Chemistry and geothermometry of brine produced from the Salton Sea Scientific drill hole, Imperial Valley, California

Abstract

The December 29–30, 1985, flow test of the State 2–14 well, also known as the Salton Sea Scientific drill hole, produced fluid from a depth of 1865–1877 m at a reservoir temperature of 305° ± 5°C. Another flow test at a depth of 3170 m produced brine contaminated by drilling fluid and diesel oil. Therefore we focus on the first flow test. Samples were collected at five different flashing pressures. The brines are Na-Ca-K-Cl-type waters with very high metal and low SO 4 and HCO 3 contents. Compositions of the flashed brines were normalized relative to the 25°C densities of the solutions, and an ionic charge balance was achieved by adjusting the Na concentration. The composition of the preflashed reservoir fluid was calculated using enthalpy-chloride relations applied to the normalized and charge-balanced brines. The calculated total dissolved solids in the preflashed reservoir fluid ranges from about 24.8 wt %, assuming insignificant thermal losses from the erupting fluid before sampling, to 26.0 wt %, assuming a 10% enthalpy loss by conduction of thermal energy through casing and surface piping. The preferred total dissolved solids of the reservoir fluid is 25.05 wt %. The calculated specific density of the preflashed reservoir fluid at 305°C and 1870 m depth ranges from 0.9980 (no thermal loss prior to sampling) to 1.0107 ± 0.0023 g cm −3 (10% thermal loss). Of the various cation geothermometers that are now in common use, the Na-K-Ca method gives a temperature (310°C) closest to the measured temperature (305°C) in the production horizon. Calculated Na/K geothermometer temperatures, using equations suggested by different investigators, range from 326° to 364°C. The Mg/K 2 method gives a temperature of about 350°C, Mg/Li 2 about 282°, and Na/Li 395°–418°C.