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Exploring the physical limits of hydraulic fracture caging to forecast its feasibility for geothermal power generation

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  • Frash, Luke P.
  • Meng, Meng
  • Li, Wenfeng
  • K.C, Bijay
  • Madenova, Yerkezhan

Abstract

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are a promising concept for unlocking the great potential of Hot Dry Rock (HDR) for sustainable clean-energy production. However, EGS has remained an elusive goal due to the unsolved challenges of induced seismicity, uneconomically low flow rates, and premature cooling of the produced fluid. We propose that fracture caging offers a path to solving these three challenges. Fracture caging is the placement of a cage of boundary wells around injection wells before injection begins. This cage captures injected fluid to halt fracture growth, even if injection continues at the high-pressures that are conventionally used only for hydraulic fracture stimulation. This pressure will hydroprop fractures to achieve the flowrates that are required for EGS, instead of relying on proppant or shear stimulation. In this study, we present laboratory experiments and a conceptual model to explore the physical limits of hydraulic fracture caging. More specifically we investigate the required number of wells, maximum flow rates, and boundary conditions needed to unlock caging and hydropropping as tools to achieve viable geothermal systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Frash, Luke P. & Meng, Meng & Li, Wenfeng & K.C, Bijay & Madenova, Yerkezhan, 2025. "Exploring the physical limits of hydraulic fracture caging to forecast its feasibility for geothermal power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125000266
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122364
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura J. Pyrak-Nolte & David D. Nolte, 2016. "Approaching a universal scaling relationship between fracture stiffness and fluid flow," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, April.
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