Hydrochemistry of groundwaters in a spa area of Korea: an implication for water quality degradation by intensive pumping

A geochemical study was carried out in a small spa area (Onyang Spa, Korea) where intensive pumping of deep thermal groundwater (1 300 000 m³ year⁻¹) is taking place. This has caused the deep fractures to lose their artesian pressure and the upper shallow fractures have been encroached by shallow, cold waters. To quantify the influence of long‐term heavy pumping on the quality of the geothermal water, groundwater sampling and chemical analysis, water‐level measurement, and well loggings were performed for the selected deep thermal wells and shallow cold wells. Chemical analysis results indicate a big contrast in water chemistry and origins between the two water types. Shallow groundwater shows a wider concentration ranges in solutes that are closely related to human activity, illustrating the water's vulnerability to contamination near the land surface. Plots of water chemistry as a function of fluoride reveal that the quality of the thermal water was greatly influenced by the shallow, cold groundwater and that intensive pumping of the deep thermal groundwater has caused the introduction of shallow groundwater into the deeper fractures. Although the deep and the shallow fractures were piezometrically separated to some extent, a mixing model based on fluoride and nitrate indicated that the cold‐water fractions in the thermal wells are up to 50%. This suggests that the thermal water is faced with water quality degradation by the downward flow of the shallow, cold water. Restriction on the total of all the pumpage permits per unit area is suggested to restore the artesian pressure of the deep thermal aquifer and to prevent cold‐water intrusion in the study area. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of the geoelectrical properties of peatlands and their influence on ground-penetrating radar surveying1

Geophysical surveys and chemical analyses on cores were carried out in three Ontario peatlands, from which we have gained a better understanding of the peat properties that control the geophysical responses. The electrical conductivity depends linearly on the concentration of total dissolved solids in the peat pore waters and the pore waters in turn bear the ionic signatures of the underlying mineral sediments. The ionic concentration, and thus the electrical conductivity, increase linearly from the surface to basement. The average bulk electrical conductivity of peatlands at Ellice Marsh, near Stratford, and at Wally Creek Area Forest Drainage Project, near Cochrane, are of the order of 25 mS/m. The Mer Bleue peatland, near Ottawa, has extremely high electrical conductivity, reaching levels of up to 380 mS/m near the base of the peat. The Mer Bleue peatland water has correspondingly high values of total dissolved solids, which originate from the underlying Champlain Sea glaciomarine clays. The dielectric permittivity in peats is largely controlled by the bulk water content. Ground penetrating radar can detect changes in water content greater than 3%, occurring within a depth interval less than 15 cm. The principal peatland interfaces detected are the near-surface aerobic to anaerobic transition and the peat to mineral basement contact. The potential for the successful detection of the basement contact using the radar can be predicted using the radar instrument specifications, estimates of the peatland depth, and either the bulk peat or the peat pore water electrical conductivities. Predicted depths of penetration of up to 10 m for Ellice Marsh and Wally Creek exceed the observed depths of 1 to 2 m. At Mer Bleue, on the other hand, we observe that, as predicted, a 100 MHz signal will penetrate to the base of a 2 m thick peat but a 200 MHz signal will not.     

Estimation methods of eco-environmental water requirements: Case study

With the enhancement of knowledge on the rela- tionship between water resources and ecological environment, the eco-environmental water require- ments have become an important factor in the alloca-tion of water resources[1―4]. Because of different un-derstandings on the concept, there are many estimation methods for ecological water requirements[5―7], envi-ronmental flows[8―12], instream flows[13,14], and low flows[15―17]. Most of those methods are identical in the intrinsic contents and a…     

Hydrogeochemistry of thermal and mineral water springs of the Azores archipelago (Portugal)

