Despite their foundations in classical mechanics, hydrodynamic models have experienced a resurgen... more Despite their foundations in classical mechanics, hydrodynamic models have experienced a resurgence in modern physics, particularly in the context of electron-phonon interactions. These "tantalizing parallels 1 " between modern physics and hydrodynamics have not, however, seen a similar resurgence in the context of atomic theory. Here, a hydrodynamic dual space is investigated as a model for electron-photon interactions across orbital transitions. A diffusive equation is derived from dimensional analysis of a solid body of arbitrary shape displacing an unspecified, fluid-like matrix. The frictional energy dissipated across the solid-fluid interface is then treated as an equivalent to electromagnetic energy (i.e., photons). This relationship is shown to correspond to the Planck-Einstein relation and suggests a hidden diffusive variable within the Planck constant with units of m 2 /s. An experimental value of this apparent constant is determined and the resulting value is used to predict a theoretical value of the muon magnetic moment anomaly. The accuracy of the resulting prediction is within 0.04 sigma of the most recent experimental value and is an improvement over the 5.2 sigma predicted via the standard model of particle physics.
Adequate stewardship of geothermal resources requires accurate forecasting of long-term thermal p... more Adequate stewardship of geothermal resources requires accurate forecasting of long-term thermal performance. In enhanced geothermal systems and other fracture-dominated reservoirs, predictive models commonly assume constant-aperture fractures, although spatial variations in aperture can greatly affect reservoir permeability, fluid flow distribution, and heat transport. Whereas previous authors have investigated the effects of theoretical random aperture distributions on thermal performance, here we further explore the influence of permeability heterogeneity considering field-constrained aperture distributions from a meso-scale field site in northern New York, USA. Using numerical models of coupled fluid flow and heat transport, we conduct thermal-hydraulic simulations for a hypothetical reservoir consisting of a relatively impervious porous matrix and a single, horizontal fracture. Our results indicate that in highly channelized fields, most well design configurations and operating ...
This file contains the first set of tracer data for the EGS Collab testbed. The first set of trac... more This file contains the first set of tracer data for the EGS Collab testbed. The first set of tracer tests were conducted during October-November, 2018. We have included tracer data for C-dots, chloride, fluorescein, and rhodamine-B. The details about the tracer test can be found in Background and Methods of Tracer Tests (Mattson et al. (2019)) (also included in this package). References Mattson, E.D., Neupane, G., Plummer, M.A., Hawkins, A., Zhang, Y. and the EGS Collab Team 2019. Preliminary Collab fracture characterization results from flow and tracer testing efforts. In Proceedings 44th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, edited, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
EGS Collab Testbed 1: Second Set Tracer Test Results
The EGS Collab project is developing ~10-20 m-scale field sites where fracture stimulation and fl... more The EGS Collab project is developing ~10-20 m-scale field sites where fracture stimulation and flow models can be validated against controlled, small-scale, in-situ experiments. The first multi-well experimental site was established at the 4850 level in the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, where hydraulic fractures were created at an injection well drilled sub-horizontal from the drift. This file contains the second set of tracer data (also include the data uploaded previously, https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1128) for the EGS Collab testbed. The tracer tests were conducted during October 2018 - November 2019. Injected tracers include DNA, C-dots (fluorescein nano particles), fluorescein, rhodamine-b, sodium chloride, lithium bromide and cesium iodine. The tracers have been detected in three flowing wells located about 7.5 to 9 meters away from the injection interval. The tracer breakthrough curves from these locations have been adjusted to account for the residence time in ...
The EGS Collab project is developing ~10-20 m-scale field sites where fracture stimulation and fl... more The EGS Collab project is developing ~10-20 m-scale field sites where fracture stimulation and flow models can be validated against controlled, small-scale, in-situ experiments. The first multi-well experimental site was established at the 4850 level in the Homestake Mine, where hydraulic fractures were created at an injection well drilled sub-horizontal from the drift. Ten tracer tests were conducted to characterize fracture flow pathways during the second hydraulic characterization test for 164’ Notch (October 24 to November 14, 2018) during steady state injection of 400 ml/min at the injection well. Injected tracers include DNA, C-dots (fluorescein nano particles), fluorescein, rhodamine-b, sodium chloride, lithium bromide and cesium iodine. The tracers have been detected in three flowing wells located about 7.5 to 9 meters away from the injection interval. The tracer breakthrough curves from these locations have been adjusted to account for the residence time in the injection an...
