Cerro Prieto Case History:
Use of Wireline Logs to
Characterize a Geothermal Reservoir
S.E. Halfman, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
M.J. Lippmann, SPE, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
J .A. Gilreath, Schlumberger Offshore Services
Abstract
The Cerro Prieto geothermal field is located in Baja
California, Mexico, in th~ Salton Trough-a rift basin
filled mainly with Colorado River sediments. A compre-
hensive wireline log analysis was undertaken as part of
a multidisciplinary study of this geothermal system. It
established (1) the physical properties of the various
sedimentary units; (2) the depositional environment and
hydrothermal alteration of the units; (3) the location, atti-
tude, and displacement of faults; and (4) the subsurface
circulation of the geothermal fluids.
Presented are the methodology that was used and the
application of the results to further exploration and devel-
opment of this high-temperature geothermal resource.
Introduction
The liquid-dominated Cerro Prieto geothermal field is
located in the sediment-filled Mexicali Valley of Baja
California, Mexico, about 20 miles [30 km] south of the
U.S. border (Fig. 1). More than 100 deep exploration and
development wells have been drilled in the area (Fig. 2),
a few reaching crystalline basement. Analysis of the vast
amount of data collected from these wells has given us
a good understanding of the geologic characteristics of
this high-temperature (up to 680°F [360°C]) geothermal
resource. The exploration effort at Cerro Prieto is sum-
marized in an earlier paper. 1
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the wireline log
analysis that led to (1) the development of geologic and
hydrogeologic models of the field, (2) an understanding
of the depositional environment of some of the sedimen-
tary units identified in the subsurface, and (3) the iden-
tification of postdepositional changes in these units. These
studies have allowed us to determine the variations in
porosity, permeability, thickness, and lateral continuity
of the permeable (and less permeable) layers in the
system-crucial parameters for the design of drilling and
completion of new wells and for the development of a
reservoir management plan.
Geologic Setting and Recent History of the Area
The Mexicali Valley is part of the Salton Trough, an
actively developing structural depression that resulted
from tectonic activity that has created a series of spread-
ing centers and transform faults that link the East Pacific
Copyright 1985 SOCiety of Petroleum Engineers
DECEMBER 1985
Rise to the San Andreas fault system. The Cerro Prieto
field is associated with one of these spreading centers,
where the crust is being pulled apart by right-lateral strike-
slip movement along the Cerro Prieto and Imperial faults
(Fig. 3).2,3
During the early Pliocene, the current configuration of
the Gulf of California began to develop by major crustal
extension, which split Baja California from the Mexican
mainland. 4 At that time, the waters of the Gulf of
California extended northward to about the Salton Sea
area. The progradation of the Colorado River delta into
the Cerro Prieto area began in the mid- to late Pliocene. 5
The southwesterly advance of the delta was essentially
complete by the late Pliocene. This resulted in the con-
version of the Salton basin to a nonmarine depositional
basin. 6 By the mid-Pleistocene, the marine connection
between the Gulf of California to the south and the Im-
perial Valley to the north was severed. 5 .
Geologic and Hydrogeologic Models
of Cerro Prieto
The subsurface stratigraphy at Cerro Prieto is character-
ized by vertical and lateral variations in lithofacies. 6,7
The lithologic column consists of (1) an upper part of un-
consolidated and semiconsolidated sediments (Unit A) that
is mainly sands, silts, and clays, and (2) a lower part of
consolidated sediments (Unit B) that is mainly sandstones
and shales. 8 The hydrothermal alteration of the deeper
layers and the existence of hydrothermal mineral zona-
tion around the reservoir have been documented by care-
ful mineralogic studies of well cuttin~s and cores 9-11 and
by analysis of wire1ine well logs. 6, ,12,13
Following the general approach of Lyons and van de
Kamp, Halfman et al. 7 used wireline and lithologic log
data to delineate and to classify the lithologic sequences
penetrated by the wells into three lithofacies groups: sand-
stone, sandy shale, and shale (Figs. 4 and SA). The sand-
stone beds basically (1) are thick, permeable, and
well-defined (with some interbedded shales) in the sand-
stone group, (2) are thinner and less permeable (with a
higher percentage of intercalated shales) in the sandy-shale
group, and (3) are even thinner « 10 ft [< 3 m]) in the
shale group (e.g., Fig. 4). The main geophysical logs used
to develop this model include gamma ray (GR), spontane-
ous potential (SP), deep induction (ILD), and compen-
sated formation density (RHOB).
793
 On the basis of this simplified lithology, a geologic
model of the field was constructed. A number of lithofa-

