GEG - Geothermal Energy and Geofluids

Research Interests

My research focuses on safely and economically storing heat underground for use in wintertime district heating. To correctly and efficiently account for the relevant physics (subsurface flow, heat transfer, and geomechanics), numerical models must include site-specific geology, account for coupled thermo-poroelasticity, and take advantage of high-performance computing.  

Publications

GEG ownGroup by TypeGroup by YearOriginal Citation

Found 21 itemsFilters: Smart Matching

Refereed Journals

8 publications

2024

1 publication across 1 journal

Analytical solutions to evaluate the geothermal energy generation potential from sedimentary-basin reservoirs

Birdsell, D. T., Adams, B. M., Deb, P., Ogland-Hand, J. D., Bielicki, J. M., Fleming, M. R., and Saar, M. O.

2024Journal Article Peer-ReviewedGeothermics 116, pp. 102843–102843

DOI: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2023.102843

2021

3 publications across 3 journals

Minimum transmissivity and optimal well spacing and flow rate for high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage

Birdsell, D. T., Adams, B. M., and Saar, M. O.

2021Journal Article Peer-ReviewedApplied Energy 289, pp. 116658–116658(Paper accepted: 2021-05-01)

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116658

Analytical Approaches for Porous Media Geothermal Power Calculations

Birdsell, D. T., Adams, B. M., Ogland-Hand, J. D., Bielicki, J. M., Fleming, M. R., and Saar, M. O.

2021Journal Article Peer-ReviewedGeothermics

Benchmark study of simulators for thermo-hydraulic modelling of low enthalpy geothermal processes

Mindel, J. E., Alt-Epping, P., Landes, A. A. L., Beernink, S., Birdsell, D. T., Bloemendal, M., Hamm, V., Lopez, S., Maragna, C., Nielsen, C. M., Olivella, S., Perreaux, M., Saaltink, M. W., Saar, M. O., Van den Heuvel, D., Vidal, R., and Driesner, T.

2021Journal Article Peer-ReviewedGeothermics 96, pp. 102130–102130

DOI: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2021.102130

2020

1 publication across 1 journal

Thermo-hydrologic modelling benchmark of simulators for application in high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage

Mindel, J. E., Birdsell, D. T., and Saar, M. O.

2020Journal Article Peer-ReviewedGeothermics

2018

1 publication across 1 journal

On the Representation of the Porosity‐Pressure Relationship in General Subsurface Flow Codes

Birdsell, D. T., Karra, S., and Rajaram, H.

2018Journal Article Peer-ReviewedWater Resources Research 54, pp. 1382–1388

DOI: 10.1002/2017WR022001

2015

2 publications across 2 journals

Hydraulic fracturing fluid migration in the subsurface: A review and expanded modeling results

Birdsell, D. T., Rajaram, H., Dempsey, D., and Viswanathan, H. S.

2015Journal Article Peer-ReviewedWater Resources Research 51, pp. 7159–7188

DOI: 10.1002/2015wr017810

Imbibition of hydraulic fracturing fluids into partially saturated shale

Birdsell, D. T., Rajaram, H., and Lackey, G.

2015Journal Article Peer-ReviewedWater Resources Research 51, pp. 6787–6796

DOI: 10.1002/2015wr017621

Proceedings Refereed

5 publications

2021

1 publication

Deformation monitoring at the geothermal exploration site GEo-01, Satigny, Geneva, CH. First constraints on reservoir properties.

Birdsell, D. T., Houlie, N., Guglielmetti, L., and Saar, M. O.

2021Presentation Peer-ReviewedTalk (Contributed) at Unknown

2020

1 publication

HEATSTORE SWITZERLAND: New Opportunities of Geothermal District Heating Network Sustainable Growth by High Temperature Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Development

Guglielmetti, L., Alt-Epping, P., Birdsell, D. T., De Oliveira, F., Diamond, L., Driesner, T., Eruteya, O., Hollmuller, P., and Saar, M. O.

2020Presentation Peer-ReviewedTalk (Contributed) at World Geothermal Congress

2019

1 publication

Modeling Ground Surface Deformation at the Swiss HEATSTORE Underground Thermal Energy Storage Sites

Birdsell, D. T. and Saar, M. O.

2019Presentation Peer-ReviewedZurich, Switzerland

DOI: 10.3929/ethz-b-000421353

2018

1 publication

Code development for modeling induced seismicity with flow and mechanics using a discrete fracture network and matrix formulation with evolving hydraulic diffusivity

Birdsell, D. T., Rajaram, H., and Karra, S.

2018Presentation Peer-ReviewedTalk (Contributed) at 52nd US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium and Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference