STUDY OF THE AMORPHOUS SILICA SCALES FORMATION AT THE MUTNOVSKOE HYDROTHERMAL FIELD (RUSSIA)

Abstract

Formation of the amorphous silica solid scales in wells, separators, pipes and heat exchangers is the essential prob-lem that makes difficult wide usage of geothermal re-sources. Various types of amorphous silica were selected at the Mutnovskoe field and their silicate, X-ray diffraction and thermochemical analyses were done. The possibility of disposal brine treatment by alkali and acid before reinjec-tion was studied under conditions of Verkhne-Mutnovskaya geothermal electric power station by the nu-merical modeling study of the chemical equilibrium in the multicomponent solution. Data of the test on determining the rate of the silica scales growth in heat exchanger and results of the electrochemical treatment of hydrothermal solution are given. Results of this study can be used in technology of geothermal silica precipitation which is considered as a by-product.