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Geothermal reservoir simulation: 1. Mathematical models for liquid‐ and vapor‐dominated hydrothermal systems
Author(s) -
Faust Charles R.,
Mercer James W.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr015i001p00023
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , mechanics , nonlinear system , porous medium , fluid dynamics , partial differential equation , boundary value problem , geothermal energy , geology , mathematical model , enthalpy , petroleum engineering , thermodynamics , geotechnical engineering , porosity , mathematics , physics , geophysics , mathematical analysis , statistics , quantum mechanics
Two alternative mathematical models are presented that are suitable for numerical simulation of geothermal reservoirs. The general mathematical model describes the three‐dimensional flow of single‐component water (both one and two phase) and the transport of heat in porous media. It is composed of two nonlinear partial differential equations, posed in terms of fluid pressure and enthalpy, and appropriate boundary conditions. An alternative quasi‐three‐dimensional model is derived by partial integration (in the vertical dimension) of the three‐dimensional equations. The reservoir is assumed to have good vertical communication so that vertical equilibrium (gravity segregation) between steam and water is achieved. The resulting equations, posed in terms of vertically averaged pressure and enthalpy, include effects of an inclined, variable‐thickness reservoir and mass and energy leakage to confining beds.