Thermohydrodynamic Modeling of Well Operation of Chloride–Calcium Lithium-Bearing Brines

Abstract

Highly concentrated Cl–Mg–Ca brines with a salinity of up to 700 g/L of the Siberian Platform contain economic concentrations of valuable strategically important elements (Li), but are challenged due to salt deposition in the wellbore. To solve this task, we used the TOUGH2 family software for modeling the multiphase non-isothermal geofiltration in a fractured-porous medium taking into account the chemical interaction of phases, which was supplemented by an EWASG-CACL2 state module for the description (density, viscosity, and enthalpy) of the CaCl₂ brine with a mass concentration ranging from 0.25 to the maximum saturation (>0.6) at temperatures of 0–50°C. The CaCl₂ brine was extracted by a single production well with a submersible pump from the target reservoir in TOUGH2-EWASG-CACL2 modeling. The filtration-capacity and thermophysical parameters, as well as the geometry of the target reservoir and the well, were given as synthetic in a range of possible change according to geological exploration data in the south of the Siberian Platform. A potential transition mechanism of the well to stable operation mode is identified as a result of the production well modeling. The first operation stage exhibits a simultaneous growth (up to 86%, antarcticite, CaCl₂⋅6H₂O) and warming (from 6 to 19°C) of the wellhead and the next stage is characterized by fast dissolution of the first stage salt plug and transition to stable operation mode due to self-heating and a temperature increase. The resource potential for ensuring production is shown as a result of modeling of inflows from the target reservoir regardless of hydrodynamic conditions at the outer boundary of the target reservoir. The geological processes, which could lead to the formation of highly concentrated brines and the role of volcanism in their formation, are considered.