1
~ Boundary of Salton TroU9h
- FQuUs (dashed where uncertain) cies cross sections were developed to show the lateral con-
Quaternory volcanoes
tinuity and thickness of the different lithofacies groups
I<i!oll'let,.t
oI I
20
r !
40
I
and the location and geometry of major faults in the area.
10 20 30
Next, by superimposing downhole temperature profiles
'. ! ,
and well-production intervals (Fig. 5B) onto the lithofa-
cies cross sections (Fig. 5A), a fluid-flow model for the
geothermal brines was developed. Further details about
these models and their construction are discussed in a
previous paper. 7
The hydrogeologic model indicates that two lithofacies
units largely control the subsurface circulation of geo-
thermal fluids: Shale Unit 0 and Sand Unit Z. Shale Unit
o is a thick, relatively impermeable, low-porosity body
that locally forms a caprock for the geothermal reservoir.
This unit is classified mainly as a shale lithofacies group
,,4-
east of the railroad tracks that cross the field (Fig. 5A).
In this eastern area, the lower portion of Shale Unit 0
Fig. 1-Location of the Cerro Prieto field in the Salton Trough, is composed of thin, interbedded sandstones and shales-
which includes the Imperial and Mexicali Valleys. beds are often < 10 ft [ < 3 m] thick. The upper portion

CERRO PRI ETO GEOTHERMAL FI ELD

WELL LOCATIONS

H-1
•
157

3 13~
• ~39 .194
•
127 ~9 328

. .u ·
102.
• 147

•
103
•
169
149

•
115 •
•
350.
118 •
348

366 119
• .116

• •
388 122 • 364

• •
366

• EXISTING WELLS

o 2km
E3E3Ed I
Scale
L-____________________________________~__ 26~

Fig. 2-Locatlon of wells, principal faults, and Cross Section A-A' at Cerro Prieto.

794 SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL

contains thicker shale beds with some sandstone beds in
• PULL -APART BASINS
addition to thin, interbedded sandstone and shale beds.
This unit turns sandier west of the tracks. Along the & YOUNG VOLCANICS

western margin ofthe field (between Wells M-9 to M-6), " GEOTHERMAL AREAS
Shale Unit 0 is no longer evident. , FOLDED AREAS
Underlying Shale Unit 0 is Sand Unit Z, which con-
tains thick, permeable, high-porosity sandstone beds that 25 50 KM
allow fluid circulation. Sand Unit Z is the main strati- o 10 20 30 MI
graphic unit of the geothermal reservoir. The sandstone
beds in this unit are generally about 50 ft [15 m] thick
and are separated by shaly beds about 40 to 100 ft [12
t
N
to 30 m] thick.
The hydrogeologic model discussed by Halfman et al. 7
FAULT
shows that under natural conditions the geothermal fluids
enter the Cerro Prieto field from the east at depths great-
er than 8,800 ft [2680 m] through Sand Unit Z. (See ar-
rows in Fig. 5A.) The fluids move westward through this
unit, rising along Fault H, and continuing to flow west-
ward through the upthrown section of Sand Unit Z. In
the vicinity of Well M-1OA, some of the fluids continue
to flow through this unit, and some rise into a sandy gap
to about 1,200 ft [365 m]; at that depth, the permeability
of the sandstone has been reduced by mineral precipita-
tion. 14 The fluids that have moveq up the gap then flow
west $rough the sandier layer of Shale Unit O. West of
Well M-25, the geothermal fluids rise along Fault L into
the sandy group above Shale Unit O. All the geothermal
fluids eventually flow into the thick sandstones along tpe
western margin of the producing field (west of Well M-9),
where they either mix with cold ground waters o~ dis- CALIFORNIA',
,
charge to the surface mainly as hot springs and fumaroles.
This hydrogeologic model has been corroborated by
numerical modeling studies of heat and mass flow 14 and Fig. 3-Postulated system of transform faults and pull-apart
basins in the Salton Trough area; O.B., Obsidian
by the results of recently completed wells. 15 Butte; B, Brawley geothermal area; C.P., Cerro Prie-
to geothermal area; C.R., Consag Rock; and W, Wljg-
ner Basin. 2,3 .
Depositional Environment for
Cerro Prieto Reservoir Rocks
An .understanding of the depositional environment of
sediinentary units is critical to the comprehension of the

