Evaluating coupled hydraulic-mechanical behavior in the slate geothermal reservoir using discrete element analysis
Journal
57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
ISBN (of the container)
9780979497582
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
Taiwan is rich in geothermal energy, which mainly distributes in the slate area. Due to the high anisotropy and heterogeneity of slate, the properties of rock mass are quite different from isotropic rock. This study conducted a discrete element analysis to evaluate the damage area of hydraulic stimulation in the slate for the operation of a geothermal power plant. A failure criterion for slate incorporated with a transversely isotropic model was established to describe the behavior of slate. The developed model was validated using a benchmark problem of geothermal techniques under an isotropic condition. The analysis results indicated that anisotropy significantly affects stress and strain distributions. The proposed model was further applied to analyze the injection response in a slate geothermal site. The analysis results revealed that the proposed model could reasonably simulate the anisotropic coupled hydro-mechanical behavior of slate geothermal reservoirs. © 2023 57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. All Rights Reserved.
Event(s)
57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
Publisher
American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
Description
57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, 25 June 2023 through 28 June 2023, Atlanta
Type
conference paper