Premium
The influence of geological membranes on the geochemistry of subsurface waters from Miocene sediments at Kettleman North Dome in California
Author(s) -
Kharaka Yousif K.,
Berry Frederick A. F.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr010i002p00313
Subject(s) - geology , oil shale , groundwater recharge , salt dome , meteoric water , geochemistry , dome (geology) , waves and shallow water , mineralogy , aquifer , groundwater , geomorphology , paleontology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering
A detailed account of the geology, regional hydrodynamics, isotopic data, and formation water chemistry of the Kettleman North Dome oil field in California indicates that the waters from the Temblor formation (Miocene) are principally meteoric in origin, related to recharge areas located to the west. Their concentration relative to meteoric water is attributed to hyperfiltration through geological membranes as well as to water‐rock interactions. The chemistry of the waters in each subzone of the Temblor formation is characteristic of that subzone and shows membrane effluent characteristics to a given subzone with respect to the one stratigraphically below it. The chemical relations are attributed to increased efficiency of shale membranes with increased depth of burial. Membrane behavior of shales controls completely or in part the distribution of the following ratios: Li/Na, Rb/Na, NH 3 /Na, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Ca/Na, alkalinity/Cl, SO 4 /Cl, I/Br, and B/Cl. Some of these ratios are modified by temperature‐controlled water‐rock interactions. The K/Na ratios and the SiO 2 and Ba concentrations, on the other hand, are completely dependent on water‐rock interactions.