Finite-Element Analysis of Temperature and Thermal Stresses Induced by Hot Water Injection

Results of an experimental study of the temperature and pressure dependence of rock elastic moduli were used in a numerical mathematical model that describes the unsteady-state, two-dimensional flow of a single phase, single component, slightly compressible hot fluid and calculates the state of stress in porous media. The numerical formulation was carried out utilizing the finite element method using triangular elements to discretize the space domain and backward differencing for discretizing the time domain. The sections of the model dealing with the flow of mass and heat, and stress calculations were separately tested; then the complete model was used to investigate the effect of temperature dependent Young's moduli and Poisson's ratios on the state of stress and the propagation of thermal and pore stresses with an advancing hot water front in porous media.