| Abstract: | Geological, geophysical, thermal, petrophysical and hydrological data available for the East Mesa hydrothermal system that are pertinent to the construction of a computer model of the natural flow of heat and fluid mass within the system are assembled and correlated. A conceptual model of the full system is developed and a subregion selected for quantitative modeling. By invoking the .Boussinesq approximation, valid for describing the natural flow of heat and mass in a liquid hydrothermal system, it is found practical to carry computer simulations far enough in time to ensure that steady-state conditions are obtained. Initial calculations for an axisymmetric model approximating the system demonstrate that the vertical formation permeability of the deep East Mesa system must be very low (kv ~ 0.25 to 0.5 md). Since subsurface temperature and surface heat flow data exhibit major deviations from the axisymmetric approximation, exploratory three-dimensional calculations are performed to assess the effects of various mechanisms which might operate to produce such observed asymmetries. A three-dimensional model evolves from this iterative data synthesis and computer analysis which includes a hot fluid convective source distributed along a leaky fault radiating northward from the center of the hot spot and realistic variations in the reservoir formation properties. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 10860 |
| Citation Author: | Riney, T. David; Pritchett, J. W.; Rice, L. F. |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 118 p., ill., maps ;28 cm. |
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| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Citation Series: | Open-File Report |
| Citation Series Code: | OFR |
| Citation Series Number: | 82-980 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Integrated model of the shallow and deep hydrothermal systems in the East Mesa area, Imperial Valley, California; 1982; OFR; 82-980; Riney, T. David; Pritchett, J. W.; Rice, L. F. |
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| Citation Year: | 1982 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Integrated model of the shallow and deep hydrothermal systems in the East Mesa area, Imperial Valley, California; 1982; OFR; 82-980; Riney, T. David; Pritchett, J. W.; Rice, L. F. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1982/0980/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1982/0980/report.pdf |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey, |
