Three-dimensional Q/sup -1/ model of the Coso Hot Springs known geothermal resource area
Observations of teleseismic P waves above geothermal systems exhibit travel time delays and anomalously high seismic attenuation, which is extremely useful in estimating the thermal regime and the potential of the system. A regional telemetered network of sixteen stations was operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Coso Hot Springs Known Geothermal Resources Area (KGRA) for such studies from September 1975 to October 1976. Subsequently, they deployed a portable Centipede array of 26 three-component stations near the center of anomaly. The seismograms of 44 events recorded by the telemetered array and nine events by the Centipede array were analyzed using the reduced spectral ratio technique to determine the differential attenuation factordeltat* for the events recorded with the highest signal-to-noise ratio. The deltat* variation observed across the Coso Hot Springs KGRA were small (<0.2 s). A three-dimensional generalized linear inversion of the deltat* observations was performed using a three-layer model. A shallow zone of high attenuation exists within the upper 5 km in a region bounded by Coso Hot Springs, Devils Kitchen, and Sugarloaf Mountain probably corresponding to a shallow vapor liquid mixture or 'lossy' near surface lithology. No zones of significantly high attenuation occur between 5- and 12-km depth. Between the depth of 12--20 km a thick zone of high attenuation (Q<50) exists, offset toward the east from the surface anomaly.
- Research Organization:
- Center for Energy Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
- OSTI ID:
- 5166016
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 85:B5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COSO HOT SPRINGS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
ATTENUATION
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
SEISMIC P WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION
CALIFORNIA
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
NORTH AMERICA
SEISMIC WAVES
SURVEYS
USA
WESTERN REGION
150301* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys