A method of single vertical well combined with hydraulic fracturing is proposed to prevent short circuits and enhance heat mining. The technical and economic feasibilities of geothermal energy exploitation from a deep reservoir are analyzed based on this method. A simulation model was established to analyze the coupled heat transfer between wellbore and reservoir, and then thermodynamic performances and economic analyses of single-flash, double-flash, and flash–organic Rankine cycle geothermal power generation systems were carried out. Simulation results indicate that the heat mining rate can maintain above 3 MW after 40 years of exploitation from the reservoir with 235°C using a water circulation rate of $432{\mathrm{m}}^3/\mathrm{day}$ . A combination of large horizontal permeability, high circulation flow rate, and excellent thermal-insulating tubings favors high heat mining. Thermodynamic cycle analyses show that the net power outputs from the single-flash, double-flash, and flash–organic Rankine cycle systems under the optimal condition are 513, 646, and 627.8 kW, respectively. Correspondingly, the geothermal power generation cost ranges from $\$0.086/\mathrm{kWh}$ to $\$0.095/\mathrm{kWh}$ , which is a little higher than the conventional power generation cost. Double-flash or flash–organic Rankine cycle is suggested to be installed for geothermal power generation if more electricity is needed.

During the construction of nuclear waste storage facilities, deep drilling, and geothermal energy development, high-temperature rocks are inevitably subjected to thermal shock. The physical and mechanical behaviors of granite treated with different thermal shocks were analyzed by non-destructive (P-wave velocity test) and destructive tests (uniaxial compression test and Brazil splitting test). The results show that the P-wave velocity (V_P), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus (E), and tensile strength (s_t) of specimens all decrease with the treatment temperature. Compared with air cooling, water cooling causes greater damage to the mechanical properties of granite. Thermal shock induces thermal stress inside the rock due to inhomogeneous expansion of mineral particles and further causes the initiation and propagation of microcracks which alter the mechanical behaviors of granite. Rapid cooling aggravates the damage degree of specimens. The failure pattern gradually transforms from longitudinal fracture to shear failure with temperature. In addition, there is a good fitting relationship between P-wave velocity and mechanical parameters of granite after different temperature treatments, which indicates P-wave velocity can be used to evaluate rock damage and predict rock mechanical parameters. The research results can provide guidance for high-temperature rock engineering.

Liquid carbon dioxide (L-CO₂) phase-transition blasting technology (LCPTB) has caused wide concern in many fields, but there is a lack of research on the initiation of the carbon dioxide fracturing pipe. Studies regarding the carbon dioxide fracturing pipe initiation are critical for controlling and optimizing the LCPTB. Therefore, in this article, a series of exploratory experiments of carbon dioxide blasting were carried out to investigate the qualitative and quantitative relationships between the carbon dioxide fracturing pipe initiation and the three key variables (the filling mass of liquid carbon dioxide (L-CO₂) (X₁), the amount of chemical heating material (X₂) and the thickness of the constant-stress shear plate (X₃)). The failure mechanisms of three variables on the phase-transition blasting process of a carbon dioxide fracturing pipe was analyzed qualitatively based on experiment temperature, strain curve and failure form of constant-stress shear plate. An empirical model between the carbon dioxide fracturing pipe initiation (Y) and the three key variables (X₁, X₂, X₃) was obtained after processing experiment result data quantitatively. Based on the phase-transition and blasting process of carbon dioxide, two methods, the Viral–Han–Long (VHL) equation of gas state (EOS) and the strength-failure method were used to calculate the blasting pressure and determine the failure mode of the fracturing pipe. The proposed blasting empirical model can be used to optimize the structural design of carbon dioxide fracturing pipes, guide on-site carbon dioxide blasting operations and further achieve the best blasting effect of LCPTB, so this work can enable LCPTB to be better applied to practical projects.

A while-drilling energy harvesting device is designed in this paper to recovery energy along with the longitudinal vibration of the drill pipes, aiming to serve as a continuous power supply for downhole instruments during the drilling procedure. Radial size of the energy harvesting device is determined through the drilling engineering field experience and geological survey reports. A piezoelectric coupling model based on the selected piezoelectric material was established via COMSOL Multiphysics numerical simulation. The forced vibration was analyzed to determine the piezoelectric patch length range and their best installation positions. Modal analysis and frequency response research indicate that the natural frequency of the piezoelectric cantilever beam increased monotonously with the increase of the piezoelectric patch’ thickness before reaching an inflection point. Moreover, the simulation results imply that the peak voltage of the harvested energy varied in a regional manner with the increase of the piezoelectric patches. When the thickness of the piezoelectric patches was 1.2–1.4 mm, the designed device gained the best energy harvest performance with a peak voltage of 15–40 V. Works in this paper provide theoretical support and design reference for the application of the piezoelectric material in the drilling field.