D Sandstone
o Sondy - shale
1000 I11III Shale
400
I Producing interval
600 zooo AI8 AlB Contact

000

3000
~ 1000

!
1200 4000

1<00

1600

1800 6000

2000

Temperoture,-C

Fig. 4-Well M-150-temperature profile, interpreted lithologic and lithofacies columns, and GR,
RHOB, and ILD logs. 7

DECEMBER 1985 795

~

::; ::; ..,

A
SW
x
':1=
:E<1.
~
...Q
0
! !
0
i A·
NE
.... ~ ~
!:;
~
MeterSo Feel
'!'
~
~~.
~/
~
~ ~
'"i
.... :I; :I; :I;
If
j ~ :I;
"N
i! I
I Z :I; ~ ~ Z J, :I; z-'

200
T M M 51 UM MI M M ··11::::·· M II ···········,&;:;;:;:;:;:;:;;:;;;;;:;:::::·",::·:iI::::::<,·:·:·:·:·;[··········I··· .. ·············.1L·········......•.•.....•...•..........................::::::::,Jl::::::::::::::::::

400

600 2000

800

3000 ~'>

~
1000

'~l-
1400
2
<?
1600
5000
<!.
<,.
'~l-
2000
~<;:.
o Sandstone
C/l 7000 ~ Sandy - shale
0
n
tTl
2200 mShale
~ Nodal.
<:::: FlUid flow

-; ~OOOfeet I Producing Interval

- ~300·C
-< 2""" ,8000
o 00 200 3CXlmttet'$ A/8 AlB Contoet
0
'TI 2600 M
"tI o 100·C o SholtounitO
tTl
-; L9000
I ,
Z Sondunit Z
:;0
0
r
tTl
c:
3: Fig. 5A-Lithofacies across Section A-A' showing well locations, lithofacies groups, faults, temperature pr.ofiles, producing
10040
tTl intervals, AlB contacts, Shale Unit 0, Sand Unit Z, and arrows indicating direction of geothermal fluid flow. On the (3060)
Z
9 temperature profiles, the points corresponding to 572°F are placed under the location of the respective wells. The
z
tTl
parts of the temperature profiles shown by heavy lines indicate temperatures of 572°F or ~reater. The "P" near the
tTl bottom of the projected wells is the predicted depth to the top of the producing zones. ,15
:;0
C/l
'-
0
c:
:;0
z)-
r
 ~
0 a.. A'
~
-, sw

0
'no
0
:0"' '"
:>
'"
N

:I
~

2
~

'"
~
'"
;
;.
NE

~
z

600 2000

....
.,,
2000
'"001'000
7000 (20_21
2200
o 10001..,
2«>0 8000 ~
o 300rn,lIles
~ ProducinQ interval
m,
(20618198 ••
'
600
1 ---300"C contour
(~9'))

•
9000
....
(2790) ••=
••
""'''
'-I
Fig. 58-Cross Section A-A' showing well locations, temperature profiles, 572°F isotherm, and
producing intervals.

