Overview of Closed–Loop Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 158 - 164, 10.05.2023

Ekrem Alagoz , Fatimah Alnasser , Yasin Ozkan , Emre Can Dundar , Javid Shiriyev

Abstract

In recent years, the focus of energy industries shifted toward geothermal energy utilization due to environmental concerns. Numerous studies were conducted on Closed-loop and Open-loop Enhanced Geothermal Systems to analyze their feasibility, efficiency, and durability. As different studies focused on various aspects of the system, concerns regarding low heat transfer, circulation efficiency, wellbore instability, and economic viability were left unanswered. Additionally, simulators could not adequately capture the complexity of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Another studied system, Advanced Geothermal Systems, has lower costs, better circulation, and no seismic consequences within the closed loop but still suffers from some issues encountered with EGS, such as heat transfer inefficiency. Moreover, geothermal system applicability is limited, especially in deep wells or wells with high thermal gradients. This paper summarizes some of the issues associated with EGS closed-loop systems based on previous studies.

Keywords

Geothermal energy, Close-Loop EGS, Hydraulic fractured EGS, Hot dry rock, Renewables

References

• Akdas, S.B., 2020. Investigation of Geothermal Energy Extraction From An Enhanced Geothermal System With A Multistage Hydraulically Fractured Horizontal Well Doublet. MS Thesis, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
• Beckers, K.F., Rangel-Jurado, N., Chandrasekar, H., Hawkins, A.J., Fulton, P.M., Tester, J.W., 2022. Techno-Economic Performance of Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems for Heat Production and Electricity Generation. Geothermics 100, 102318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2021.102318.
• Dandelion Energy, 2020. Open loop vs closed Loop Geothermal Systems. Dandelion Energy. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://dandelionenergy.com/open-loop-vs-closed-loop-geothermal-systems.
• Falcone, G., Liu, X., Okech, R.R., Seyidov, F., Teodoriu, C., 2018. Assessment of deep geothermal energy exploitation methods: The need for novel single-well solutions. Energy 160 (1), 54-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.06.144.
• GeoEnergy, T., 2023. ThinkGeoEnergy's top 10 geothermal countries 2022-power generation capacity (MW). Think GeoEnergy-Geothermal Energy News. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/thinkgeoenergys-top-10-geothermal-countries-2022-power-generation-capacity-mw/#:~:text=Global%20geothermal%20power%20generation%20capacity,remain%20below%20pre%2Dcovid%20times.
• Higgins, B., Scherer, J., Amaya, A., Chandrasekar, H., Van Horn, A., 2021. Closed-Loop Geothermal in Steam Dominated Reservoirs. Geothermal Rising Conference Transactions 45, (1-10.
• Irani, M., Ghannadi, S., Nick Daprocida, N.D., Lacoste-Bouchet, P., DiStefano, V., 2022. On Numerical Modelling of the Hydraulic-Fractured Closed Loop Systems: Single Producer. Paper presented at the SPE Canadian Energy Technology Conference, March 2022, Paper Number: SPE-208945-MS. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. https://doi.org/10.2118/208945-MS.
• Kelly, J.J., McDermott, C.I., 2022. Numerical modelling of a deep closed-loop geothermal system: evaluating the Eavor-Loop. AIMS Geosciences 8 (2), 175-212. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2022011.
• Livescu, S., Dindoruk, B., 2022a. Coupled Well-Reservoir Heat Modelling for Closed-Loop Geothermal Wells - A Feasibility Study. Paper presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Virtual, April 2022. Paper Number: SPE-209437-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/209437-MS.
• Livescu, S., Dindoruk, B., 2022b. Subsurface Technology Pivoting from Oil and Gas to Geothermal Resources - ASensitivity Study of Well Parameters. SPE Prod & Oper 37 (02), 280-294. https://doi.org/10.2118/209227-PA.
• McClure, M., 2021. Why deep closed-loop geothermal is guaranteed to fail. ResFrac. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.resfrac.com/blog/why-deep-closed-loop-geothermal-guaranteed-fail.
• McGregor, A., Willerth, M., Agarwal, N., 2021. Optimizing Wellbore Trajectories for Closed Loop Geothermal Operations. Paper presented at the SPE Offshore Europe Conference & Exhibition, Virtual, September 2021. https://doi.org/10.2118/205450-MS.
• Melikyan, Z., Egnatosyan, S., 2012. Method for Analysıs Of Energy Efficiency And Cost Effectiveness Of Close Loop Geothermal Heat Pump Heatıng-Cooling System. 35th Anniversary World Energy Engineering Congress, Chapter 33, Atlanta, USA.
• Ozdemir, A., Arabaci, F., Palabiyik, Y., 2021a. Reevaluation of Geothermal Potential of Çubukludag Graben (Western Anatolia, Turkey). International Journal of Earth Sciences Knowledge and Applications (IJESKA) 3 (2), 70-88.
• Ozdemir, A., Palabiyik, Y., Arabaci, F., 2021b. Geological Structure and Geothermal Potential of the Southeastern Alaşehir, Gediz Graben (Western Anatolia, Turkey). International Journal of Earth Sciences Knowledge and Applications (IJESKA) 3 (3), 190-207.
• Oldenburg, C.M., Pan, L., Muir, M.P., Eastman, A.D., Huggins, B.S., 2019. Numerical Simulation of Critical Factors Controlling Heat Extraction from Geothermal Systems Using a Closed-Loop Heat Exchange Method, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work. Permalink: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4nj3s9ws. Sångfors, B., 2021. Efficiency of Organic Rankine Cycle? Available: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Efficiency_of_Organic_Rankine_Cycle.
• Schulz, S.U., 2008. Investigations on the improvement of the energy output of a Closed Loop Geothermal System (CLGS). Germany: Technische Universit¨at at Berlin, Germany.
• Sun, F., Yao, Y., Li, G., Li, X., 2018. Geothermal energy development by circulating CO2 in a U-shaped closed loop geothermal system. Energy Conversion and Management 174, 971-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.08.094.
• Sun, F., Yao, Y., Li, G., 2019. Literature review on a U-shaped closed loop geothermal energy development system. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 42 (22), 2794-2806. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2019.1618990.
• Yuan, W., Chen, Z., Grasby, S.E., Little, E., 2021. Closed-loop geothermal energy recovery from deep high enthalpy systems. Renewable Energy 177, 976-991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.06.028.
• Zhao, G., 2013. Modeling Complex Natural Fracture Network in Heterogeneous Tight Formations Using Semi-Analytical Strategy. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Paper presented at the SPE Unconventional Resources Conference Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 2013, Paper Number: SPE-167127-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/167127-MS.