Modeling thermal front dynamics in geothermal reservoirs using an open-source MRST–MATLAB simulation framework

Memon, Abdul Rashid — 2026-02-20T00:00:00Z

Geo-Energy Transition and Carbon Management, (in Press).
Abdul Rashid Memon, Pijus Makauskas
Geothermal energy is a renewable, continuous, globally accessible resource which also helps in reducing carbon emissions. Subsurface aquifers containing thermal water are therefore highly attractive, not only as a sustainable energy source but also as potential reservoirs for large-scale energy storage – an increasingly important function to mitigate the seasonal imbalance native to renewable energy utilization. The detailed and profound knowledge of these processes requires accurate, efficient, and adaptable numerical simulation frameworks. In this study, we present a geothermal simulation workflow implemented in MATLAB, specifically targeting low- to moderate-enthalpy geothermal systems. The accuracy and robustness of this workflow are assessed through benchmarking the MRST-based geothermal module against T-NAVIGATOR, a widely used commercial reservoir simulator. Furthermore, we demonstrate the applicability of this approach by conducting geothermal simulations for selected Lithuanian aquifer complexes, thereby highlighting the potential of geothermal modeling for both energy production and underground energy storage applications.

Geo-Energy Transition and Carbon Management: Table of Contents

Modeling thermal front dynamics in geothermal reservoirs using an open-source MRST–MATLAB simulation framework