PRELIMINARY FINDINGS INTO SPECIFIC STRATIGRAPY AND HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES FOR GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PROSPECTING ALONG THE WILLISTON BASIN

English Abstract:

Geothermal energy exploration is becoming a sustainable modification from the conventional hydrocarbon industry. Canada shows possible potential for this form of energy widely distributed across the Provinces. The paper serves to present the analysis of well core data within four wells in regards to their temperatures, permeability enhancements, and its dominant hydraulic flow paths. The area of Weyburn is chosen as the target region within the scope of the prominent Williston Basin. From these four wells, five cores are investigated and results generated as a means to display a criteria to analyse other well core data. Through bottom-hole temperature values, temperature vs depth plots are generated and assist to yield insight into favourable depths having suitable temperatures for potential binary systems. Through the use of a mathematical model that describes the deformation of fracture walls as a function of the fracture radius due to the effect of the geothermal fluid, analytical solutions for each core sample is generated that reveals which core structures deform the greatest in response to the fluid. Results are illustrated graphically via MATLAB plots and Excel Histograms. However, through COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3a software the Darcy’s Law module is utilized to model the core geometry and the relevant Physics are implemented to generate 3D pressure isosurface models illustrating maximum flow paths. In addition, important 1D plots such as: Darcy’s velocity flow, permeability, porosity and pressure along the core sample length are extracted to further analyse the system. Hence the geological cores of the identified wells of interest are modelled to show the extent of velocity flow magnitude and isosurfaces through these cores.