Modelling, Characterisation and Optimisation of Deep Geothermal Energy in the Cheshire Basin

2008年，英国政府承诺到2050年将温室气体排放量减少80%。可再生能源解决方案是这一承诺的关键部分，深层地热能源系统在这一战略中发挥着重要作用。英国西北部柴郡盆地的南部地区是该国少数几个经济上合适的地点之一。该盆地拥有约460万千瓦时的潜在可用能源，是英国全国热量需求的6倍多。为了开发这一资源，东柴郡议会（CASE合作伙伴）与当地大学和公共/私营部门合作伙伴共同发起了一项长期深层地热能（DGE）研究计划。超过25万英镑的初始研究资金已经投入到DGE项目中，这个为期4年的合作项目与基尔大学应用与环境地球物理小组合作，形成了这个雄心勃勃的发展计划的下一个阶段。为了评估、表征和优化将深层地热能作为热能输送到东柴郡地区的家庭和企业（未来可能会有大约200万消费者），这个CASE学生项目将尝试模拟深层地热储层（深度近4公里）的热能通过钻孔阵列系统传递给潜在客户，作为低碳、经济高效的供暖方式。结合“多物理场”地热模型。该项目的最终目标是创建一个现实的、准确的、灵活的模型，该模型可用于预测、优化和概率表征深层地热能源系统在3-4年后上线时的能量回报。此外，预计该模型将有助于柴郡东议会未来规划的未来DGE系统的设计。要做到这一点，学生将；1)使用复杂的地质建模、表征和可视化工具，利用现有的地球物理、钻孔、结构和沉积学数据，加上DGE站点计划调查工作和钻孔钻探的新信息，生成预定钻孔阵列深度水文地质条件的3D模型。2)模拟/模拟井眼阵列系统活动区域流体和热通量的三维耦合，以预测DGE系统提取水的体积、流量和温度。该模型将利用从井眼中获得的水力/岩石物理数据信息以及从安装的井眼阵列中获得的物理/几何设计信息。3)测试、验证、修改和优化模型（参考有执照的DGE系统运营商提供的真实热、通量和流量数据），以提供一个在交付点最能模拟整个能源系统的单一模型。柴郡东委员会有一个雄心勃勃的25年战略，在柴郡盆地开发更多的DGE系统，并有能力根据本奖学金所开展的工作，对未来装置的设计进行建模、表征和优化，这对所有相关方（即委员会、消费者、开发商和许可运营商）具有明确而显著的财务、发展和社会经济效益。该奖学金还将为被选中的候选人提供一个具有挑战性但回报很高的项目，该项目将在欧洲领先的近地表地球物理研究小组之一进行，并且可以说是在可再生能源发展方面最具前瞻性的地方委员会。该项目将地质学、地球物理学和数值模拟等多种学科领域与能源相关的环境工程和区域热网设计等更广泛的学科联系起来。因此，对于一个有才华的学生来说，这是一个在能源市场快速发展和日益重要的部门工作的无与伦比的机会。

In 2008, the UK Government pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% before 2050. Renewable energy solutions are a key part of this commitment with deep geothermal energy systems playing an important role in this strategy. The southern region of the Cheshire Basin in the northwest of the UK is one of only a handful of economically suitable sites in the country. The basin holds around 4.6M GWh of potentially available energy, more than 6 times the national heat demand of the UK. To exploit this resource, Cheshire East Council (the CASE partner) have instigated a programme of long-term Deep Geothermal Energy (DGE) research in collaboration with local universities and Public/Private sector partners. Over 250K pounds of initial research funding has been invested into the DGE project and this 4-year, collaborative CASE studentship with Keele University's Applied and Environmental Geophysics Group forms the next stage in this ambitious development programme.In order to evaluate, characterise and optimise the delivery of deep geothermal energy as heat to homes and business in the East Cheshire region (and potentially to some 2 million consumers in the future), this CASE studentship project will attempt to simulate the transfer of heat energy from the deep geothermal reservoir (at a depth of nearly 4km), through a borehole array system and across to potential customers as low-carbon, cost-effective heating in a single, combined 'multiphysics' geothermal model. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a realist, accurate, flexible model that can be used to predict, optimise and probabilistically characterise the energy return of the Deep Geothermal Energy system when it comes online in 3-4 years' time. In addition, it is expected that the model will help inform and optimise the design of future DGE systems planned by Cheshire East council in the future. To achieve this, the student will;1) Use sophisticated geological modelling, characterisation and visualisation tools to generate a 3D model of the hydrogeological conditions at the depth of the intended borehole array using existing geophysical, borehole, structural and sedimentological data plus new information from the planned investigation work and borehole drilling at the DGE site.2) Model/simulate the 3D coupling of fluid and thermal fluxes in the active region of the borehole array system in order to predict the volume, flow and temperate of extracted waters from DGE system. The model will utilise hydro/petrophysical data information gained from the boreholes and physical/geometrical design information from the installed borehole array.3) Test, validate, revise and optimise the models (with reference to real thermal, flux and flow data provided by the licenced DGE system operators) in order to provide a single model that best simulates the whole of the energy system at the point of delivery.Cheshire East Council have an ambitious 25-year strategy to develop more DGE systems in the Cheshire Basin and the ability to model, characterise and optimise the design of future installations, based on the work undertaken in this studentship, has clear and significant financial, developmental and socio-economic benefits to all parties involved (i.e., the Council, consumers, developers and licenced operators). This studentship will also provide the selected candidate with a challenging, yet highly-rewarding project within one of Europe's leading near-surface geophysics research groups and, arguably, the most forward-looking local council with respect to renewable energy development. The project links the diverse and multidisciplinary fields of geology, geophysics and numerical modelling with the broader disciple of energy-related environmental engineering and district heat network design. As such, it represents an unrivalled opportunity for a talented student to work in a rapidly developing and increasing important sector of the energy market.