Modeling deep geothermal reservoirs: Recent advances and future perspectives

Abstract

Modeling geothermal reservoirs is a key issue of a successful geothermal energy development. After over 40 years of study, many models have been proposed and applied to hundreds of sites worldwide. Nevertheless, with increasing computational capabilities, new efficient methods become available. The aim of this paper is to present recent progress on potential methods and seismic (post-)processing, as well as fluid and thermal flow simulations for porous and fractured subsurface systems. Commonly used procedures in industrial energy exploration and production such as forward modeling, seismic migration, and inversion methods together with continuum and discrete flow models for reservoir monitoring and management are explained, and some numerical examples are presented. The paper ends with the description of future fields of studies and points out opportunities, perspectives, and challenges.