.94

,
"\(
'c-~
\ G',\,!
<It-
<:J-

"-
',\
'( \
\
'\
'"
SIERRA
DE
\"
;
\ \
CUCAPA
(
'\

i
'\
.-. \
\ "\..; 7. GEOHiERMAL WELL
N
\
\ e===r==,,--'
2000m

'000 6000 II ~
I
\ 3000

\
i
, ..,

Fig. 6-Schematic map of depositional environment for the deeper section of the Cerro Prieto
area. 6

DECEMBER 1985 797

 EBB TIDAL
l DELTA I
\ --r- /

~ .""'''' .,,"
o 2km
EF3==~E33C~ES=t======~1
Scale /
;"
EBB TIDAL
(
DELTA

\
,--- )
Fig. 7-Schematic paleoenvironmental map for the deeper part of the Cerro Prieto section.

nature and characteristics of the geologic units that largely
govern the flow of geothermal fluids in the reservoir-
particularly Sand Unit Z and Shale Unit o. This envi-
ronment largely controls their overall lithology and the
continuity, thickiless, and intercalation of their sandstone
and shale beds, all of which determine the hydraulic prop-
erties of the units.
Most researchers have attempted first to interpret the
depositional environment of the unusually thick sandstones
(>3,000 ft [>900 m]) penetrated by Wells M-96, M-3,
798
M-6, and S-262 that were drilled along the western mar-
gin of the field (see M-6 in Fig. 5A). Manon et at. 16 have
proposed that these sandstones represent an intertongu-
ing of alluvial fan deposits from the Cucapa Range to the
west and deltaic Colorado River sediments from the east.
Prian 17 suggested that these thick sandstones represent
a major deltaic paleochannel. Lyons and van de Kamp 6
showed from the petrographic and well log studies that
neither of these interpretations is feasible. They proposed
instead that those thick sandstones represent a "compo-
SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL
site of many genetic sand types. " They reached this con-
clusion on the basis of their interpretation that the deeper
part of the Cerro Prieto lithologic column was deposited
in a coastal deltaic environment (Fig. 6).
In our study, a careful analysis of available dipmeter
logs from 26 wells showed that the depositional environ-
ment of these thick sandstones, and of Shale Unit 0 and
Sand Unit Z, was once a part of a coastal system. Fig.
7 shows schematically the distribution of depositional
environments for these units. One would find in succes-
sion along a west-to-east line, longshore current, shore-
line, and protected embayment depqsits. The significant
sandstone thicknesses penetrated in the western part of
the field are associated with northward-flowing longshore
currents in an actively subsiding basin. The subsidence
probably continues today because Cerro Prieto is located
on an active spreading center,2.3 as evidenced by the
marshy Laguna Volcano region (Fig. 2). Lyons and van
de Kamp 6 have shown from petrographic studies that the
thick sandstones were derived from Colorado River sedi-
ments. Therefore, longshore currents must have carried
sediments northward to the Cerro Prieto area from an
ancient Colorado River delta located south of the field.
Interpretation of the dipmeter logs shows that, at Cer-
ro Prieto, the deposits often associated with the longshore
currents were from flood-and-ebb tidal deltas. The dip-
meter patterns corresponding to these deltaic deposits are
similar to the distributary front patterns described by Gil-
reath and Stephens. 18 The dip patterns characteristically
show high-angle dips decreasing to lower ones (about a
10 to 20° span) over a depth interval of about 50 to 100
ft [15 to 30 m]. A good example of an ebb-tidal deltaic
deposit is shown between depths of 3,750 and 3,775 ft
[1143 and 1151 m] in the dipmeter log for Well M-96
(Fig. 8). The long axis of this deposit is oriented in a west-
northwest direction. The general trend of the longshore
currents was to the north, as evidenced by the northward
dip patterns between depths of 3,700 and 3,749 ft [1128
and 1143 m], and between 3,850 and 3,975 ft [1173 and
1212 m] (Fig. 8). Also shown in this figure are tidal flat
deposits between 3,800 and 3,850 ft [1158 and 1173 m].
Other types of dipmeter ~atterns for these thick sandstones
indicate shallow water 1 and river deposits 20 associated
with a longshore-current environment.
When the depositional environment was established for
the thick sandstones found at depth in the western part
-
-
>-_ 0
men
~"'130~.
~ § 80
E- .
~ %. ~700 3800 3900 4000
Depth (ft.)
1150 1200
Depth (m)
Fig. 8-Dipmeter log for Well M-96, representing an ebb-tidal
delta (3,750 to 3,775 ft), tidal-flat (3,800 to 3,850 ft)
and longshore-current (3,700 to 3,749 ft and 3,850 to
3,975 ft) deposits.
of the field, identifying the depositional environment of
the sediments of Shale Unit 0 became easier. The dip-
meter log for Well M-150 between depths of 5,000 and
6,100 ft [1524 and 1859 m] illustrates some of the typi-
cal patterns for Shale Unit 0 (Fig. 9). These dips show
a repeating pattern of high- to low-angle dips, indicative
of foreset bedding that results from southwest- to
northeast-flowing currents. The very orderly pattern
shows that little, if any, reworking of the sediments oc-
curred. To preserve the foreset beds, rapid deposition and
burial must have taken place. The GR log for Shale Unit
o indicates typical thin, interbedded sandstone and shale
layers. Considering that this unit was deposited in an area
between the longshore currents to the west and the main-
land to the east and that its thin, interbedded sandstone
and shale layers were laid down in a very quiet, un-
disturbed environment, it can be inferred that the sedi-
ments were probably deposited in a protected embayment
(Fig. 7).

