Chemical and Isotopic Evidence of Steam Upflow and Partial Condensation in Los Azufres Reservoir
Data of chemical and isotopic composition of fluids from Los Azufres wells, collected over a two year period, provide evidence of a process of upward flow and partial condensation of steam in the reservoir, which explains part of the previously reported heterogeneity in isotopic composition of the liquid phase (Nieva et al, 1983). For the southern part of the field, a direct correlation is found between chloride and oxygen-18 concentrations, and an inverse correlation between these parameters and deuterium and carbon dioxide concentrations in the liquid phase of the reservoir. Chloride ion concentrations increase gradually from ca 660 ppm in the production zones of shallow wells to ca 1900 ppm in the case of deep wells. This observation agrees with predictions based on the well-known model for vapor dominated systems of White et al (1971). For the northern part of the field the same correlations are observed, except for the deuterium concentration which in this case correlates directly with oxygen-18. It is concluded that the same process of steam upflow occurs in the northern section but that some other process — perhaps a mixture with other hydrothermal fluid — is also occurring. 3 tabs., 16 refs., 8 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas, Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico; Comision Federal de Electricidad, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT03-80SF11459; AS07-84ID12529
- OSTI ID:
- 888553
- Report Number(s):
- SGP-TR-109-36
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Proceedings, Twelfth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., January 20-22, 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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