Effect of Fracture Connectivity between Production and Injection Wells in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)

ABSTRACT: Fracture connectivity plays a crucial role in governing heat extraction efficiency and long-term sustainability in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). This study evaluates the impact of different fracture connectivity configurations on thermal performance using a series of numerical simulations. Four groups of fracture networks were analyzed, varying in interconnectivity and surface area to assess their influence on produced water temperature and net heat extraction. The results indicate that increased fracture connectivity enhances heat transfer efficiency, leading to improved thermal retention and sustained energy recovery. Groups with higher fracture surface area exhibited slower thermal decline, mitigating early thermal breakthrough and extending the operational lifespan of the system. Net heat extraction was consistently higher in configurations with greater connectivity, reinforcing the importance of optimizing fracture networks for long-term geothermal energy production. Temperature distribution analysis further confirmed that highly connected fractures facilitate more uniform heat depletion, reducing localized thermal drawdown. These findings highlight the necessity of strategic fracture network design to maximize heat recovery while preventing premature reservoir depletion. Future work should explore adaptive fracture stimulation techniques to optimize connectivity dynamically based on real-time thermal performance. This study provides critical insights into optimizing EGS fracture connectivity for sustainable geothermal energy extraction.