Motivation


The Temperature Flat Source Solution @model is one of the fundamental solutions of temperature diffusion equations modelling the temperature conduction in linear direction (see Fig. 1).

This temperature profile is very common in subsurface studies, particularly in modelling the temperature above and below the lateral reservoir flow with a temperature  and background Geothermal Temperature Profile 


Fig. 1. Sample Temperature Flat Source Solution


Outputs


Temperature distribution


Inputs


Time lapse after the temperature step from   up to 

Spatial coordinate along the transversal direction to constant temperature  plane 

Boundary temperature at 

Thermal diffusivity of the surroundings


Equations


Driving equationInitial conditions Boundary conditions


\frac{\partial T}{\partial t} = a^2 \Delta T = a^2\frac{\partial^2 T}{\partial z^2}



T(t=0, z) = T_G(z)



T(t, z=0) = T_f = {\rm const}, \quad T(t, z \rightarrow \infty) = T_G(z)



Solution



T(t,z) = T_f + (T_G(z) - T_f) \cdot \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \int_0^{z/\sqrt{4at}} e^{-\xi^2} d\xi



Approximations



T(t,z) = T_f + (T_G(z) - T_f) \cdot \Bigg[  1- \frac{\exp(-\zeta^2)}{\sqrt{\pi} \zeta} \bigg( 1- \frac{1}{2 \zeta}  + \frac{3}{4 \zeta^3} \bigg) \Bigg]



See also


Heat flow equation for Semispace Linear Conduction:

\frac{\partial T}{\partial t} = a^2 \Delta T = a^2\frac{\partial^2 T}{\partial z^2}

Initial Conditions

T(t=0, z) = T_G(z)

Boundary conditions

T(t, z=0) = T_f = {\rm const}, \quad T(t, z \rightarrow \infty) = T_G(z)


The exact solution is given by following formula:

T(t,z) = T_f + (T_G(z) - T_f) \cdot \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \int_0^{z/\sqrt{4at}} e^{-\xi^2} d\xi

A fair approximation at late times () is given by expanding the integral:

T(t,z) = T_f + (T_G(z) - T_f) \cdot \Bigg[  1- \frac{\exp(-\zeta^2)}{\sqrt{\pi} \zeta} \bigg( 1- \frac{1}{2 \zeta}  + \frac{3}{4 \zeta^3} \bigg) \Bigg]

where

\zeta = \frac{z}{4 a t}

The final solution for temperature  above the flowing unit is represented by RHK pipe flow solution where TG is replaced with Tb from .


For the intervals between two injection units the one needs to account for the SLC contribution from upper flowing unit and from lower flowing unit which can be done using the superposition.


First, let's rewrite  in terms of temperature gain:

dT(t, z) = T(t,z) - T_G(z)= -  (T_G(z) - T_f) \cdot    \frac{\exp(-\zeta^2)}{\sqrt{\pi} \zeta} \bigg( 1- \frac{1}{2 \zeta}  + \frac{3}{4 \zeta^3} \bigg) 


Now one can write down the temperature disturbance from the overlying flowing unit A1:

dT_{b,over}(t, z) = T_{b,up}(t,z) - T_G(z)= -  (T_G(z) - T_{f, A1}) \cdot    \frac{\exp(-\zeta^2)}{\sqrt{\pi} \zeta} \bigg( 1- \frac{1}{2 \zeta}  + \frac{3}{4 \zeta^3} \bigg) 
and from the underlying flowing unit A2:
dT_{b,under}(t, z) = T_{b,up}(t,z) - T_G(z)= -  (T_G(z) - T_{f, A2}) \cdot    \frac{\exp(-\zeta^2)}{\sqrt{\pi} \zeta} \bigg( 1- \frac{1}{2 \zeta}  + \frac{3}{4 \zeta^3} \bigg) 


The background temperature disturbance between the flowing units will be:

T_b(t, z) = T_G(z) + dT_{b,over}(t, z) + dT_{b,under}(t, z)


Replacing the static value of  in RHK model with dynamic value of   one arrives to the final wellbore temperature model with account of heat exchange with surrounding rocks and cooling effects from flowing units (Semispace Linear Conduction).


See Also


Geology / Geothermal Temperature Field / Geothermal Temperature Profile

Physics / Fluid Dynamics / Linear Fluid Flow 

Temperature Flat Source Solution @model ] [ Geothermal Temperature Profile @model ]


Reference


Subsurface Temperature Profile around Lateral Flow @model.pptx