Potential use of particle tracking in the analysis of low-temperature geothermal developments

Projects aimed at the exploitation of low-temperature geothermal systems for direct applications rarely undergo detailed analysis prior to their undertaking, and this is especially true in the case of smaller developments. This may be partly related to a lack of numerical modelling during the analysis and design of these systems, as a result of the relative inaccessibility of advective–conductive heat flow simulators. Particle tracking may provide a cost- and time-efficient alternative method for estimating production well temperatures. The results of this study indicate that particle tracking may be useful in the analysis of heat transport in injection–production doublets if pumping rates are sufficiently high relative to well spacing and aquifer thickness. © 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of CNR.