Chemistry and Geothermometry of Brine Produced From the Salton Sea Scientific Drill Hole, Imperial Valley, California

TLDR: The first 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.

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 SO4 and HCO3 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/K2 method gives a temperature of about 350°C, Mg/Li2 about 282°, and Na/Li 395°–418°C.