underground backfilled stope of Anju coal mine in China. The results demonstrated that the maximum sustainable specific heat extraction rate must not exceed 40 W/m to maintain a 50-year exploitation period. A total thermal capacity of 17 GWh could be realized during each extraction cycle under the current conditions, which could provide heating to more than 170,000 m2 of residential building area. Accordingly, sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the key parameters influencing system sustainability. In addition, the effects of groundwater flow on the thermal interaction and long-term sustainability of the pHGHE systems were examined. Groundwater flow can be beneficial to the long-term sustainability of the system.This work confirms the feasibility and sustainability of geothermal resource utilization in backfill stopes of underground coal mines. The insights gained in this study can provide technical guidance for the design of geothermal systems in similar coal mines.

Experimental research on the heat transfer characteristics of fluid flowing through rock with intersecting fractures

The research on the seepage and heat transfer characteristics of fluid flowing through fractured rock mass is of great significance to the utilization of geothermal resources. The behaviors and characteristics of heat transfer when fluid flowing through a single fracture channel, two intersecting fractures channels, and three intersecting fractures channels were investigated and compared. Firstly, the calculation formula of convective heat transfer coefficient of water flowing through multi channels was deduced. Then the relationship between the seepage characteristic parameters and the confining pressure during the loading and unloading process was analyzed and discussed. Finally, the heat transfer mechanism of water flowing through rock sample with multi fractures was studied. This work supplements the law and theory of heat transfer when fluid flowing through fracture networks, which is of practical significance to the underground space utilization and geothermal resource exploitation.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Genetic Mechanism of Geothermal Springs in the Aba Area, Western Sichuan Province, China

Geothermal resources have been a source of significant clean energy in the world. The Sichuan Province is famous for its abundant geothermal resources in China, especially in western Sichuan. The Aba area is a significant minority region in northwestern Sichuan with abundant geothermal resources. In this study, hydrochemical and D-O analyses were conducted on the eight collected geothermal springs to investigate the genetic mechanism of the geothermal resource in the Aba area. The exposed temperatures and pH values of the geothermal springs ranged from 23 °C to 48 °C and from 6.6 to 9.5, respectively. Based on the hydrochemical characteristics, the eight geothermal springs were classified into two types: class A and class B. The class A geothermal springs belonged to the hydrochemical type of Ca-Mg-HCO3-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 and were affected by the weathering and dissolution of carbonate and silicate. The class B hydrochemical type of geothermal spring was Na-HCO3, which was determined by the weathering and dissolution of evaporite and silicate. A Na-K-Mg triangle diagram revealed that the geothermal springs belonged to immature water. A chalcedony geothermometer indicated that the temperature of the class A shallow geothermal reservoir in the Aba area was 59.70–73.00 °C and 70.65–120.91 °C for class B. Silicon enthalpy approaches showed that the initial reservoir temperature for class A was 181.36–203.07 °C (mixed by 85.76–89.44% cold water) and 271.74–295.58 °C (mixed by 87.39–87.54% cold water) for class B. The recharge elevation of the geothermal spring was 3415–3495 m as calculated by the D-O isotopes. We have proposed these genetic models of the two typical geothermal springs. The achievements provide a vital reference for the further development of geothermal water and the sustainable utilization of geothermal resources in the Aba area.

A Novel Slug Heat Test Theoretical and Indoor Model Research for Determining Thermal Property Parameters of Aquifers and Rock-Soil Skeletons

