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Determination of characteristics of steam reservoirs by Radon-222 measurements in geothermal fluids

  • Exploration, Characterisation and Exploitation of Geothermal Resources
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Abstract

The authors conducted a Rn222 survey in wells of the Larderello geothermal field (Italy) and observed considerable variations in concentrations. Simple models show that flow-rate plays an important part in the Rn222 content of each well, as it directly affects the fluid transit time in the reservoirs. Rn222 has been sampled from two wells of the Serrazzano area during flow-rate drawdown tests. The apparent volume of the steam reservoir of each of these two wells has been estimated from the Rn222 concentration versus flow-rate curves.

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Abbreviations

Q :

Flow-rate (kg h−1)

λ:

Decay constant of Rn222 (λ=7.553×10−3 h−1)

ϕ:

Porosity of the reservoir (volume of fluid/volume of rock)

ρ1 :

Density of the fluid in the reservoir (kg m−3)

ρ2 :

Density of the rock in the reservoir (kg m−3)

M :

Stationary mass of fluid filling the reservoir (kg).

E :

Emanating power of the rock in the reservoir (nCi kg −1rock h−1).

P :

Production rate of Rn222 in the reservoir: number of atoms of Rn222 (divided by 1.764×107) transferred by the rock to the mass unit of fluid per unit time (nCi kg −1fluid h−1).

N :

Specific concentration of Rn222 in the fluid (nCi kg−1)

τ:

Characteristic time of the steam reservoir at maximum flow-rate (τ=M/Q)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Internazionale per le Ricerche Geotermiche, C.N.R., Via del Buongusto, 1, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    F. D'Amore

  2. Laboratoire de Volcanologie du C.N.R.S., Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, B.P. No 1, 91190, Gif sur Yvette, France

    J. C. Sabroux

  3. Section Technique d'Etudes de la Pollution dans l'Atmosphére et dans les Mines, C.E.A., B.P. No 6, 92260, Fontenay aux Roses, France

    P. Zettwoog

Authors
  1. F. D'Amore
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  2. J. C. Sabroux
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  3. P. Zettwoog
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D'Amore, F., Sabroux, J.C. & Zettwoog, P. Determination of characteristics of steam reservoirs by Radon-222 measurements in geothermal fluids. PAGEOPH 117, 253–261 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879751

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879751

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