Double-Diffusive Convection in Liquid-Dominated Geothermal Systemswith High-Salinity Brines

Abstract

Variations in temperature and salinity in hypersaline liquid-dominated geothermal systems like the Salton Sea Geothermal System (SSGS) tend to be correlated such that liquid density is relatively constant in the system. The tendency toward small density variations may be due to connectivity with a surrounding regional aquifer at multiple depths in the stratigraphic column. We present numerical simulation results for natural convection in geothermal systems like the SSGS in hydraulic connection with a constant-density aquifer. Natural convection where there are two sources of buoyancy such as heat and salt, with different diffusivities, is called double-diffusive convection. Simulations of double-diffusive convection are carried out using our general-purpose reservoir simulator TOUGH2 with a newly developed twodimensional heat and brine transport module (T2DM) that includes Fickian solute dispersion. The model includes an accurate formulation for liquid density as a function of temperature and salinity. Our simulation results show many features that are consistent with observations of the SSGS, making conceptual models that involve hydraulic connectivity with a surrounding aqulfer appear plausible. The generality of our model makes the results broadly applicable to systems similar to the SSGS.