Subsidence and uplift at Heber Geothermal field, California

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Geothermal Hot Line

OSTI ID:232027

Boardman, T S

Heber Geothermal field is in the Imperial Valley near the City of Heber, California, about 3 1/2 miles north of the Mexican border. The field is at the southern end of a network of irrigated agricultural fields extending across the valley floor. The Heber geothermal system is circular, producing water of moderate temperature (360{degrees}F) and low-salinity (13,000-14,000 ppm TDS). In cross section, the geothermal system resembles a lopsided mushroom. The system has three major permeability units: capping clays form 500 to 1800 feet; a high-matrix-permeability, deltaic-sandstone outflow reservoir from 1,800 to 5,500 feet; and feeder faults and fractures in indurated sediments below 5,500 feet. The deltaic sandstones were deposited by the ancestral Colorado River. As both power plants continue operating in Heber field, the need persists to monitor subsidence and uplift. The field`s subsidence bowl is not expected to expand significantly, but some small changes are expected due to pressure changes caused by production for the SIGC binary power plant. The three SIGC injection wells, located between the production areas for the two power plants, will be managed for adequate reservoir pressure support.

• OSTI ID: 232027
• Journal Information: Geothermal Hot Line, Journal Name: Geothermal Hot Line Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 22; ISSN GHLIDT; ISSN 0735-0503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
CALIFORNIA
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
HEBER GEOTHERMAL FIELD
PRODUCTION