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Impact of thermo-hydro-mechanical process coupling for CO2-water multiphase flow during geothermal energy extraction

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  • Singh, Mrityunjay
  • Mahmoodpour, Saeed
  • Singh, Mainaki
  • Omrani, Sina
  • Drews, Michael
  • Sass, Ingo

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of multiphase water - carbon dioxide (CO2) systems for geothermal energy extraction, emphasizing their enhanced efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Through numerical simulations, it explores the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes that influence reservoir behavior. During operation, the pressure distribution evolves, reflecting CO2 plume maturation, while temperature and permeability changes highlight the importance of coupled THM processes in predicting mechanical response and fluid dynamics. The study also exemplifies the impact of reservoir heterogeneity, showing how THM driven variations in permeability, porosity, and capillary entry pressure affect heat extraction and CO2 distribution. Sensitivity analysis identifies key factors such as injection rate, wellbore perforation length, reservoir thickness, permeability and initial temperature as critical to CO2 trapping, energy extraction, surface deformation and pressure development. These findings emphasize the need for fully coupled THM models to ensure accurate reservoir behavior predictions and effective geothermal energy system design.

Suggested Citation

  • Singh, Mrityunjay & Mahmoodpour, Saeed & Singh, Mainaki & Omrani, Sina & Drews, Michael & Sass, Ingo, 2025. "Impact of thermo-hydro-mechanical process coupling for CO2-water multiphase flow during geothermal energy extraction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:334:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225034735
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137831
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muhammad Haris & Michael Z. Hou & Wentao Feng & Jiashun Luo & Muhammad Khurram Zahoor & Jianxing Liao, 2020. "Investigative Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Modelling Approach for Geothermal Heat Extraction through Multistage Hydraulic Fracturing from Hot Geothermal Sedimentary Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Singh, Mrityunjay & Mahmoodpour, Saeed & Ershadnia, Reza & Soltanian, Mohamad Reza & Sass, Ingo, 2023. "Comparative study on heat extraction from Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal field using supercritical carbon dioxide and water as the working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    3. Mrityunjay Singh & Saeed Mahmoodpour & Cornelia Schmidt-Hattenberger & Ingo Sass & Michael Drews, 2023. "Influence of Reservoir Heterogeneity on Simultaneous Geothermal Energy Extraction and CO 2 Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Mahmoodpour, Saeed & Singh, Mrityunjay & Bär, Kristian & Sass, Ingo, 2022. "Thermo-hydro-mechanical modeling of an enhanced geothermal system in a fractured reservoir using carbon dioxide as heat transmission fluid- A sensitivity investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    5. Evgenii Vasilevich Kozhevnikov & Mikhail Sergeevich Turbakov & Evgenii Pavlovich Riabokon & Vladimir Valerevich Poplygin, 2021. "Effect of Effective Pressure on the Permeability of Rocks Based on Well Testing Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Esteves, Ana Filipa & Santos, Francisca Maria & Magalhães Pires, José Carlos, 2019. "Carbon dioxide as geothermal working fluid: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Hao Wu & Richard S. Jayne & Ryan M. Pollyea, 2018. "A parametric analysis of capillary pressure effects during geologic carbon sequestration in a sandstone reservoir," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 8(6), pages 1039-1052, December.
    8. Mahmoodpour, Saeed & Singh, Mrityunjay & Turan, Aysegul & Bär, Kristian & Sass, Ingo, 2022. "Simulations and global sensitivity analysis of the thermo-hydraulic-mechanical processes in a fractured geothermal reservoir," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
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    1. Jia, Zhengyang & Sun, Yuanxiu & Liu, Yueliang & Pan, Yi & Wang, Zilong & Li, Yuanyuan, 2025. "Study on the characteristics of CO2 seepage and heat transfer in rough fractures based on thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).

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