Numerical studies of the heat and mass transport in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, Mexico

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR019i003p00753· OSTI ID:6817666

Lippmann, M J; Bodvarsson, G S

Numerical simulation techniques are employed in studies of the natural flow of heat and mass through the Cerro Prieto reservoir, Mexico and of the effects of exploitation on the field's behavior. The reservoir model is a two-dimensional vertical east to west-southwest cross section, which is based on a recent hydrogeologic model of this geothermal system. The numerical code MULKOM is used in the simulation studies. The steady state pressure and temperature distributions are computed and compared against observed preproduction pressures and temperatures; a reasonable match is obtained. A natural hot water recharge rate of about 1 x 10/sup -2/ kg/s per meter of field length (measured in a north-south direction) is obtained. The model is then used to simulate the behavior of the field during the 1973-1978 production period. The response of the model to fluid extraction agrees to what has been observed in the field or postulated by other authors. There is a decrease in temperatures and pressures in the produced region. No extensive two-phase zone develops in the reservoir because of the strong fluid recharge. Most of the fluid recharging the system comes from colder regions located above and west of the produced reservoir. 34 references, 22 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6817666
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150202* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- Non-USA-- (-1989)
CERRO PRIETO GEOTHERMAL FIELD
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLOW MODELS
FLUID WITHDRAWAL
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROLOGY
LATIN AMERICA
M CODES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
RECHARGE
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
SIMULATION