In field work evaluation of using phenyl acetate as a thermally degrading tracer, we discovered t... more In field work evaluation of using phenyl acetate as a thermally degrading tracer, we discovered that its hydrolysis is catalyzed by a heterogeneous reaction in the presence of silica surfaces. The catalytic effect of crushed sandstone, the host reservoir mineral in our field tests, was measured in a well-controlled fluid system over a range of fluid and mineral conditions. Under homogeneous conditions without minerals present, phenyl acetate hydrolysis is first-order and base-catalyzed at a pH of roughly 6.3 for temperatures from 10 to 65 °C. Arrhenius parameters under homogeneous conditions were consistent with previous investigations. In a mixture of 100 ml of reacting fluid with 0.2-2 g crushed sandstone having a nominal particle diameter of 100 μm, the reaction rate increased dramatically. However, the catalytic effect develops slowly. In fact, a very limited catalytic effect is observed if mineral surfaces are only in contact with aqueous solution for short periods prior to int...
Highly channelized flow in fractured geologic systems has been credited with early thermal breakt... more Highly channelized flow in fractured geologic systems has been credited with early thermal breakthrough and poor performance of geothermal circulation systems. An experiment is presented here in which the effect of channelized flow on fluid/rock heat transfer is measured. Hot water was circulated between two wells in a single bedding plane fracture and the elevation of rock matrix temperature was measured using fiber optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). Between wells with good hydraulic connection, heat transfer appeared to follow a classic dipole sweep pattern. Between wells with poor hydraulic connection, heat transfer was skewed toward apparent regions of higher transmissivity (or larger aperture). These results are consistent with hydraulic and tracer tests, as well as ground penetrating radar imaging, that shows a heterogeneous distribution of transmissivity. Although these results are preliminary and still qualitative, they suggest that flow channeling can have a significant impact on heat transfer efficiency even in single planar fractures.
The United States Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is funding a collabo... more The United States Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is funding a collaborative investigation of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) processes at the meso-scale. This study, referred to as the EGS Collab project, is a unique opportunity for scientists and engineers to investigate the creation of fracture networks and circulation of fluids across those networks under in-situ stress conditions. The EGS Collab project is envisioned to comprise three experiments and the site for the first experiment is on the 4850’ Level in phyllite of the Precambrian Poorman formation, at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, located at the former Homestake Gold Mine, in Lead, South Dakota. Principal objectives of the project are to develop a number of intermediate‐scale field sites and to conduct well‐controlled in situ experiments focused on rock fracture behavior and permeability enhancement. Data generated during these experiments will be compared against predictions of a...
The characterization of flow behavior in fracture network is important for the optimal design and... more The characterization of flow behavior in fracture network is important for the optimal design and long-term management of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In this study, we investigate the feasibility of characterizing fracture flow patterns in the EGS Collab experiment through stochastic modeling of tracer tests. A fracture model involving connected hydraulic and natural fractures is first developed based on applicable field data, including core logs, seismic events, DTS and flow measurements. An injection well, a production well and multiple monitoring wells are also included in the model according to experiment design. We then use a brute-force, Monte Carlo approach to perform massive realizations to simulate tracer transport processes in the hydraulic and natural fractures, and tracer breakthrough curves at multiple monitoring wells are obtained for each realization. A fitting criterion is then employed to select viable solutions that yield optimal fits of the measured tracer ...
The Evolving Role of Geothermal Energy for Decarbonizing the United States
Energy & Environmental Science
Geothermal energy is often referred to as a niche technology that is too localized, too small or ... more Geothermal energy is often referred to as a niche technology that is too localized, too small or too expensive to make much of a difference in how renewable energy will...
Rapid heat transfer accurately predicted at a meso-scale field laboratory. Genetic algorithm ... more Rapid heat transfer accurately predicted at a meso-scale field laboratory. Genetic algorithm identified channeled flow via tracer/pressure calibration. Principal component analysis reduced the number of solved variables by more than a factor of ten.
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