Differences in Geothermal Fluids in Sandstone and Carbonate Geothermal Reservoirs Based on Isotope Characteristics

Geothermal fluids are the main carrier of hydrothermal geothermal resources. Identifying the differences in geothermal fluids in different types of reservoirs is a prerequisite and fundamental for the efficient development of geothermal resources and is of great significance for scientific research on geothermal resources. The North China Plain contains a typical carbonate thermal reservoir, and in this paper, the hydrochemical, isotopic, and redox characteristics of the geothermal fluids in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs are studied to obtain the differences in the geothermal fluids in the Rongcheng geothermal field in Xiong’an New Area. The results indicate that the geothermal fluids in the sandstone and carbonate reservoirs are mainly supplied by atmospheric rainfall, and the hydrochemical type is mainly Cl-Na type. By comparing and analyzing the stable isotope (O, H, C, S, and Sr) characteristics of the two types of geothermal fluids, it is found that the variation range of δ13C values for two types of sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was found to be −10.6‰~−12.8‰, while the variation range of δ13C values for carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was −3.3‰~−7.5‰. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was distributed between 0.708–0.718, and the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was distributed between 0.708–0.713. The range of δ34S values for sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was +9.46‰~+10.5‰, and the range of δ34S values for carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was +24.84‰~+34.49‰. The two types of geothermal fluids have been subjected to varying degrees of oxidation-reduction, and their cycling and mixing characteristics are different. This has resulted in the formation of relatively oxidized geothermal fluids in the sandstone geothermal reservoir and relatively reduced geothermal fluids in the carbonate geothermal reservoir. In future development and utilization of geothermal resources, paying attention to the basic characteristics of the geothermal fluids in different reservoirs and identifying the differences in different geothermal fluids can further improve the efficiency of geothermal resource development and utilization.

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Journal
Sustainability
Published
2026-01-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020766
Primary Topic
Geothermal Energy Systems and Applications
Type
article
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article

Differences in Geothermal Fluids in Sandstone and Carbonate Geothermal Reservoirs Based on Isotope Characteristics

G. Q. Wang, Hanxiong Zhang, Jiayi Zhao, Wenquan Zhang
Sustainability
Geothermal Energy Systems and Applications
article

Differences in Geothermal Fluids in Sandstone and Carbonate Geothermal Reservoirs Based on Isotope Characteristics

G. Q. Wang, Hanxiong Zhang, Jiayi Zhao, Wenquan Zhang
article en

Abstract

Geothermal fluids are the main carrier of hydrothermal geothermal resources. Identifying the differences in geothermal fluids in different types of reservoirs is a prerequisite and fundamental for the efficient development of geothermal resources and is of great significance for scientific research on geothermal resources. The North China Plain contains a typical carbonate thermal reservoir, and in this paper, the hydrochemical, isotopic, and redox characteristics of the geothermal fluids in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs are studied to obtain the differences in the geothermal fluids in the Rongcheng geothermal field in Xiong’an New Area. The results indicate that the geothermal fluids in the sandstone and carbonate reservoirs are mainly supplied by atmospheric rainfall, and the hydrochemical type is mainly Cl-Na type. By comparing and analyzing the stable isotope (O, H, C, S, and Sr) characteristics of the two types of geothermal fluids, it is found that the variation range of δ13C values for two types of sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was found to be −10.6‰~−12.8‰, while the variation range of δ13C values for carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was −3.3‰~−7.5‰. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was distributed between 0.708–0.718, and the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was distributed between 0.708–0.713. The range of δ34S values for sandstone thermal storage geothermal fluids was +9.46‰~+10.5‰, and the range of δ34S values for carbonate thermal storage geothermal fluids was +24.84‰~+34.49‰. The two types of geothermal fluids have been subjected to varying degrees of oxidation-reduction, and their cycling and mixing characteristics are different. This has resulted in the formation of relatively oxidized geothermal fluids in the sandstone geothermal reservoir and relatively reduced geothermal fluids in the carbonate geothermal reservoir. In future development and utilization of geothermal resources, paying attention to the basic characteristics of the geothermal fluids in different reservoirs and identifying the differences in different geothermal fluids can further improve the efficiency of geothermal resource development and utilization.

SustainabilityVol. 18(2)
Ministry of Natural Resources (CN), Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Geothermal Energy Systems and Applications
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