Influence of mine geometry and working type on groundwater flow and heat transport for geothermal exploitation

The UK Geoenergy Observatory in Glasgow is a unique at-scale research facility to study mine water geothermal and thermal energy storage. In this work we present results from two heat injection experiments performed at two mine levels characterised by different mine workings. The experiments resulted in different thermal breakthrough times, even under similar test conditions. We compare the results and discuss the influence of the mine geometry and working types on the groundwater flow and heat transport processes with support from numerical modelling. This quantification is important to assess the long-term sustainability and potential of flooded mines for geothermal exploitation.