Temperature and chemical changes in the fluids of the Obama geothermal field (SW Japan) in response to field utilization

Thermal waters from Quaternary volcanic rocks (predominantly andesites) discharge along faults in the Obama geothermal field of southwestern Japan. The chemistry of more than 100 thermal and ground water samples collected between 1936 and 2005 indicate that the Na–Cl hot spring waters are a mixture of “andesitic” magmatic, sea and meteoric waters. Mixing models and silica and cation geothermometry were used to estimate the SiO2 and Cl composition and the temperature (∼200 °C) of the reservoir fluids deep in the geothermal system. The isotopic data (18O and D) are consistent with a mixed origin interpretation of the waters feeding the Obama hot springs, i.e. a large proportion of meteoric and sea waters, and a small magmatic component. Temperatures and chemical concentrations of the thermal waters were affected by the 1944–1959 salt production operations, but have recovered after closure of the salt factories; now they are similar to their pre-1940 values. In the future, the Obama geothermal field may be suitable for electric power generation, although heat and fluid extraction will require careful management to prevent or minimize reservoir cooling.