Shallow hydrothermal regime of the East Brawley and Glamis known geothermal resource areas, Salton Trough, California

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5119216· OSTI ID:5119216

Mase, C W; Sass, J H; Brook, C A; Munroe, R J

Thermal gradients and thermal conductivities were obtained in real time using an in situ heat-flow technique in 15 shallow (90 to 150 m) wells drilled between Brawley and Glamis in the Imperial Valley, Southern California. The in situ measurements were supplemented by follow-up conventional temperature logs in seven of the wells and by laboratory measurements of thermal conductivity on drill cuttings. The deltaic sedimentary material comprising the upper approx. 100 m of the Salton Trough generally is poorly sorted and high in quartz resulting in quite high thermal conductivities (averaging 2.0 Wm/sup -1/ K/sup -1/ as opposed to 1.2 to 1.7 for typical alluvium). A broad heat-flow anomaly with maximum of about 200 mWm/sup -2/ (approx. 5 HFU) is centered between Glamis and East Brawley and is superimposed on a regional heat-flow high in excess of 100 mWm/sup -2/ (> 2.5 HFU). The heat-flow high corresponds with a gravity maximum and partially with a minimum in electrical resistivity, suggesting the presence of a hydrothermal system at depth in this area.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5119216
• Report Number(s): USGS-OFR-81-834; ON: DE82906219
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150301* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys
BRAWLEY GEOTHERMAL FIELD
CALIFORNIA
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT FLOW
IMPERIAL VALLEY
INFORMATION
MAPS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
USA
WELL LOGGING
WELLS