150

n,:~ 5000 51()() 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 57()() 5600 5900 6000 61()()
Depth (ft)

1600 17()() 1600

Depth (m)

Fig. 9-Dipmeter log for Well M-150 representing foreset beds from 5,000 to 6,100 ft.

DECEMBER 1985 799

 MI27 tion of Shale Unit O. The source of sediments for both
units was the Colorado River. 6 Moreover, the dipmeter
Porosity (%) patterns of both units indicate that the energy of the cur-
50 40 30 20 10 0 rents transporting the sediments into the protected embay-
I ment must have been similar. Therefore, the greater

".
I I I
thickness of the sandstone and shale beds may be caused
·0••• by alternating high- and low-energy conditions of the
Ir
'c.
0

J~
- Colorado River over longer periods of time and/or by
changes in source-rock characteristics.
It is simple to explain the sandier nature and eventual
'- .10
disappearance of Shale Unit 0 in the western part of the
2 i-
-.. I - field by establishing the characteristics of the coastal envi-
8
• • •0 ronment of deposition of the sedimentary rocks forming
•
••• t9
•• 0
the Cerro Prieto geothermal reservoir and its discontinu-

,•• •• I> - ous or local caprock. The sandier western portion of Shale
3 r

-
• :00o
r.·o
0

-
Unit 0 (from Wells M-lOA to M-9) represents the be-
ginning of a transition from protected embayment deposits
(to the east) to longshore current deposits (to the west) .

-- 4 r . .'-000
•• 0 The sandy-shale group within Shale Unit 0 (between

...
0
• 0
Wells M-5 and M-29) is permeable enough to allow some
~-
0
8
~
0 -Q)
•••
:
0
o 0 geothermal fluids to flow westward through it (Fig. 5A).

. ... :
00
Uc;
rOo • • 0
- The thick, highly permeable deposits associated with
5 eN • •• •
0
~

- Q.
0-0
UQ) • • • •
008

80
00
0
the longshore currents that bound the reservoir to the west
let westward-moving hot fluids mix with colder ground-
-
•• 0
Q) 0
CD~ 0
0
......
• 0

-
waters, thus limiting the horizontal extent of the geother-
6 r<t<i • •••
0
0
0
0
0
mal reservoir. Therefore, new wells should be drilled east
of these thick, sandy deposits, preferably in the general
area of Well NL-l, which seems to be near the heat
7 r- - source. 10 The continuation of the geothermal reservoir
east of Well NL-l, at increasing depth, has been con-
firmed by recent drilling. 15

