Seismic Velocity/Temperature Correlations and a Possible New Geothermometer: Insights from Exploration of a High-Temperature Geothermal System on Montserrat, West Indies

Graham Alexander Ryan and Eylon Shalev
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Graham Alexander Ryan: Institute of Earth Science and Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Eylon Shalev: Institute of Earth Science and Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Energies, 2014, vol. 7, issue 10, 1-32

Abstract: In 2013, two production wells were drilled into a geothermal reservoir on Montserrat, W.I. (West Indies) Drilling results confirmed the main features of a previously developed conceptual model. The results confirm that below ~220 °C there is a negative correlation between reservoir temperature and seismic velocity anomaly. However, above ~220 °C there is a positive correlation. We hypothesise that anomalous variations in seismic velocity within the reservoir are controlled to first order by the hydrothermal mineral assemblage. This study suggests a new geophysical thermometer which can be used to estimate temperatures in three dimensions with unprecedented resolution and to indicate the subsurface fluid pathways which are the target of geothermal exploitation.

Keywords: geothermal; Montserrat; seismic tomography; geothermometer; Soufrière Hills volcano; well; hydrothermal alteration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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