An enhanced geothermal system is a kind of artificial geothermal system, which can economically exploit geothermal energy from deep thermal rock mass with low permeability by artificially created geothermal reservoirs. Chemical stimulation refers to a reservoir permeability enhancement method that injects a chemical stimulant into the fractured geothermal reservoir to improve the formation permeability by dissolving minerals. In this study, a reactive solute transport model was established based on TOUGHREACT to find out the effect of chemical stimulation on the reconstruction of a granite-hosted enhanced geothermal system reservoir. The results show that chemical stimulation with mud acid as a stimulant can effectively improve the permeability of fractures near the injection well, the effective penetration distance can reach more than 20 m after 5 days. The improvement of porosity and permeability was mainly caused by the dissolution of feldspar and chlorite. The permeability enhancement increased with the injection flow rate and HF concentration in the stimulant, which was weakly affected by the change in injection temperature. The method of chemical enhancement processes can provide a reference for subsequent enhanced geothermal system engineering designs.
To explore the hydrogeochemical characteristics and dominant water–rock interaction processes of thermal water in Lindian geothermal field (northern Songliao Basin, NE China), this study analyzed 16 thermal water samples (1900–3000 m depth) and 3 shallow groundwater samples using hydrochemical indices, water isotopes, and statistical methods (Pearson Correlation and Principle Component Analysis). Results show that the thermal water originates from precipitation and exhibits an “oxygen shift” indicating a long-time water–rock interaction under low to medium reservoir temperature. The thermal water is alkaline with a high TDS and dominated by Na+, Cl−, and HCO3−, and its hydrochemical facies changes from HCO3·Cl–Na to Cl·HCO3–Na and Cl–Na along the groundwater flow path. Leaching of halite, silicates, and carbonates is the primary process controlling solute accumulation. The geothermal reservoir is in a relatively closed, strong reducing environment, and thermal water reached water–rock equilibrium with respect to Na-, K-, Ca-, and Mg-alumino silicates. Principle Component Analysis identifies three key controlling factors, including mineral leaching, organic matter degradation, and sulfate reduction/mineral precipitation. This study establishes a hydrogeochemical baseline for the initial exploitation stage, providing a scientific basis for predicting long-term water quality changes and formulating differentiated sustainable development strategies for the Lindian geothermal field.