Mineral and thermal water chemistry from the Azores archipelago was investigated in order to discriminate among hydrochemical facies and isotopic groups and identify the major geochemical processes that affect water composition. A systematic geochemical survey of mineral and thermal water chemistry was carried out, incorporating new data as well as results from the literature. The Azores are a volcanic archipelago consisting of nine islands and samples were collected at São Miguel, Graciosa, Faial, São Jorge, Pico and Flores islands. Hydrothermal manifestations show the effects of active volcanism on several islands. Discharges are mainly related to active Quaternary central volcanoes, of basaltic to trachytic composition, but also some springs are related to older dormant or extinct volcanoes.Multivariate analysis – principal component and cluster analysis – enables classification of water compositions into 4 groups and interpretation of processes affecting water compositions. Groups 1 and 2 discharge from perched-water bodies, and mostly correspond to Na–HCO₃ and Na–HCO₃–Cl type waters. These groups comprise of cold, thermal (27 °C–75 °C) and boiling waters (92.2 °C–93.2 °C), with a wide TDS range (77.3–27, 145.7 mg/L). Group 3 is made of samples of dominated Na–SO₄ from very acid boiling pools (pH range of 2.02–2.27) which are fed by steam-heated perched-water bodies. Group 4 is representative of springs from the basal aquifer system and corresponds to Na–Cl type fluids, with compositions dominated by seawater.Results are used to further develop a conceptual model characterizing the geochemical evolution of the studied waters. Mineral and thermal waters discharging from perched-water bodies are of meteoric origin and chemically evolve by absorption of magmatic volatiles (CO₂) and by a limited degree of rock leaching. Existing data also suggest mixture between cold waters and thermal water. Water chemistry from springs that discharge from the basal aquifer system evolves by mixing with seawater; although, processes such as absorption of magmatic volatiles (CO₂), rock leaching and mixture with hydrothermal waters are not excluded by the data because the actual composition of these waters deviates from that expected considering only conservative mixing between fresh and seawater.     

An electromagnetic modelling tool for the detection of hydrocarbons in the subsoil

Electromagnetic geophysical methods, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), have proved to be optimal tools for detecting and mapping near-surface contaminants. GPR has the capability of mapping the location of hydrocarbon pools on the basis of contrasts in the effective permittivity and conductivity of the subsoil. At radar frequencies (50 MHz to 1 GHz), hydrocarbons have a relative permittivity ranging from 2 to 30, compared with a permittivity for water of 80. Moreover, their conductivity ranges from zero to 10 mS/m, against values of 200 mS/m and more for salt water. These differences indicate that water/hydrocarbon interfaces in a porous medium are electromagnetically 'visible'. In order to quantify the hydrocarbon saturation we developed a model for the electromagnetic properties of a subsoil composed of sand and clay/silt, and partially saturated with air, water and hydrocarbon. A self-similar theory is used for the sandy component and a transversely isotropic constitutive equation for the shaly component, which is assumed to possess a laminated structure. The model is first verified with experimental data and then used to obtain the properties of soils partially saturated with methanol and aviation gasoline. Finally, a GPR forward-modelling method computes the radargrams of a typical hydrocarbon spill, illustrating the sensitivity of the technique to the type of pore-fluid. The model and the simulation algorithm provide an interpretation methodology to distinguish different pore-fluids and to quantify their degree of saturation.     

Evaluation of groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and mixing behavior in the Daying and Qicun geothermal systems,Xinzhou Basin

This paper examines groundwater hydrochemical characteristics during mixing between thermal and non-thermal groundwater in low-to-medium temperature geothermal fields. A case study is made of Daying and Qicun geothermal fields in the Xinzhou basin of Shanxi province, China. The two geothermal fields have similar flow patterns, with recharge sourced from precipitation in mountain areas heated through a deep cycle, before flowing into overlying Quaternary porous aquifers via fractures. Hydrochemical features of 60 ground- and surface water samples were examined in the context of hydrogeologic information. The average temperatures of the deep geothermal reservoirs are estimated to be 125 °C in Daying field, and 159 °C in Qicun field, based on Na–K–Mg geothermometry, while slightly lower estimates are obtained using silica geothermometers. Hydrochemical features of thermal water are distinct from cold water. Thermal groundwater is mainly Cl·SO₄–Na type, with high TDS, while non-thermal groundwater is mostly HCO₃–Ca·Mg and HCO₃–Ca type in the Daying and Qicun regions, respectively. Hydrogeochemical processes are characterized by analyzing ion ratios in various waters. Higher contents of some minor elements in thermal waters, such as F, Si, B and Sr, are probably derived from extended water–rock interaction, and these elements can be regarded as indicators of flow paths and residence times. Mixing ratios between cold and thermal waters were estimated with Cl, Na, and B concentrations, using a mass balance approach. Mixing between ascending thermal waters and overlying cold waters is extensive. The proportion of water in the Quaternary aquifer derived from a deep thermal source is lower in Daying geothermal field than in Qicun field (5.3–7.3% vs. 6.3–49.3%). Mixing between thermal and non-thermal groundwater has been accelerated by groundwater exploitation practices and is enhanced near faults. Shallow groundwater composition has also been affected by irrigation with low-temperature thermal water.     

