Reservoir lifetime and heat recovery factor in geothermal aquifers used for urban heating

Simple models are discussed to evaluate reservoir lifetime and heat recovery factor in geothermal aquifers used for urban heating. By comparing various single well and doublet production schemes, it is shown that reinjection of heat depleted water greatly enhances heat recovery and reservoir lifetime, and can be optimized for maximum heat production. It is concluded that geothermal aquifer production should be unitized, as is already done in oil and gas reservoirs.Nomenclature a distance between doublets in multi-doublet patterns, meters - A area of aquifer at base temperature, m² drainage area of individual doublets in multidoublet patterns, m² - D distance between doublet wells, meters - h aquifer thickness, meters - H water head, meters - Q production rate, m³/sec. - r _e aquifer radius, meters - r _w well radius, meters - R _g heat recovery factor, fraction - S water level drawdown, meters - t producing time, sec. - T aquifer transmissivity, m²/sec. - v stream-channel water velocity, m/sec. - actual temperature change, °C - theoretical temperature change, °C - water temperature, °C - heat conductivity, W/m/°C - _r rock heat conductivity, W/m/°C - _aC_a aquifer heat capacity, J/m³/°C - _aC_r rock heat capacity, J/m³/°C - _WC_W water heat capacity, J/m³/°C - aquifer porosity, fraction