Predictive simulation of three exploitation schemes for the brines in the Bieletan section of the Charham Salt Lake, China

Abstract

Potassium-rich halite ores and brines occur in the Charham Salt Lake area in the Chaidam Basin in northwest China. The mean 14.3 g/l of potassium in the brines in the near-surface halite aquifer makes the Charham Salt Lake an important base for production of potassium fertilizer in China. About 30×10⁴ m³/day of brines has been pumped from the current ditches in the Bieletan section in the west of the area, creating a cone of depression in the water table near the ditch system. A two-dimensional mathematic model describing the flow of the brines is established to predict the changes in the water table. The flow domain was discretized into 1,185 triangular elements with 641 nodes. Data of brine production through pumping ditches from November 2002 to August 2003 were used to identify the model. The developed model can be employed to predict the exploitation regimes caused by three proposed exploitation schemes A, B and C. A withdrawal rate of 22.67×10⁴ m³/day of brines is pumped through the current ditch system in scheme A and through the current ditch system plus 16 wells in scheme B. The results of the 5 years predictive simulation for schemes A and B indicate that these rates will cause a normal fall in water table in the pumping period of 9 months and a rise in water table in the recovery period of 3 months in each of the 5 years, with one depression cone near the current ditches in scheme A and two depression cones near the current ditches and the proposed wells in scheme B. In scheme C three more ditch systems are proposed to be excavated in the northeast, northwest and southwest of the Bieletan section and brines are pumped through each of the four ditch systems in turn for 1 year in every 4 years. The predictive simulation results of scheme C suggest that normal changes in the water table will also be expected and a continual increasing or decreasing trend in the water table will not be encountered in a 12-year period of prediction. The water table near each of the four ditch systems will recover sufficiently after a 39-month recovery.