As important parameters for characterizing heat transfer, thermal property parameters of aquifers and rock-soil skeletons have important research significance in the development and utilization of geothermal resources. The slug heat test is inspired by the slug test, and the heat is instantaneously excited in the test well so as to change the temperature of test section in the test well instantaneously. Based on the thermal radial convection-dispersion theory and the principle of heat conservation, the theoretical model of the slug heat test is established, and the model is solved by Laplace transform and inverse transform to obtain multiple sets of standard curves under different conditions. The slug heat tests were conducted in the indoor model, the slug heat test data under different hydrodynamic conditions were fitted with the standard curves and the thermal property parameters, including effective thermal conductivity, stagnant thermal conductivity, thermal mechanical dispersion coefficient, thermal dispersive degree, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity of aquifer, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of rock-soil skeletons, were accurately obtained. The test results are in good agreement with the empirical values. Meanwhile, the effective thermal conductivity of the aquifer also clearly increases with the increase of flow rate. The excitation temperature difference had little effect on the effective thermal conductivity of the aquifer. At the same time, numerical simulation methods are used to establish a numerical model consistent with the indoor test model, and the numerical model is assigned with the thermal property parameters obtained from the indoor slug heat test, and the measured values of temperature changes in the test well during the slug heat test under different hydrodynamic and excitation strength conditions are compared with the simulated values for verification. The research results show that the slug heat test has the characteristics of high applicability, simple operation and rapid testing, and can effectively determine the thermal properties parameters of aquifers and rock-soil skeletons.

Proposing new configurations of flash cycle for effective utilization of geothermal resources: thermodynamic and exergoeconomic assessments

Proposing new configurations of flash cycle for effective utilization of geothermal resources: thermodynamic and exergoeconomic assessments

Main Controlling Factors and Formation Mode of Geothermal Anomaly in Eastern Chenghe Mining Area of Weibei Coalfield

Geothermal anomaly has gradually become a prominent issue affecting the efficient mining of coal with the depth of coal mining increasing in eastern Chenghe mining area of Weibei coalfield. Here, we comprehensively investigated the distribution characteristics of the present geothermal field, analyzed the main controlling factors, and constructed forming mode of geothermal anomaly by the temperature measurement in surface borehole and underground water, combined with coal-rock thermal conductivity test. The results show that the geothermal gradient ranged from 25.7°C/km to 54.3°C/km. The areas with geothermal gradient greater than 30°C/km accounted for 88.31%, and there was the highest gradient value in the southeast F1 fault zone. The heat flow was between 66.81 mW/m2 to 128.49 mW/m2, which belonged to the obvious high heat flow area. Under the action of the main controlling factors such as fault, fold, coal-rock thermal conductivity, and groundwater activity in the region, the geothermal gradient and geothermal heat flow values showed an increasing trend from northwest to southeast. According to the distribution characteristics of heat flow and the action mechanism of main controlling factors, the geothermal anomaly in the study area was finally divided into two forming modes, i.e., fault-deep circulating hot water uplifting type and coal seam heat resistance-fold type. The research provides guidance for the geothermal hazard prevention of coal mine and the rational development and utilization of geothermal resources.

Isotopic and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Genesis of Warm Springs in the Jiangcang Basin, Qinghai, China

The Jiangcang Basin is a Cenozoic faulted basin, where many low-temperature warm springs are exposed, with the highest temperature being 36.6°C. The study of the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the geothermal fluids of these warm springs can effectively clarify the genetic mechanisms of the geothermal resources in the Jiangcang Basin and thus is of great significance for the development and utilization of geothermal resources in the Qinghai Province. Using the geothermal and geological conditions of the Jiangcang Basin, this study analyzed the hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of water samples collected from cold water and from four warm springs in the Jiangcang Basin, obtaining the following results. The four warm springs have the hydrochemical types of HCO3-Ca·Mg, HCO3-Ca·Na·Mg, and HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca and total dissolved solids (TDSs) of 720.4–1,663 mg/L. Moreover, no significant positive correlation is found between Cl− and other ions in the warm springs. The results of isotopic analysis show that the warm springs are mainly recharged by atmospheric precipitation and meltwater from ice and snow, with a recharge elevation of 4,401–4,501 m. Furthermore, the geothermal reservoirs in the Jiangcang Basin have temperatures of 51–83°C and circulation depths of 1,848–2,610 m. Atmospheric precipitation and the meltwater from ice and snow infiltrate downward in high mountain areas and form runoffs along the tectonic channels in the basin. After being heated through deep circulation, they migrate upward along fault fracture zones under the influence of faults and the water blocking of mudstones, during which they cool by thermal conduction and mixing with shallow cold groundwater. Finally, the mixed water is exposed in the form of low-temperature tectonic warm springs. The results of this study can provide data for the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in the Qinghai Province.