GPR study of pore water content and salinity in sand

High‐resolution studies of hydrological problems of the near‐surface zone can be better accomplished by applying ground‐probing radar (GPR) and geoelectrical techniques. We report on GPR measurements (500 and 900 MHz antennae) which were carried out on a sorted, clean sand, both in the laboratory and at outdoor experimental sites. The outdoor sites include a full‐scale model measuring 5 × 3 × 2.4 m³ and a salinity site measuring 7.0 × 1.0 × 0.9 m³ with three buried sand bodies saturated with water of various salinities. Our studies investigate the capability of GPR to determine the pore water content and to estimate the salinity. These parameters are important for quantifying and evaluating the water quality of vadose zones and aquifers. The radar technique is increasingly applied in quantifying soil moisture but is still rarely used in studying the problems of water salinity and quality. The reflection coefficient at interfaces is obtained from the amplitude spectrum in the frequency and time domains and is confirmed by 1D wavelet modelling. In addition, the GPR velocity to a target at a known depth is determined using techniques of two‐way traveltime, CMP semblance analysis and fitting an asymptotic diffraction curve. The results demonstrate that the reflection coefficient increases with increasing salinity of the moisture. These results may open up a new approach for applications in environmental problems and groundwater prospecting, e.g. mapping and monitoring of contamination and evaluating of aquifer salinity, especially in coastal areas with a time‐varying fresh‐water lens. In addition, the relationship between GPR velocity and water content is established for the sand. Using this relationship, a subsurface velocity distribution for a full‐scale model of this sand is deduced and applied for migrated radargrams. Well‐focused diffractions separate single small targets (diameter of 2–3 cm, at a depth of 20–180 cm and a vertical interval of 20 cm). The results underscore the high potential of GPR for determining moisture content and its variation, flow processes and water quality, and even very small bodies inside the sand or soil.     

Oceanography of coastal and riverine waters around Timika, West Central Irian Jaya, Arafura Sea

Oceanographic studies have been carried out in coastal and riverine waters of the area around Timika, West Papua in November 1999, March–April, July and November 2000. The temperature of the seawater along the coast is around 28 °C in winter (November 99), rising to 30.0 °C (November 00). In the open sea, 30 miles off the coast at 40 m water depth, the temperature is >30 °C with no stratification. Water temperature near the coast is consistently lower than in the open sea. This is thought to be due the cooling effect of the land, being densely covered by mangrove forest. In the upper parts of the Kamora, West Tipuka, East Tipuka, Ajkwa, Minajerwi, Mawati and Otakwa Rivers, at salinity zero psu, water temperature varies between 24.6 and 26.2 °C, which is as cold as the temperature in the upwelling Banda Sea to the NW. Some of these rivers are fed by glacial melt water from the high mountains to the east. At mid estuary, warm seawater is found under the cooler river water.Salinity near this coast varied between 24 and 30, and offshore salinity was 31–33 with no stratification. Inshore surface waters were turbid (11–14 ntu), and near bottom waters were generally much more turbid from river sediment supply and tidal resuspension. The Ajkwa River estuary has the highest turbidity (750 ntu) at zero salinity. Offshore waters were very clear (5.0–6.0 ntu), and there was no increase in turbidity near the bottom.     

Allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter in surface waters in Karelia

A relationship between indirect chemical indices of organic matter content of surface waters and light absorption in the visible and ultraviolet ranges is discussed. The allochthonous and autochthonous types of organic matter are found to essentially differ in the rate of light absorption. Techniques are proposed for the calculation of the concentrations of allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter by the integral rate of light consumption in the visible region and the bichromate oxidability of water, as well as by three indirect indices: chemical oxygen demand, permanganate oxidability, and water color index. The mean concentrations of allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter in large lakes (Ladoga, Onega, and Baikal) and in rivers and smaller water bodies in Karelia (>300 water objects) are analyzed. Allochthonous organic matter was found to predominate in most surface waters of Karelia (>80%), while allochthonous organic matter predominates only in lakes with a small specific catchment area (supposedly, <5) and in highly eutrophic lakes.     

