Thermo-elasticity analysis with seepage effects for geothermal wells under 3D complex loads

Geothermal wellbore stability in deep formations is governed by pronounced thermohydromechanical (THM) coupling, in which seepage-induced pore pressure diffusion plays a critical yet frequently underestimated role. Many existing thermoelastic models neglect seepage processes or treat pore pressure as a simplified boundary condition, thereby restricting their predictive capability in deep, high-temperature geothermal reservoirs. To overcome this limitation, this study develops a three-dimensional thermo-elasticity model with explicitly coupled seepage effects to investigate stress redistribution around geothermal wells under complex anisotropic loading conditions. The proposed framework incorporates depth-dependent mechanical, hydraulic, and thermal parameters, enabling a more realistic characterization of deep formation behavior. The results demonstrate that seepage-driven pore pressure diffusion fundamentally reconfigures near-wellbore stress evolution, with stress perturbations intensifying with burial depth due to enhanced hydraulicthermal gradients and anisotropic stress amplification. Overall, this study establishes a rigorous thermo-elastic analytical framework with explicit seepage coupling, providing improved predictive capability for geothermal wellbore stability and highlighting the importance of integrating hydraulic and thermal regulation into deep geothermal drilling design.