Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Publication Title

Geothermal Resources Council Transactions

Volume

49

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of a hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)–based biopolymer gel for fracture conformance control in high-temperature geothermal reservoirs using a statistically driven experimental framework. Laboratory core-flooding experiments were conducted on fractured limestone and sandstone samples from the Deadwood Formation under controlled thermal and chemical conditions, with temperatures reaching 160 °C. The effects of temperature, gel formulation salinity, and lithology on key performance indicators—including residual resistance factor (RRF), resistance factor (RF), gel extrusion pressure gradient (GEPG), and heat retention—were quantified. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied using Minitab to capture variable interactions and develop predictive models for gel behavior under geothermal conditions. Results indicate strong thermal and chemical resilience of the HEC-based gel, particularly in limestone cores, where RRF values exceeded 10⁸ and heat retention approached 80% at elevated temperatures. The statistical models highlight the dominant influence of lithology and salinity on treatment effectiveness and provide a practical framework for optimizing gel-based conformance treatments in fractured geothermal systems.

First Page

999

Last Page

1015

ISSN

0193-5933

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