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

2008年，英国政府承诺在2050年之前减少80%的温室气体排放。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英国为数不多的几个经济合适的地点之一。该盆地拥有约460万GWh的潜在可用能源，是英国全国供热需求的6倍多。为了利用这一资源，柴郡东区议会(CASE伙伴)与当地大学和公共/私营部门伙伴合作，发起了一项长期深层地热能源研究方案。超过25万英镑的初始研究资金已经投入到DGE项目中，这个与基尔大学应用和环境地球物理小组合作的为期4年的案例学生项目构成了这一雄心勃勃的发展计划的下一个阶段。为了评估、描述和优化向东柴郡地区的家庭和企业(以及未来可能向大约200万消费者)输送深层地热能的方式，该案例学生项目将尝试模拟深层地热库(在近4公里深处)的热能转移，通过钻孔阵列系统，并作为低碳、成本效益高的单一供暖方式传递给潜在客户。综合的“多物理”地热模型。该项目的最终目标是创建一个现实、准确、灵活的模型，可用于预测、优化和概率地描述深部地热能源系统在3-4年后上线时的能量回报。此外，预计该模型将有助于为柴郡东区议会未来规划的未来DGE系统的设计提供信息并进行优化。为了实现这一目标，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、构造和沉积学数据，加上从计划的调查工作和DGE现场的钻孔钻探获得的新信息，生成预期钻孔阵列深度的水文地质条件的3D模型。2)建立/模拟钻孔阵列系统活动区域内流体和热通量的3D耦合，以便预测从DGE系统提取的水的流量、流量和温度。该模型将利用从钻孔获得的水力/岩石物理数据信息和从安装的钻孔阵列获得的物理/几何设计信息。3)测试、验证、修订和优化模型(参考由获得许可的DGE系统操作员提供的真实热、流量和流动数据)，以便提供最好地模拟输出点整个能源系统的单一模型。柴郡东区议会有一个雄心勃勃的25年战略，要在柴郡盆地开发更多的DGE系统，并有能力模拟、表征和优化未来设施的设计，基于本学员所做的工作，具有明确和重要的资金，为所有有关各方(即理事会、消费者、开发商和持牌经营者)带来发展和社会经济利益。这一奖学金还将在欧洲领先的近地表地球物理研究小组之一以及在可再生能源发展方面最具前瞻性的地方委员会中为入选的候选人提供一个具有挑战性、但回报很高的项目。该项目将地质学、地球物理学和数值模拟等不同和多学科领域与与能源有关的环境工程和区域热网设计的更广泛原则联系起来。因此，对于有才华的学生来说，这是一个无与伦比的机会，可以在快速发展和日益重要的能源市场部门工作。

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.