Principal Investigator Herbert Einstein
EGS rely on circulating water through rock fractures to extract heat and then through heat exchangers to eventually produce electricity in addition to directly useable heat. In this context, holes need to be drilled, artificial fractures created and the water circulation maintained through the lifetime of the system. Many uncertainties affect this system, and this research addresses the uncertainties related to the subsurface components. Specifically, stochastic fracture pattern models and fracture flow models are combined to produce probabilistic flow models. In parallel, cost-time models for wells (drill holes) are developed. Finally, on the basis of the fracture flow and drill cost/time models, models will be created to predict the optimal location of the wells. The research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy under the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) Program.