Oxygen isotope systematics in an evolving geothermal system: Coso Hot Springs, California

Etzel, Thomas M.; Bowman, John R.; Moore, Joseph N.; Valley, John W.; Spicuzza, Michael J.; McCulloch, Jesse M.

doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.11.014

Oxygen isotope systematics in an evolving geothermal system: Coso Hot Springs, California

Journal Article · Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.11.014· OSTI ID:1666241

Etzel, Thomas M. ^[1]; Bowman, John R. ^[2]; Moore, Joseph N. ^[2]; Valley, John W. ^[3]; Spicuzza, Michael J. ^[3]; McCulloch, Jesse M. ^[4]

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States); UW-Madison
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Terra-Gen Operating Company, Little Lake, CA (United States)

Oxygen isotope and clay mineralogy studies have been made on whole rock samples and feldspar separates from three wells along the high temperature West Flank of the Coso geothermal system, California. The reservoir rocks have experienced variable ¹⁸O/¹⁶O depletion, with δ¹⁸O values ranging from primary values of +7.5 ‰ down to -4.6 ‰. Spatial patterns of clay mineral distributions in the three wells are not closely correlated with the distributions expected from measured, pre-production temperature profiles, but do correlate with spatial patterns of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O depletion, indicating that the stability of clay minerals in the three wells is a function of fluid-rock interaction in addition to temperature. Detailed δ¹⁸O measurements in the three wells identify a limited number of localized intervals of extensive ¹⁸O/¹⁶O depletion. These intervals document localized zones of higher permeability in the geothermal system that have experienced significant fluid infiltration, water-rock interaction and oxygen isotopic exchange with the geothermal fluids. The local zones of maximum ¹⁸O/¹⁶O depletion in each well 2 correspond closely with current hot-water production zones. Most feldspar separates have measured δ¹⁸O values too high to have completely attained oxygen isotope exchange equilibrium with the reservoir fluid at pre-production temperatures. In general, the lower the δ¹⁸O value of the feldspar, the closer the feldspar approaches exchange equilibrium with the geothermal fluid. This correlation suggests that fracture-induced increases in permeability increase both fluid infiltration and the surface area of the host rock exposed to geothermal fluid, promoting fluid-rock interaction and oxygen isotope exchange. The two most ¹⁸O/¹⁶O-depleted feldspar samples have δ¹⁸O values too low to be in exchange equilibrium with the pre-production reservoir fluid at pre-production temperatures. Here, these discrepancies suggest that the reservoir fluid in the West Flank of the Coso geothermal system was hotter and/or had a lower δ¹⁸O value (due to fluid-rock interaction at higher permeability) in the past.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0005521; FG02-93ER14389

OSTI ID:: 1666241

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1534069
OSTI ID: 1396485

Journal Information:: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Journal Name: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Vol. 329; ISSN 0377-0273

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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