| Abstract: | The mechanism of222Rn release into fracture fluids by direct alpha-recoil, lattice and grain boundary/micro-crack diffusion is discussed. Experimental measurements of222Rn release into surrounding air and water phases have been made for crystalline rock specimens with well defined surface areas. The222Rn flux from an infinite plane surface and hence the effective diffusion length of222Rn in the rock matrix has been estimated.The222Rn flux from plane crystalline rock surfaces has been used in conjunction with a simple hydrological model of the reservoir to calculate the222Rn content of the return fluids of a geothermal doublet circulation system. For given production rate and piezometric difference between the injection and production wells, the222Rn content of the return fluid is dependent upon the distribution of flow path lengths and fracture apertures in the reservoir. Matching of the calculated and experimental222Rn contents of the return fluids has been used to select appropriate parameters for the reservoir model and hence to estimate the extent of the heat-transfer surface. The model estimates the fracture width of the flow paths, total swept surface area and fracture volume within the reservoir. |