Experimental study of the influence of temperature and cooling method on dynamic mechanical properties and damage of granite

AbstractThe change in mechanical properties of high‐temperature rock after cooling treatments is getting increasing attention. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the dynamic characteristic parameters. Therefore, this study aims to perform a dynamic damage analysis of high‐temperature rocks subjected to different thermal shocks. Accordingly, the specimens were grouped and heated to 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C, and they were cooled by natural, water, and liquid nitrogen cooling. Ultrasonic detector tests, the split Hopkinson pressure bar experiments, and scanning electron microscope tests of the high‐temperature granite specimens were conducted using different cooling methods. Subsequently, the change rules of dynamic stress–strain curves and properties were calculated, and the morphology and micromorphology of fragments were compared. Based on the outcomes, the thermal shock damage and impact damage evolution were evaluated and quantified. The findings revealed that when the treatment temperature increases, the dynamic peak stress and elastic modulus decrease, while the peak strain increases, and the effect of rapid cooling was more significant in the influence of rock dynamic characteristics. Moreover, when the damage factor is more than 0.51, the change of dynamic stress‐strain is accelerated, leading to the instability of the structure under the impact load. The research results are expected to provide an adequate theoretical basis for the development and utilization of geothermal resources and underground engineering applications.

Visualization Analysis on the Current Status and Development Trend of Geothermal Research: Insights Into the Database of Web of Science

Geothermal energy is considered a renewable, clean, and environmentally friendly energy source. In addition, it is efficient and relatively cost effective. Therefore, the demand for the development and utilization of geothermal resources is increasing annually. To understand the current status and developments within the context of geothermal research, quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out by combining two visualization software applications, namely, VOSviewer and CiteSpace; this analysis also entailed the secondary development of R language. The results showed that the USA, China, and Germany are the main contributors to geothermal research. We also found that geothermal research hot spots encompass five geothermal research clusters, such as renewable energy utilization, heat flow, numerical simulation, geochemistry, and groundwater. In addition, the strategic diagram and thematic structure revealed how geothermal research has evolved over time. Finally, the timeline view and burst term highlight the possible frontiers of geothermal power generation, enhanced geothermal systems, and ecological environment protection. These insights will provide scholars and policymakers with a systematic understanding of the current research and directions for future studies.

A Peaceman-type well model for the 3D Control Volume Finite Element Method and numerical simulations of supercritical geothermal resource utilization

While supercritical geothermal resources receive increasing attention, it has so far remained unclear if and how they could be utilized. In order to provide a tool that can simulate both the natural transient evolution of a supercritical resource near a magma intrusion and its response to possible operation schemes, we augmented the CSMP++ simulation platform with a Peaceman-type well model. For the purpose of generic porous medium simulations of the supercritical resource’s response to direct production, injection or other operation schemes, only a single in-/outflow interval per well is considered and flow in the wellbore is not simulated. The model’s semi-analytical source/sink function accounts for the rapid change in pressure near the wells in the reservoir simulation. As the implementation is based on the 3D Control Volume Finite Element Method it allows the use of unstructured computational grids in order to be able to include geologically realistic geometries. We validate that the well model provides robust solutions of well pressures and rates. Such robust solutions are also obtained for supercritical conditions where water is highly compressible and, therefore, does not strictly fulfil the assumptions used in the derivation of the Peaceman model. To illustrate how a magma-related supercritical resource responds to well operation, we first simulate the evolution of a geothermal system around and above a 2 km deep, explicitly represented magma body. During the system’s hottest phase, ca. 2700 years after its initiation and during progressive inward cooling of the magma body, a well completion interval is activated at 2.1 to 2.2 km depth where temperatures then reach 420 to 490 °C. For the relatively low host rock permeability used in the model (10−15 m2), injection and production rates remain quite limited at several kg/s. Yet, the evolving patterns of temperature, enthalpy, density and flow rates provide some first insights into supercritical resource response to operation.