Numerical Modeling At Coso Geothermal Area (1999)

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Exploration Activity: Numerical Modeling At Coso Geothermal Area (1999)

Exploration Activity Details
Location	Coso Geothermal Area
Exploration Technique	Numerical Modeling
Activity Date	1999
Usefulness	not indicated
DOE-funding	Unknown

 

Exploration Basis

To determine three-dimensional P and S waves velocity structures

 

Notes

High precision P and S wave travel times for 2104 microearthquakes with focus <6 km are used in a non-linear inversion to derive high-resolution 3-D compressional and shear velocity structures at the Coso Geothermal Area. Block size for the inversion is 0.2 km horizontally and 0.5 km vertically and inversions are investigated in the upper 5 km of the geothermal area. Spatial resolution, calculated by synthetic modeling of a cross model at critical locations, is estimated to be 0.35 km for V_p and 0.5 km for V _s . In the 2 km southwest Sugarloaf region, we found low V _p and high V _s at geothermal production depths from 1 to 2.5 km. Combined with attenuation results, this may represent a hot, fluid-depleted center of magmatic activity.

 

References

• Wu, H.; Lees, J.M.   (1 June 1999) Three-dimensional P and S waves velocity structures of the Coso geothermal area, California, from microseismic travel time data

• Lees, J.M.; Wu, H.   (1 August 1999) P wave anisotropy, stress, and crack distribution at Coso geothermal field, California