An Approach for Estimating Geothermal Reservoir Productivity under Access Limitations Associated with Snowy and Mountainous Prospects

Abstract

This chapter describes an approach to estimate reservoir productivity during the active exploration and development of a geothermal prospect. This approach allows a reservoir model to be updated by overcoming the severe time limitations associated with accessing sites for drilling and well testing under snowy and mountainous conditions. Performed in parallel with the conventional standard approach, the new approach enables us to obtain a first estimate of the reservoir productivity at an early time and to make successful project management decisions. Assuming a practical geothermal field, the procedures of the new approach are demonstrated here in detail. Finally, frequency distributions for the expected production rates and changes in the reservoir pressure at an arbitrary time are obtained during an assumed operational period.