Method For Achieving A Target Width Of A Thermal Pathway Formed In A Subterranean Heat Reservoir

A method for achieving a target width of a thermal pathway formed in a subterranean heat reservoir comprising:

• injecting an initial fluid into the subterranean heat reservoir at an initial pressure higher than an obtained reservoir stress to create an opening in the subterranean heat reservoir, the opening having an opening width;
• injecting a slurry comprising a volume of thermal particles and a volume of carrier fluid into the created opening to form a particle pack in the opening;
• allowing an increase in particle pack volume fraction of the particle pack under a particle pack stress load within the opening as the particle pack is compressed in the opening by ceasing injecting the slurry, wherein the particle pack stress load is determined from an obtained reservoir stress and a fluid pressure of the slurry in the opening;
• and
• ensuring that a combined effect of the opening width in response to the particle pack stress load increasing to a full closure stress and the increase in the particle pack volume fraction achieves or exceeds the target width of the thermal pathway, wherein the target width is achieved by determining particle dimensional characteristics and compressive mechanical behaviors of the thermal particles and an initial packing solid volume fraction of the injected thermal particles, thereby ensuring the increase in particle pack volume fraction meets a predetermined condition in response to the particle pack stress load having increased to the full closure stress by which the particle pack becomes the thermal pathway.