Probleme der Wasserkontamination und ihrer analytischen Erfassung

The increasing loading of raw water for the drinking water supply with trace substances results in an increasing exposure of the population to toxicologically suspect substances. At present, the quality of such raw waters is evaluated mainly by cumulative parameters or individual substances with low eco- or humantoxicological relevance. Now, about 5 · 10⁵ environment-relevant organic substances must be taken into account, the number of individual compounds for a loaded receiving water being estimated to be 10³. Secondary contaminations are caused by oxidative processes of water treatment. In the trace substance analysis so far only about 40% of the organic substances are isolable by comparatively simple methods. From this derives the demand for developing standardized methods for determining cumulative and group parameters with a high value of information and indication, as e. g. organically bonded chlorine or halogens.     

Subsurface Injection of Treated Sewage into a Saline-Water Aquifer at St. Petersburg, Florida — Water-Quality Changes and Potential for Recovery of Injected Sewage

The city of St. Petersburg is testing subsurface injection of treated sewage into the Floridan aquifer as a means of eliminating discharge of sewage to surface waters and as a means of storing treated sewage for future nonpotable reuse. The injection zone at the test site at the start of injection contained saline water with chloride concentrations ranging from 14,000 to 20,000 milligrams per liter (mg/1). Treated sewage with a mean chloride concentration of 170 mg/1 was injected through a single well for 12 months at a mean rate of 4.7 × 10⁵ cubic feet per day. The volume of water injected during the year was 1.7 × 10⁸ cubic feet. Dissolved oxygen was contained in the sewage prior to injection. Water removed from the injection zone during injection was essentially free of oxygen. Probable growth of denitrifying bacteria and, thus, microbial denitri-fication, was suggested by bacterial counts in water from two observation wells that were close to the injection well. The volume fraction of treated sewage in water from wells located 35 feet and 733 feet from the injection well and open to the upper part of the injection zone stabilized at about 0.9 and 0.75, respectively. Chloride concentrations stabilized at about 1,900 mg/1 in water from the well that was 35 feet from the injection well and stabilized at about 4,000 mg/1 in water from the well that was 733 feet from the injection well. These and other data suggest that very little near injection-quality treated sewage would be recoverable from storage in the injection zone.     

Geochemical evidence of hydrothermal recharge in Lake Baringo,central Kenya Rift Valley

Lake Baringo, a freshwater lake in the central Kenya Rift Valley, is fed by perennial and ephemeral rivers, direct rainfall, and hot springs on Ol Kokwe Island near the centre of the lake. The lake has no surface outlet, but despite high evaporation rates it maintains dilute waters by subsurface seepage through permeable sediments and faulted lavas. New geochemical analyses (major ions, trace elements) of the river, lake, and hot spring waters and the suspended sediments have been made to determine the main controls of lake water quality. The results show that evaporative concentration and the binary mixing between two end members (rivers and thermal waters) can explain the hydrochemistry of the lake waters. Two zones are recognized from water composition. The southern part of the lake near sites of perennial river inflow is weakly influenced by evaporation, has low total dissolved species (TDS), and has a seasonally variable load of mainly detrital suspended sediments. In contrast, waters of the northern part of the lake show evidence for strong evaporation (TDS of up to eight times inflow). Authigenic clay minerals and calcite may be precipitating from those more concentrated fluids. The subaerial hot‐spring waters have a distinctive chemistry and are enriched in some elements that are also present in the lake water. Comparison of the chemical composition of the inflowing surface waters and lake water shows (1) an enrichment of some species (HCO₃^?, Cl, SO₄^2?, F, Na, B, V, Cr, As, Mo, Ba and U) in the lake, (2) a depletion in SiO₂ in the lake, and (3) a possible hydrothermal origin for most F. The rare earth element distribution and the F/Cl and Na/Cl ratios give valuable information on the rate of mixing of the river and hydrothermal fluids in the lake water. Calculations imply that thermal fluids may be seeping upward locally into the lake through grid‐faulted lavas, particularly south of Ol Kokwe Island. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Eruption dynamics of the SW crater of Stromboli volcano,Italy — An interdisciplinary approach

