Numerical modelling of fracturing processes during cold water injection into geothermal reservoirs: Verification and qualitative validation

Cold water injection into geothermal reservoirs is a common, sometimes necessary, technique for multiple reasons including the replenishment and stimulation of the reservoirs, and the disposal of waste water. The injection of cold water results in a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) impulse, which can cause near-wellbore cracking. A method is presented to simulate coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes, including the re-activation of existing fractures and fracturing of the rock matrix. The model is based on the finite element method, and utilises a newly developed cohesive interface element to represent discontinuities. The interface element belongs to the family of zero-thickness elements and is triple-noded. It is developed to allow the simulation of longitudinal and transversal fluid/heat flow. The cubic law is used to simulate the fracture transmissivity as a function of its aperture, while a elasto-damage law is used to characterise the mechanical response of the discontinuity. The method is successfully verified against analytical solutions for hydraulic fracturing (KGD model) and for the thermo-hydraulic response of a single fracture (Lauwerier’s problem). As numerical oscillations are observed due to the high P e ́ clet number, an artificial diffusion is added to stabilise the numerical solution with sufficient accuracy. Qualitative validation is achieved against experimental data of cold water injection in granite samples. Fracture branching is observed in the case with large cooling shock, while a single fracture is induced in the case with smaller cooling shock, as was observed in the experiment. The validation demonstrates the capability of the proposed model to simulate fracturing processes under THM couplings.