标题： 裂隙网络对地热能和锂共同开采影响的仿真研究 显示英文标题

标题： A simulation study of the impact of fracture networks on the co-production of geothermal energy and lithium

摘要： 地热能和锂的共同生产是一个新兴机会，有可能提高地热作业的经济潜力。 从地热卤水中提取锂的经济回报取决于锂浓度在卤水开采过程中的演变情况。 在初始阶段，开采将针对靠近生产井的地热卤水中含有的锂。 虽然以岩石溶解和来自储层其他部分的流入形式的锂补给是可能的，但这种补给的效率取决于储层的地质条件。 在本研究中，我们研究了以裂缝形式存在的结构非均质性如何影响携带锂的卤水流动。 使用一种能够提供裂缝和围岩中流动和运移高分辨率的数值模拟工具，我们研究了裂缝的存在如何影响能源和锂的生产。 我们的模拟结果表明，由于热传导和岩石中矿物补给的缺乏，裂缝网络几何形状的差异对锂生产的影响远大于对能源生产的影响。 因此，模拟结果证实，除了了解地热卤水中锂的地球化学特征外，理解裂缝特征及其对生产的影响对于锂生产至关重要。 显示英文摘要

摘要： Co-production of geothermal energy and lithium is an emerging opportunity with the potential to enhance the economic potential of geothermal operations. The economic reward of extracting lithium from geothermal brine is determined by how the lithium concentration evolves during brine production. In the initial stage, production will target lithium contained in the brine resident close to the production well. While lithium recharge, in the form of rock dissolution and inflow from other parts of the reservoir, is possible, the efficiency of such recharge depends on the geology of the reservoir. In this work, we study how structural heterogeneities in the form of fractures impact the flow of lithium-carrying brine. Using a numerical simulation tool that gives high resolution of flow and transport in fractures and the host rock, we study how the presence of fractures influences energy and lithium production. Our simulations show that, due to heat conduction and the lack of mineral recharge from the rock, differences in fracture network geometries have a much larger impact on lithium production than energy production. The simulations thus confirm that in addition to the geochemical characterisation of lithium in geothermal brines, understanding fracture characterisation and its impact on production is highly important for lithium production.