Experimental rock-water interactions at temperatures to 300/sup 0/C: implications for fluid flow, solute transport, and silicate mineral zoning in crustal geothermal systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5346419

Potter, J M

Geothermal reservoirs commonly occur in permeable volcanic rock (rhyolite, andesite, basalt) or sedimentary (sandstone) strata at temperatures below 300/sup 0/C. Knowledge of how these reservoirs develop chemically and physically has been based almost entirely on field studies. Four types of experiments were conducted to supplement available data on the chemistry, mineralogy, and fluid flow aspects of hydrothermal processes occurring in crustal geothermal systems: (1) agitated rock-water experiments; (2) high temperature flow through experiments; (3) low temperature permeability experiments; and (4) corrosion monitoring experiments. Initial experiments reacted rhyolite glass and holocrystalline basalt with water-NaCl solutions at 300/sup 0/C in agitated hydrothermal equipment. Concentrations of components in solution depend on initial salinity, rock type, and particle size. The secondary phases consist of zeolites, clay, and feldspar minerals and the alteration assemblage is dependent on both initial salinity, rock type, and duration of the experiment. A second set of experiments were conducted at 300/sup 0/C using the rhyolite glass in a flow through type of apparatus. Compositions of outlet fluids show a dependence of fluid flow rate and core length.

• OSTI ID: 5346419
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
RHYOLITES
BASALT
FELDSPARS
PERMEABILITY
QUARTZ
SANDSTONES
SODIUM CHLORIDES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
ZEOLITES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MATERIALS
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
152003* - Geothermal Data & Theory- Rock-Water-Gas Interactions