8
~ Production Intervol
• Sand
9 r
o Shale
I I
10
1.9 2.15 2.4
Densi ty (gml cc)
Fig. 10-Density/depth plot for Well M-127, which illustrates
the marked increase in shale densities at the top of
the altered zone and much smaller change in den-
sity in sandstones. 6
Because of a lack of dipmeter data in that part of the
field, characterizing the depositional environment corre-
sponding to the sandy gap in Shale Unit 0 between Wells
M-39 and M-123 (Fig. 5A) is difficult. That particular
zone was located generally within a low-energy protect-
ed embayment and could correspond to channel deposits.
It was suggested that a normal fault might be present
between those wells. 8 Lithologic correlations above and
below the sandy gap, however, show continuous layers
(Fig. 5A) that would preclude the existence of a fault in
that part of the field.
Sand Unit Z also is composed mostly of foreset beds
deposited in a protected embayment. The sandstone and
shale beds of the upper portion of Sand Unit Z, however,
are generally much thicker than the beds of the lower por-
800
-
Hydrothermal Alteration of Subsurface Sediments
The sediments comprising the current Cerro· Prieto geo-
- thermal system were altered hydrothermally by circulat-
ing fluids following deposition. Changes in mineralogy,
porosity, and density-caused by rock/water interac-
I tions-can be determined readily from the analysis of well
cuttings, cores, and wireline log data.
2.65
On the basis of detailed mineralogic studies, Elders et
al. 9 showed that the contact between the relatively un-
consolidated sediments (Unit A) and the underlying in-
durated sediments (Unit B) is a gradational boundary
between unaltered and hydrothermally altered sediments.
A pattern of mineral zonation around the geothermal
reservoir also was established. 9-11 Detrital or authigen-
ic clay minerals, like montmorillonite and kaolinite, are
progressively replaced by pore-filling chlorite, illite, and
calcite at the top of Unit B. This sealing process causes
the sediments to be highly indurated at the top of the reser-
voir. In the main production zone above 437°F [225°C],
there is a zone of progressive decarbonation where calci-
um aluminum silicates are formed. At the highest meas-
ured temperatures, hydrothermal biotite and vermiculite
form. This zonation can be correlated to current forma-
tion temperatures and chemistries of both brines and
recharge waters.
Petrographic and scanning electron microscope
studies 6 ,21 indicate that some sandstones in Unit B show
unusually high porosity-between 15 and 35 %. This has
been interpreted as secondary porosity caused by disso-
lution of unstable framework grains and cements; log data
confirm the interpretation.
SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL
 800

3000
, 1000
..
(
1200

",
4000
(
\
Montmorillonite lone ,;

1400 ]
----~--- "
1: 5000 \'1
X
~
Q.
W
IIhte Zone 1600
Q.
w
J
C / c
'-
J----------------~~-------\~'r,-----4~~------------~
/
6000 '\
1800
ChlOrtt. Zone

~~~~,,----------+-----------------~~--------------~ 2000
/
-Sandstone
7000 (---
c.-.... F,ldspar Zone
- - Shol.
,,-' 2200

5.0 15.0 25.0 1.75 2.25 2.75 1.5 4.5 7.5

DEEP INDUCTION RESISTIVITY GAMMA-GAMMA DENSITY RESISTIVITY RATIO
[(ohm-m 2/mIR] B9m/ccl(T"B] (Rsd/RShl

Fig. 11-Well-log characteristics for different hydrothermal mineral zones for Well M_107. 12

Wireline logs have been used to identify the AlB con-

tact, the different hydrothermal alteration zones, and the
sandstones with secondary porosity. The well log
responses for GR and ILD logs of Well M-150 (Fig. 4) 2.6
are rather typical of Cerro Prieto wells. 7 The sandstone
and shale beds above Shale Unit 0 show normal well log ,.......,
CD
values for a sedimentary environment. Below the top of b
Shale Unit 0 (within Unit B), the RHOB and ILD values U
increase, which indicates a decrease in porosity. The ~
RHOB log between depths of 5,740 and 5,900 ft [1750 ·eG' 2.4
and 1798 m] shows a density reduction. This decrease L::::::..I
within Shale Unit 0 is unusual; other wells at Cerro Prieto
show a continual trend of increasing densities (and, there-
fore, decreasing porosity) toward the bottom of Shale Unit
O. The RHOB and ILD logs in Sand Unit Z show marked
decreases in densities (indicating secondary porosity) for
the sandstones, whereas the density log values for the
shales remain high.
At the AlB contact, both the shales and sandstones
exhibit an increase in density, the relative change being • Feldspar Zone
larger for the shales. 6 These increases in rock density are
greater than would be expected from only normal sedi- o Chlorite Zone
ment compaction. 12 The density differences between t::. Illite Zone
shales and sandstones are larger below the AlB contact • Montmorillonite Zone
than above it (Fig. 10).
The hydrothermal alteration of the Cerro Prieto sedi-
ments also is reflected in other logs. For example, there
is an anomalous increase in SP and a decrease in forma- SHALE
tion conductivity values. 13 1.8 L--_--'-_ _...L.._ _ ~_--I _ _....J
The responses of the RHOB and ILD logs confirm the o ~.O 10.0
presence of high (secondary) porosities in some of the
DEEP INDUCTION RESISTIVITY Bohm-m 2/m) R)
sandstones 6 ,7 (Fig. 4) in the altered zone, especially with-
in Sand Unit Z. Fig. 12-Resistivity/density crossplots for shales to identify
Seamount and Elders 12 showed that it is possible to four hydrothermal mineral zones. 12
correlate the different hydrothermal alteration zones with
changes in wi reline log data (Fig. 11). They generally
found that in the unaltered montmorillonite zone ( < 302 OF
[ < 150°C]), the sandstone resistivity (Rsd) is higher be-
cause of fresh pore water than the shale resistivity (R sh ),
and the density gradients with depth are low for both sand-
stones and shales. In the illite zone (302 to 446, up to

DECEMBER 1985 801

 TABLE 1-COMPARISONS
BETWEEN PREDICTED DEPTHS TO
TOP OF PRODUCING GEOTHERMAL
FLUIDS AND ACTUAL TOP
OF PRODUCTION ZONE
Predicted Depth to Top of Production
Geothermal Reservoirs Zone*
Well (tt) (It)
M-119 8,700 8,533
M-121 5,800 5,985
M-124 7,200 6,880
M-126 9,600 8,990
9,790**
M-191 7,300 7,300
M-197 8,650 8,460
T-350 8,900 8,832
'Data from F.J. Bermejo, Coordinadora Ejecutiva de Cerro Prieto
of the Comision Federal de Electricidad of Mexico, personal
communication (1984).
"The top of a second producing zone in Well M-126.
473 OF [150 to 230, up to 245°C]), the lowest-temperature
alteration zone, the density for sandstones and shales in-
creases; high Rsd is uncommon. In the chlorite zone (455
to 57rF [235 to 300°C]), both Rsd and Rsh begin to in-
crease. Finally, in the feldspar zone (> 572 OF
[> 300°CD, Rsh shows a sudden increase and Rsd shows
a decrease. The RsdlRsh vs. depth graph shows that the
montmorillonite zone varies most; in the illite zone,
RsdlRsh values range from 0.75 to 4.0; in the chlorite
zone, they range from 0.35 to 1.25; and in the feldspar
zone, all values fall below 0.3. AllJour mineral zones
also can be distinguished on a resistivity/density cross-
plot (Fig. 12).12
The top of Shale Unit 0 corresponds approximately to
the bottom of the montmorillonite zone. (Compare, for
example, Figs. 5A and 11 for Well M-I07.) Moreover,
the bottom of the chlorite zone roughly coincides with the
bottom of Shale Unit O. Thus, this shale unit generally
corresponds to the illite and chlorite alteration zones. On
the other hand, the high-porosity sandstones of Sand Unit
Z correlate with the low-resistivity sandstones in the feld-
spar zone.
These results are consistent with our observations that