We report on the evaluation of in situ measurements of eruption velocities and relative mass flux, collected by Doppler radar, as well as acoustic and infrared data, that were recorded at Stromboli volcano. Doppler radar observations were made alongside thermal, acoustic and seismic measurements, to (1) further investigate the complex waveforms of the SW crater by combining infrasonic, infrared and Doppler radar measurements, (2) establish a relationship between infrared, acoustic and Doppler radar measurements and (3) verify that all instruments observe the same behavior in terms of relative mass eruption rate. We also explore the relationship between kinetic and acoustic energy released during an eruption. Comparing the different methods to each other we are able to show that the mass erupted can be estimated either from the total reflected Doppler radar energy or from infrared observations. However, neither thermal nor reflected energy can provide a value in terms of absolute mass in kg. The erupted masses of different eruptions can only be evaluated relative to each other. Using the combined three data sets we especially focus on the eruption dynamics of the SW crater of Stromboli, namely its fluctuations in eruption strength. These pulses in one eruptive event, so called ’pulsations’ dominate more than 40% of the eruptions of SW crater. Previous models that explain pulsations to be generated by multiple consecutively exploding bubbles are supported by our combined analysis of infrasound, thermal data, particle velocities, and the reflected energy.     

Comparison of LiDAR waveform processing methods for very shallow water bathymetry using Raman,near‐infrared and green signals

Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) bathymetry appears to be a useful technology for bed topography mapping of non‐navigable areas, offering high data density and a high acquisition rate. However, few studies have focused on continental waters, in particular, on very shallow waters (<2 m) where it is difficult to extract the surface and bottom positions that are typically mixed in the green LiDAR signal. This paper proposes two new processing methods for depth extraction based on the use of different LiDAR signals [green, near‐infrared (NIR), Raman] of the SHOALS‐1000T sensor. They have been tested on a very shallow coastal area (Golfe du Morbihan, France) as an analogy to very shallow rivers. The first method is based on a combination of mathematical and heuristic methods using the green and the NIR LiDAR signals to cross validate the information delivered by each signal. The second method extracts water depths from the Raman signal using statistical methods such as principal components analysis (PCA) and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. The obtained results are then compared to the reference depths, and the performances of the different methods, as well as their advantages/disadvantages are evaluated. The green/NIR method supplies 42% more points compared to the operator process, with an equivalent mean error (?4·2 cm verusu ?4·5 cm) and a smaller standard deviation (25·3 cm verusu 33·5 cm). The Raman processing method provides very scattered results (standard deviation of 40·3 cm) with the lowest mean error (?3·1 cm) and 40% more points. The minimum detectable depth is also improved by the two presented methods, being around 1 m for the green/NIR approach and 0·5 m for the statistical approach, compared to 1·5 m for the data processed by the operator. Despite its ability to measure other parameters like water temperature, the Raman method needed a large amount of reference data to provide reliable depth measurements, as opposed to the green/NIR method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Origin and evolution of waters in the Hancheng coal seams, the Ordos Basin, as revealed from water chemistry and isotope (H, O, 129I) analyses

The coal seams in the Permian Taiyuan Formation and the Carboniferous Shanxi Formation are the primary reservoirs for the coalbed methane(CBM)in the Hancheng region in the Ordos Basin.In this paper,the origin and evolution of waters associated with CBM production were studied on the basis of water chemistry and isotopes including the chloride and iodine compositions,oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes,and radioactive isotope ratio of129I/127I.The ratio of129I/127I of water was determined by accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS).The result shows that the formation water is of NaHCO3and NaCl types with the total dissolved solids(TDS)varying from 1532.29 mg/L to 7061.12 mg/L.The values of129I and I/Cl ratio indicate that the formation waters were diluted by meteoric water.The129I/127I ratios range from 6.6×10 13to 1459.5×10 13.The129I/127I ratios for most of the samples are between the129I/127I initial value and that of recent anthropogenic water.This age of the formation water samples,obtained through the129I decay curve method,ranges from 0 Ma to 18.5 Ma,suggesting that the waters from the Taiyuan Formation and the Shanxi Formation are very young.Two different origins of water are identified in the Hancheng region.One group is dominated by pre-anthropogenic meteoric water,and is characterized by129I/127I ratios lower than the initial value of 15×10 13andδD,δ18O values of waters below the Global Meteoric Water Line.The other group is characterized by129I/127I ratios in excess of 15×10 13,which has undergone variable degrees of dilution by recent anthropogenic water.     

