Effects of heat extraction on fracture aperture: A poro-thermoelastic analysis

Poroelastic and thermoelastic effects of cold-water injection in an enhanced (or engineered) geothermal system (EGS) are investigated by considering flow in a pre-existing fracture in a hot, rock matrix that could be permeable or impermeable. Assuming plane fracture geometry, expressions are derived for changes in fracture aperture caused by cooling and fluid leak-off into the matrix. The corresponding induced pressure profile is also calculated. The problem is analytically solved for the cases pertaining to a constant fluid injection rate with a constant leak-off rate. Results show that although fluid loss from the fracture into the matrix reduces the pressure in the crack, the poroelastic stress associated with fluid leak-off tends to reduce the aperture and increase the pressure in the fracture. High rock stiffness and low fluid diffusivity cause the poroelastic contraction of the fracture opening to slowly develop in time. The maximum reduction of aperture occurs at the injection point and become negligible near the extraction point. The solution also shows that thermally induced stress increases the fracture aperture near the injection point and, as a result, the fluid pressure at this point is greatly reduced. The thermoelastic effects are particularly dominant near the inlet compared to those of poroelasticity, but are pronounced everywhere along the fracture for large times. Although poroelasticity associated with leak-off does not change the fracture aperture significantly for low permeability rocks, it can lead to pore pressure increase and cause nearby fractures to slip. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.