Shale Unit 0 is an effective barrier to the upward flow
of geothermal fluids. The hydrothermal alteration of these
sediments-deposited in a protected embayment-has
resulted in their densification and self-sealing, and in a
decrease in their porosity and permeability. Some of the
sandstones within Sand Unit Z, on the other hand, expe-
rienced dissolution of some of the grains and cement,
which increased their porosity and permeability to make
them effectiVe conduits for the flow and storage of geo-
thermal fluids.
In Cerro Prieto well&, the production intervals gener-
ally straddle or underlie the top of the high-resistivity,
high-density shales. Fractures often appear to be sealed
by hydrothermal mineralization. According to Lyons and
van de Kamp,6 secondary matrix permeability in the Cer-
ro Prieto reservoirs is more important volumetrically than
fracture permeability; this observation has been confirmed
by geochemical and reservoir engineering data. 22
Conclusions
The ultimate purpose of a reservoir engineering study of
802
a geothermal field is to develop a reservoir management
plan that optimizes the recovery of the heat stored in the
subsurface. For this purpose, it is necessary not only to
obtain accurate distributions of temperatures and pressures
and to locate sources and sinks in the field, but also to
determine the variations in porosity, permeability, thick-
ness, and lateral continuity of the permeable and less
permeable layers.
The Cerro Prieto case study showed that, from the anal-
ysis of wireline logs obtained in a geothermal field, it is
possible to establish (l) the lateral and vertical continuity
of the sedimentary layers, (2) the depositional environ-
ment of the sedimentary units, (3) the porosity, permea-
bility, and hydrothermal alteration of the different
lithologic units, and (4) the location, attitude, and displace-
ment of faults. Then, by superimposing downhole tem-
perature and well-completion data on a geologic model,
one can determine the circulation of the geothermal fluids
in the subsurface and the geologic features controlling
their movement.
Our characterization of the Cerro Prieto geothermal
reservoir was confirmed by the results of recently com-
pleted wells. 15 The depths at which new wells would en-
counter the producing sandstones of Sand Unit Z were
predicted successfully (Table 1) with the fluid-flow model
of Halfman et al. 7 (e.g., Fig. 5A) by the projection of
a proposed well onto one of the five lithofacies cross sec-
tions given by Halfman et al. If the wells on either side
ofthe proposed well had temperatures of 572 OF [300°C]
or greater at the bottom of Shale Unit 0, then this depth-
that is, to the first sandstone in Sand Unit Z-was fore-
casted to be the depth of the top of the producing inter-
val. If at least one of the wells was cooler than 572°F
[300°C] at the bottom of Shale Unit 0, then the 572°F
[300°C] isotherm was projected to the site of the new well
on the basis of data from nearby wells. The depth to the
572 OF [300°C] isotherm was assumed to correspond to
that of the first producing sandstones.
The current understanding of the subsurface geology
and fluid flow in the Cerro Prieto field is useful for locat-
ing and designing new production and injection wells and
is important for any numerical modeling effort aimed at
optimizing the exploitation of this geothermal resource.
The methodology discussed would be applicable and help-
ful for exploring and developing other geothermal fields
located in a sedimentary environment, especially those
of the Imperial Valley in southern California.
Acknowledgments
We are greatly indebted to our colleagues of the Coor-
dinadora Ejecutiva de Cerro Prieto of the Comision Fed-
eral de Electricidad of Mexico, especially A. Manon and
F.J. Bermejo, for providing the field data used in this
paper. We give special thanks to Norman Goldstein and
Steven Flexser of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory for
reviewing the manuscript.
This work was supported by the Asst. Secretary for
Conservation and Renewable Energy, Office of Renew-
able Technologies, Div. of Geothermal Technology of the
U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098.
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SI Metric Conversion Factors
°API 141.5/(131.5 + ° API)
cu ft x 2.831 685 E-02
ft x 3.048* E-Ol
OF (OF-32)/1.8
mile x 1.609 344* E+OO
* Conversion factor is exact. SPEJ
Original manuscript received in the Society of Petroleum Engineers office April 14,
1984. Paper accepted for publication Oct. 10. 1984. Revised manuscript received Jan.
21, 1985. Paper (SPE 12739) first presented at the 1984 SPE California Regional Meet·
ing held in Long Beach April 11-13.
803