The self-sealing geothermal field

A geothermal field producing dry steam or high temperature water is a trap for convection currents generated in an aquifer of high permeability and of sufficient thickness by a deep heat source. A basic implication of this concept is, that a geothermal field requires a cap-rock of more or less impermeable rocks above the producing aquifer. In Larderello, Monte Amiata, and Salton Sea geothermal fields, a clearly reconnaissable tight formation overlies the producing zone and limits the upward movements of the convection currents. In other fields,i.e. The Geysers (California), Wairakei and Waiotapu (New Zealand) we do not know a geologically well defined cap-rock formation, presenting a large difference in permeability in comparison with the reservoir formation. The hot water circulating in a hydrothermal system without a cap-rock can produce deposits and rock alteration in proper places along the flow paths. The tracture and pore filling and any other permeability reducing factors increase resistance to the water circulation: those processes can originate an effective cap-rock. By such processes a hydrothermal system can become a self-sealed geothermal field. The silica deposition is probably the main self-sealing process. In fact, 1) silica is very common. 2) it is available with almost no limitation, 3) its deposition is strictly related to temperature changes, and 4) it is likely to produce very effective patterns of deposition. Where an unlimited CO₂ supply is available at depth, the calcium carbonate deposition appears to be a noticeable sealing process, which is controlled by pressure, at relatively shallow depth. In other cases CaCO₃ precipitation should not be an important factor in the self-sealing of geothermal fields. Argillization appears to be an important shallow process. It is especially effective in the acid environment of many thermal shows, thus determining their migration and/or extinction. According to our analysis and to present evidence those three self-sealing processes are the most important ones. In The Geysers Field, the wells penetrated the same formation, the Franciscan graywackes, from top to bottom. The Franciscan Formation has a very low primary permeability; secondary or fissure permeability is at the contrary very high. It is evident that there is no recognizable cap-rock in the accepted sense of petroleum geology. The wells produce superheated steam; the producing zone begins at 300 m depth or so; the quantity of steam increases with the thickness of the producing zone penetrated by the holes. Beginning in 1964, the wells have been drilled with air as circulating medium. No steam or water has been observed in the top few hundreds meters drilled: we can safely conclude that the graywackes are impervious in the upper section of the holes. Cores and cuttings show frequent fissures filled with silica in different mineral forms and hydrothermally altered rocks are common. In the Geysers area, hot springs, steam vents, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide fumaroles are numerous, and wide zones of rocks, altered by past hydrothermal activity, are prominent features. As usual in many hyperthermal areas, also in The Geysers the manifestations of surface heat change frequently in place, in size, and in fluids discharge. The filling of rock fissures by mineral deposition seems the simplest and most natural explanation of the place changes of the individual springs. The active faults continually generate new fissures, limit the sealing action, and account for the persistent surface thermal activity of the area. The composition of the waters from the hot springs at The Geysers has been re-considered, in comparison with both surface waters and natural steam. The hot springs mainly originate by natural steam condensation, as Allen and Day stated in 1927. This conclusion is now strenghtened and extended: the perched water table producing hot springs at The Geysers is purely condensed steam. Practically all its characteristics can be explained by this condition alone. Separation from other shallow water bodies is extremely sharp. Let us sumarize: the impermeability of the upper section of the holes is demonstrated by the lack of fluids in the Sulphur Bank area, whereas the geochemistry of the hot springs compared with shallow waters indicates that similar conditions occur in the Geysers and Little Geysers areas. Furthermore, silica and other fissure-filling processes occur all over the region, as well as argillization of graywackes. We conclude that:

1. a)
   a cap-rock exists in The Geysers Field; this fact readily explains the production of dry steam;