| Title | Exploring the Relationship Between Measured Tracer Adsorption Uncertainty and Resulting Thermal Breakthrough Predictions |
|---|---|
| Authors | Eito Miyakoshi, Shigemi Naganawa, Elvar K. Bjarkason |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | Understanding the potential for thermal breakthrough (both its extent and rate) is critical when planning and managing fluid reinjection in geothermal reservoirs. Thermal breakthrough occurs when cool reinjection fluids migrate to production wells, resulting in a drop in the produced fluid temperature and, consequently, a loss in energy production efficiency. Accurately predicting this phenomenon is vital for optimizing reservoir longevity and economic performance. One promising technique for predicting thermal breakthrough behavior involves using reactive tracers (chemical solutes) that can adsorb onto reservoir rock surfaces. Under idealized conditions, the adsorption properties of these tracers can be exploited to infer properties of subsurface flow paths and estimate thermal front progression with high precision. This makes adsorptive tracer tests an appealing diagnostic tool for geothermal engineers and reservoir modelers. However, practical application of this method is complicated by the inherent uncertainties in tracer-rock interactions. These interactions can vary significantly depending on site-specific factors such as mineral composition, fluid chemistry, and temperature. This study considers tracer-rock adsorption experiments to explore the effects of tracer adsorption uncertainty on thermal breakthrough predictions. |