Geothermal Reservoir Simulation

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model was proposed for natural state simulation of the Las Tres Vírgenes (LTV) geothermal system from emplacement and cooling of the heat source. The conceptual model is based on the volcanic history of the field. Chamber volumes were estimated from outcropping geology and eruptive volumes. Simulation results were evaluated by comparison with static formation temperatures (SFT) estimated from field measurements. Due to the different temporal scales governing volcanological and hydrogeological processes, a convective model was not included in the reservoir. As a consequence, agreement between simulation results and SFT were only observed in geothermal wells which temperature profile is dominated by conduction. Present research is being developed to couple a 3D thermohydromechanical model in the reservoir. As a preparative work, numerical simulations of fluid flow in planar fractures are presented.