Development of an automated method for continuous detection and quantification of cliff erosion events

Three intrusive systems of detection and quantification of coastal erosion events (using thermocouples and thermal pins) were developed and tested from 2005 to 2008 in different regions of the Gulf and maritime estuary of the St Lawrence (Quebec, Canada). The 3‐m‐long thermal pins inserted inside unconsolidated deposits allow the monitoring of erosion for a time period sometimes extending over several seasons. The thermocouple or thermocable method allows not only the instrumentation of unconsolidated deposits but also of rocky and cohesive substrate to a depth of 85 cm. An autonomous microclimatic station located near the experimental sites simultaneously samples temperature parameters, precipitation, snow cover, wind speed and direction as well as global radiation. The differential analysis of cliff thermal regime performed simultaneously with an analysis of air temperature makes it possible to determine the activation periods of coastal erosion processes. The results also make it possible to establish with precision the actual influence of rapid variations of certain climatic and microclimatic parameters (radiation, presence of snow cover, precipitation, etc.) on the physical state of surfaces and also on the activation of certain physical processes connected to coastal erosion events. The automated thermal erosion pin system (ATEPS) allows high temporal resolution (i.e. continuous) monitoring, enabling a real coupling of coastal erosion rates and climatic parameters. Preliminary results with the ATEPS system indicate that mild winter temperature and direct solar radiation are significant factors controlling cliff retreat rates. Moreover, the melting of segregation ice during the spring thaw contributed for more than 70% of cliff retreat against only 30% for frost shattering. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contribution to the study of thermal waters in Greece: chemical patterns and origin of thermal water in the thermal springs of Lesvos

The occurrence of thermal/spa waters on Lesvos Island is related to the presence of a major faulting system. Thermal waters are the result of mixing of meteoric and infiltrating seawater at great depth, and their total salinity depends on the percentage of seawater in their composition. According to the diagrams of main elements, trace elements and environmental isotopes, most of the components that determine the chemical composition of thermal waters such as sodium, chloride and sulphates originate from seawaters. On the other hand, the concentration of calcium, magnesium, boron, lithium, etc., was affected by water–rock interaction under high temperature conditions. Moving towards the surface, thermal waters may become polluted by influx of recent seawater, allowing their chemical composition to become similar to that of seawater. The thermal waters of Lesvos Island present relatively high concentrations of ammonia and redox sensitive metals because they are hosted in a reducing environment. They also exhibit low nitrate concentrations due to their mixture with recent fresh water. Finally, they show increased radon concentrations, ranging from 20 to 60 kBq m^?3 in the eastern and southern parts of the island, and about 230 kBq m^?3 in the north, in the area of Eftalou–Argenos. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low-cost volcano surveillance from space: case studies from Etna, Krafla, Cerro Negro, Fogo, Lascar and Erebus

 Satellite data offer a means of supplementing ground-based monitoring during volcanic eruptions, especially at times or locations where ground-based monitoring is difficult. Being directly and freely available several times a day, data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) offers great potential for near real-time monitoring of all volcanoes across large (3000×3000 km) areas. Herein we describe techniques to detect and locate activity; estimate lava area, thermal flux, effusion rates and cumulative volume; and distinguish types of activity. Application is demonstrated using data for active lavas at Krafla, Etna, Fogo, Cerro Negro and Erebus; a pyroclastic flow at Lascar; and open vent systems at Etna and Stromboli. Automated near real-time analysis of AVHRR data could be achieved at existing, or cheap to install, receiving stations, offering a supplement to conventional monitoring methods. Received: 21 January 1997 / Accepted: 3 April 1997     

A COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF ESTIMATING STATIC FORMATION TEMPERATURE FROM WELL LOGS*

Two methods for estimating the true formation temperature from well logs are compared. One method requires knowledge of the circulation time, whereas the other requires an estimate of the thermal diffusivity of the contents of the well. Both methods require three or more successive bottom-hole temperature measurements. Data from 157 wells have been analyzed, and the calculated formation temperatures from the two methods agree well. By an analysis of best matching of the two methods, it is found that 0.35 × 10^-6 m² s^-1 is a good estimate for the thermal diffusivity of the well contents.