Sources and transport of fluid and heat at the newly-developed Theistareykir Geothermal Field, Iceland

Successful management of geothermal energy requires detailed understanding of physical and chemical conditions within the field prior to exploitation. It is thus crucial to identify fluids involved and their residence times, as well as the heat source, so as to assess the potential of the resource in terms of energy production. To this end, a geochemical study of relatively undisturbed fluids from the newly-developed Theistareykir geothermal field, Northern Volcanic Zone, Iceland was carried out on production wells, fumaroles, and mud pots. Noble gas (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) elemental and isotopic abundances and stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) were measured to determine the system fluid sources and dynamics as exploitation proceeds. Results of this study, together with previously published data, show that four fluid sources are present: modern and local meteoric water (48.9%); sub-modern meteoric water from regional highlands precipitation (10.6%); pre-Holocene glaciated meteoric water (40.4%) with strongly depleted δ²H values of −127‰, calculated ⁴⁰K-⁴⁰Ar* fluid residence times from 57 ± 20 ka to 92 ± 30 ka and a (U/Th)-⁴He fluid residence times from 96 ± 50 ka to 160 ± 80 ka; and, finally, ³He-rich magmatic fluids. Concomitant enrichment in ¹⁸O and radiogenic ⁴He suggests that some fluids reside a long time in the reservoir, exchanging O and He with reservoir rocks. Maximum estimated helium isotopic ratios, ³He/⁴He (R), of 11.45 Ra (Ra = atmospheric ratio) show that the magma beneath Theistareykir is a depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) mantle (DMM), with less influence (8.7 to 12.7%) of the Icelandic mantle plume source. Calculated heat (Q)/³He ratios plotted vs. R/Ra and ⁴He/³⁶Ar ratios suggest that convective heat transport dominates the eastern part of the field where the magmatic heat source is located, while in other parts of the field, heat conduction seems to be dominant. Boiling and phase separation exists in the field, as indicated by δ¹⁸O values which fall to the left of the Global Meteoric Water Line in a δ¹⁸O vs. δ²H plot, but Q/³He ratios indicate that boiling affects only 1–10% of the fluid reservoir. With this obtained knowledge, any subsequent changes in the field conditions during the exploitation phase of Theistareykir can be better understood, helping to sustainably manage the resource.