| Title | The Response to Exploitation of the Los Humeros (México) Geothermal Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Authors | Víctor Manuel ARELLANO, Rosa María BARRAGÁN, Miguel RAMÍREZ, Siomara LÓPEZ, Adriana PAREDES, Alfonso ARAGÓN, Rigoberto TOVAR |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Los Humeros geothermal field, reservoir processes, reservoir engineering, well simulation, fluid geochemistry, reservoir exploitation |
| Abstract | In this work the response to exploitation of the Los Humeros geothermal reservoir was inferred through the study of the changes in production of wells; in the thermodynamic conditions of reservoir fluids and in the chemical compositions of fluids, over time. Up to 2012 almost 123 million tons of fluids had been extracted from the reservoir. Well bottom conditions (pressure and enthalpy) were obtained through the heat and flow simulation of wells. The changes in the composition of fluids seem to be related to boiling. In high-enthalpy wells, condensation in the well or in the reservoir was inferred to occur. Results also showed a decreasing trend in fluids salinity due to increasing boiling and condensation. The average reservoir liquid saturation for the field has a decreasing trend over time. Analysis of gas data suggested that number of wells produce some either steam phase or condensed reinjection returns. According to the results, five main processes were identified: (a) Pressure decrease and enthalpy increase that produces a moderate boiling process with steam gain; (b) Important boiling and steam condensation; (c) Production of returns from reinjection; (d) Interaction with deep fluids, and (e) Decrease in reservoir liquid saturation due to the lack of enough recharge. |