GEOFRAC is a three-dimensional, geology-based, geometric-mechanical, hierarchical, stochastic model of natural rock fracture systems. The main characteristic of GEOFRAC is that is based on statistical input representing fracture patterns in the field in form of the fracture intensity P32 (fracture area per volume) and the best estimate fracture size E(A). Recent developments in GEOFRAC allow the user to calculate the flow in a fractured medium. For this purpose the fractures are modeled as parallel plates and the flow rate can be calculated using the Poisseuille equation. This thesis explores the possibility of the application of GEOFRAC to model a geothermal reservoir. After modeling the fracture flow system of the reservoir, it is possible to obtain the flow rate in production. A parametric study was conducted in order to check the sensitivity of the output of the model and to explain how aperture, width and rotation (orientation distribution) of the fractures influence the resulting flow rate in the production well. A case study is also presented in this thesis in order to confirm the applicability of GEOFRAC to a real case.GEOFRAC is a structured MATLAB code composed of more than 100 functions. Examples on how to obtain P 3 2 and E(A) from fracture trace lengths on outcrops are presented in the Appendix 1. A GUI was created in order to make GEOFRAC more accessible to the users. It should also be kept in mind that future improvements are the keys for a powerful tool that will let GEOFRAC to be used to optimize the location of the injection and production well in a geothermal system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.