| Abstract |
Geothermal Energy is widely recognized as a renewable, sustainable, and environmental- friendly source of energy due to its low carbon footprint. However, the amount of heat energy extractable from a sustainable geothermal system strongly depend on the reservoir flow dynamics which requires critical reservoir characterization for long-term productivity, energy output maximization, and heat extraction efficiency. This study presents a comparative study of heat energy recovery efficiency for production-injection flow patterns generated by vertical, horizontal, and multilateral wells in a geothermal reservoir. Each well configurations exhibits distinct characteristics that affect thermal recovery as well as the overall heat energy efficiency. Vertical well configurations can reach high geothermal reservoir temperatures at depths with expensive drilling. Whereas, horizontal wells enhance thermal recovery and heat transfer rate due to its broader area and lateral spread. However, drilling many horizontal wells could be quite costly. Therefore, the application of advanced multilateral technology that blends both vertical and horizontal flow patterns by maximizing heat extraction and enhancing energy efficiency through the access of different geothermal reservoir zones provides future geothermal energy industry solutions at the lowest drilling cost. This article analyzes temperature distribution along the geothermal reservoir system life cycle, compares energy efficiencies, and performs economic analysis for the three types of flow patterns. The case study is based on the data collected from the 1979 On-Campus Geothermal Project from the University of Regina. The research findings are expected to support sustainable and optimal geothermal well heat production performance in western Canada. |