INJECTION RELATED COOLING IN THE UNIT 13 AREA OF THE SOUTHEAST GEYSERS

Abstract

The effect of eight-year water injection into well CA 956A-1 on wellhead temperature and enthalpy of the twelve nearby producers has been studied. Injection has been beneficial and without any water breakthrough to production wells. Producers with maximum injection benefit did not show any wellhead temperature or enthalpy degradation for approximately five years. Production wells, which showed no obvious injection effect, did not exhibit any thermodynamic degradation for up to six years. Some producers were not affected by injection at all. The thermal front appears to grow towards the southwest and east of the injection well. Upon the
arrival of the thermal front, a drop of 1.3-5.7oF: (0.7-3.2oC) per year in wellhead temperature and 0.3-2.3 Btu/lbm (0.7-5.3 kj/kg ) per year in wellhead enthalpy has been observed. The arrival of the thermal front
signifies a slowing down in boiling rate and therefore, the recovery rate of the injected water.