Reconnaissance of geothermal resources of Los Angeles County, California
Thermal waters produced from large oil fields are currently the most important geothermal resources in Los Angeles County. Otherwise, the County does not appear to have any large, near-surface geothermal resources. The oil fields produce thermal water because of both the moderate depths of production and normal to above-normal geothermal gradients. Gradients are about 3.0-3.5/sup 0/C/100 meters in the Ventura Basin and range from that up to about 5.5-6.0/sup 0/C/100 meters in the Los Angeles Basin. The hottest fields in the County are west of the Newport-Inglewood Structural Zone. The Los Angeles Basin has substantially more potential for uses of heat from oil fields than does the Ventura Basin because of its large fields and dense urban development. Produced fluid temperatures there range from ambient air to boiling, but most are in the 100-150/sup 0/F range. Daily water production ranges from only a few barrels at some fields to over a million barrels at Wilmington Oil Field; nearly all fields produce less than 50,000 barrels/day. Water salinity generally ranges from about 15,000-35,000 mg/liter NaCl. Fields with the most promise as sources of heat for outside applications are Wilmington, Torrance, Venice Beach, and Lawndale. The centralized treatment facilities are the most favorable sites for extraction of heat within the oil fields. Because of the poor water quality heat exchangers will likely be required rather than direct circulation of the field water to users. The best sites for applications are commercial-industrial areas and possibly institutional structures occupied by large numbers of people.
- Research Organization:
- California State Dept. of Conservation, Sacramento (USA). Div. of Mines and Geology
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-80SF10855
- OSTI ID:
- 6636810
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/SF/10855-3; ON: DE83006192
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
History of petroleum exploration in California and the West Coast
Earthquakes, faulting, and stress in the Los Angeles basin
Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
CALIFORNIA
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
THERMAL WATERS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
OIL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
MAPS
SALINITY
WATER QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
USA
Geothermal Legacy
150301* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Geophysical Techniques & Surveys
150101 - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability- USA- (-1989)
020500 - Petroleum- Products & By-Products