Update on subsidence at the Wairakei–Tauhara geothermal system,New Zealand

The total subsidence at the Wairakei field as a result of 50 years of geothermal fluid extraction is 15 ± 0.5 m. Subsidence rates in the center of the subsidence bowl have decreased from over 450 mm/year during the 1970s to 80–90 mm/year during 2000–2007. The location of the bowl, adjacent to the original liquid outflow zone of the field, has not changed significantly. Subsidence at the Tauhara field due to Wairakei production was not as well documented in the early years but appeared later and has been less intense than at Wairakei. Total subsidence of 2.6 ± 0.5 m has also occurred close to the original liquid outflow zone of this field, and maximum subsidence rates in this area today are in the 80–100 mm/year range. In the western part of the Wairakei field, near the area of hot upflow, subsidence rates have approximately doubled during the last 20 years to 30–50 mm/year. This increase appears to be have been caused by declining pressure in the underlying steam zone in this area, which is tapped by some production wells. At Tauhara field, two areas of subsidence have developed since the 1990s with rates of 50–65 mm/year. Although less well-determined, this subsidence may also be caused by declining pressure in shallow steam zones. The cause of the main subsidence bowls in the Wairakei–Tauhara geothermal system is locally high-compressibility rocks within the Huka Falls Formation (HFF), which are predominantly lake sediments and an intervening layer of pumice breccia. At Wairakei, casing deformation suggests the greatest compaction is at 150–200 m depth. The cause of the large compressibility is inferred to be higher clay content in the HFF due to intense hydrothermal alteration close to the natural fluid discharge areas. Future subsidence is predicted to add an additional 2–4 m to the Wairakei bowl, and 1–2 m elsewhere, but these estimates depend on the assumed production-injection scenarios.     

Simulation of water–rock interaction in the Yellowstone geothermal system using TOUGHREACT

The Yellowstone geothermal system provides an ideal opportunity to test the ability of reactive transport models to simulate the chemical and hydrological effects of water–rock interaction. Previous studies of the Yellowstone geothermal system have characterized water–rock interaction through analysis of rocks and fluids obtained from both surface and downhole samples. Fluid chemistry, rock mineralogy, permeability, porosity, and thermal data obtained from the Y-8 borehole in Upper Geyser Basin were used to constrain a series of reactive transport simulations of the Yellowstone geothermal system using TOUGHREACT. Three distinct stratigraphic units were encountered in the 153.4 m deep Y-8 drill core: volcaniclastic sandstone, perlitic rhyolitic lava, and nonwelded pumiceous tuff. The main alteration phases identified in the Y-8 core samples include clay minerals, zeolites, silica polymorphs, adularia, and calcite. Temperatures observed in the Y-8 borehole increase with depth from sub-boiling conditions at the surface to a maximum of 169.8 °C at a depth of 104.1 m, with near-isothermal conditions persisting down to the well bottom. 1-D models of the Y-8 core hole were constructed to simulate the observed alteration mineral assemblage given the initial rock mineralogy and observed fluid chemistry and temperatures. Preliminary simulations involving the perlitic rhyolitic lava unit are consistent with the observed alteration of rhyolitic glass to form celadonite.     

Is it only CO2 that matters? A life cycle perspective on shallow geothermal systems

Shallow geothermal systems such as open and closed geothermal heat pump (GHP) systems are considered to be an efficient and renewable energy technology for cooling and heating of buildings and other facilities. The numbers of installed ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems, for example, is continuously increasing worldwide. The objective of the current study is not only to discuss the net energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or savings by GHP operation, but also to fully examine environmental burdens and benefits related to applications of such shallow geothermal systems by employing a state-of the-art life cycle assessment (LCA). The latter enables us to assess the entire energy flows and resources use for any product or service that is involved in the life cycle of such a technology. The applied life cycle impact assessment methodology (ReCiPe 2008) shows the relative contributions of resources depletion (34%), human health (43%) and ecosystem quality (23%) of such GSHP systems to the overall environmental damage. Climate change, as one impact category among 18 others, contributes 55.4% to the total environmental impacts. The life cycle impact assessment also demonstrates that the supplied electricity for the operation of the heat pump is the primary contributor to the environmental impact of GSHP systems, followed by the heat pump refrigerant, production of the heat pump, transport, heat carrier liquid, borehole and borehole heat exchanger (BHE). GHG emissions related to the use of such GSHP systems are carefully reviewed; an average of 63 t CO₂ equivalent emissions is calculated for a life cycle of 20 years using the Continental European electricity mix with 0.599 kg CO₂ eq/kWh. However, resulting CO₂ eq savings for Europe, which are between ?31% and 88% in comparison to conventional heating systems such as oil fired boilers and gas furnaces, largely depend on the primary resource of the supplied electricity for the heat pump, the climatic conditions and the inclusion of passive cooling capabilities. Factors such as degradation of coefficient of performance, as well as total leakage of the heat carrier fluid into the soil and aquifer are also carefully assessed, but show only minor environmental impacts.     

Temperature–depth relationships based on log data from the Los Azufres geothermal field,Mexico

Equilibrium temperatures based on log data acquired during drilling stops in the Los Azufres geothermal field were used to study the relationship between temperature, depth and conductive heat flow that differentiate production from non-production areas. Temperature and thermal conductivity data from 62 geothermal wells were analyzed, displaying temperature–depth, gradient–depth, and ternary temperature–gradient–depth plots. In the ternary plot, the production wells of Los Azufres are located near the temperature vertex, where normalized temperatures are over 0.50 units, or where the temperature gradient is over 165°C/km. In addition, the temperature data were used to estimate the depth at which 600°C could be reached (5–9 km) and the regional background conductive heat flow (≈ 106 mW/m²). Estimates are also given for the conductive heat flow associated with the conductive cooling of an intrusive body (≈ 295 mW/m²), and the conductive heat flow component in low-permeability blocks inside the reservoir associated with convection in limiting open faults (from 69 to 667 mW/m²). The method applied in this study may be useful to interpret data from new geothermal areas still under exploration by comparing with the results obtained from Los Azufres.     

Groundwater quality and geothermal energy. The case of Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field,México

The influence of the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (CPGF) on groundwater quality of the close-by agricultural area was evaluated by means of chemical and isotopic determinations. According to irrigation standards, concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Crtot, Cr(VI), Cu, Cd, Hg, B in agricultural wells showed the suitability of the water for irrigation. Iron was below irrigation limits in all but one well. However, chloride levels were above those limits in 83 out of 87 collected samples. Isotopic determinations of δ²H, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, δ¹³C, and spatial concentration trends of elements related with geothermal brines and toxic metals and metalloids did not indicate an influence of the CPGF to groundwater in the nearby agricultural area. Isotopic values of δ²H, δ¹⁸O showed the occurrence of evaporation processes and infiltration of canal's irrigation water to geothermal water reservoirs and to groundwater in the agricultural zone. High chloride concentrations might be associated with these processes.     

Effective thermal conductivity of Mexican geothermal cementing systems in the temperature range from 28°C to 200°C

The effective thermal conductivity of six Mexican cementing systems used in geothermal well completion were experimentally determined in the temperature range from 28°C to 200°C. Measurements were carried using the classical line-source method. The experimental system was calibrated by measuring the thermal conductivity of standard fused quartz samples. An experimental procedure for preparation of the cement specimen samples was also developed. Results show that thermal conductivity depends on the particular cement system and tends to increase with temperature for most cement systems. Experimental uncertainties of thermal conductivity were less than 4%. From this experimental work, new empirical equations for correlating thermal conductivity with temperature for geothermal cementing samples were obtained.