Geochemistry in Geothermal Exploration and Production

Abstract

Geochemistry has many uses in a geothermal resources development program. It can provide information about reservoir conditions before and during production, the source of recharge, and directions of fluid flow. applications in regard to corrosion, scaling, and waste-disposal problems. When properly used, chemical geothermometers and mixing models applied to hot-spring waters can give accurate information about underground reservoir temperatures and salinities. However, when interpreting chemical data, attention should be given to geologic and hydrologic information. Also, chemical models must be consistent with isotopic ta; plots of enthalpy versus chloride, and are useful for determining that consistency. Equations expressing the sol of quartz in water at the vapor pressure of the solution as a function of temperature and a function of enthalpy permit calculation of silica geothermometer temperatures for solutions up to with or without steam separation at any temperature. NaCl solutions (expressed in is similar to that in pure water at temperatures below about in salt solution is greatly increased compared to pure water; this has great importance for determining conditions at which scaling is likely to occur.