GEOTHERMAL SCALING AND CORROSION Symposia presented at New Orleans, La., 19-20 Feb. 1979, and Honolulu, Hawaii, 4-5 April 1979 ASTM SPECIAL TECHNICAL PUBLICATION 717 L. A. Casper and T. R. Pinchback, EG & G Idaho, Inc., Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, editors ASTM Publication Code Number (PCN) 04-717000-27 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103Copyright © by AMERICAN SocteTy FoR TESTING AND MaTERrALS 1980 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 80-6607 Note The Society is not responsible, as a body, for the statements and opinions advanced in this publication. Printed in Baltimore, Ma. December 1980Foreword The papers in this volume were presented at two symposia sponsored by the American Society for Testing and Materials through its Committee G-1 on Corrosion of Metals and Subcommittee G01.09 on Corrosion in Natural Waters. The symposium on Corrosion in Geothermal Systems was cosponsored by the Metallurgical Society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers. This symposium was held in New Orleans, La., on 19-20 Feb. 1979, The symposium on Geothermal Scaling and Corrosion was cosponsored by the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society and was held on 4-5 April 1979 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Both symposia were cochaired by L. A. Casper and T. R. Pinchback, both of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, E G & G Idaho, Inc. These men also served as editors of this publication.Related ASTM Publications Corrosion in Natural Environments, STP 558 (1974), $29.75, 04-558000-27 MiCon 78: Optimization of Processing, Properties, and Service Performance Through Microstructural Control, STP 672 (1979), $59.50, 04-672000-28A Note of Appreciation to Reviewers This publication is made possible by the authors and, also, the unheralded efforts of the reviewers. This body of technical experts whose dedication, sacrifice of time and effort, and collective wisdom in reviewing the papers must be acknowledged. The quality level of ASTM publications is a direct function of theit respected opinions. On behalf of ASTM we acknowledge with appreciation their contribution. ASTM Committee on PublicationsEditorial Staff Jane B. Wheeler, Managing Editor Helen M. Hoersch, Associate Editor Helen P. Mahy, Senior Assistant Editor Allan S. Kleinberg, Assistant EditorContents Introduction Chemistry and Materials in Geothermal Systems—R. L. MILLER Thermodynamics of Corrosion for Geothermal Systems—p. D. MACDONALD Material Selection Guidelines for Geothermal Power Systems—An Overview—MARSHALL CONOVER, PETER ELLIS, AND ANNE CURZON Application of Linear Polarization Techniques to the Measurement of Corrosion Rates in Simulated Geothermal Brines—m. 1. DANIELSON Corrosion Protection of Solar-Collector Heat Exchangers and Geothermal Systems by Electrodeposited Organic Films— G. H. SCHNAPER, V. R. KOCH, AND S. B. BRUMMER Preliminary Evaluation of Materials for Fluidized Bed Technology in Geothermal Wells at Raft River, Idaho, and East Mesa, California—w. 1. DIRK, C. A. ALLEN, AND R. E. McATEE Surface Corrosion of Metals in Geothermal Fluids at Broadlands, New Zealand—w. R. BRAITHWAITE AND K. A. LICHTI Corrosion in Geothermal Brines of the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area—s. D. CRAMER AND J. P. CARTER Corrosion of Structural Steels in High-Salinity Geothermal Brine— W. 7, LEE AND D. KRAMER Degradation of Elastomers in Geothermal Environments—c. ARNOLD, JR., K. W. BIEG, AND J. A. COQUAT Polymeric and Composite Materials for Use in Systems Utilizing Hot, Flowing Geothermal Brine II—L. E. LORENSEN, C. M. WALKUP, AND C. 0. PRUNEDA 24 4 57 69 81 113 142 155 164Concrete Polymer Materials as Alternative Materials of Construction for Geothermal Applications—Field Test Evaluations—r. 5. FONTANA AND A. N. ZELDIN Organosiloxane Polymer Concrete for Geothermal Environments— A. N. ZELDIN, L. E. KUKACKA, J. J, FONTANA, AND N. R. CARCIELLO Treatment Methods for Geothermal Brines—s. L. PHILLIPS, A. K. MATHUR, AND WARREN GARRISON Chemical Logging of Geothermal Wells—R. E. McATEE, C. A. ALLEN, AND L. C, LEWIS Round-Robin Evaluation of Methods for Analysis of Geothermal Brine—1. c. WATSON Summary Index 180 194 207 225 236 259 261STP717-EB/Dec. 1980 Introduction Geothermal energy is one of many technologies being developed to meet critical needs for heat and power. Geothermal sources have been utilized in isolated instances for many years, primarily as a means of providing local heating. Recent efforts have been directed toward greatly increasing the electrical generating capacity of geothermal systems and, to a lesser extent, the process and space heat produced. Corrosion and in some cases scaling have presented problems in many geothermal systems. Dissolved material in geothermal waters can exhibit ag- gressive corrosion properties or have the tendency to deposit large amounts of mineral scale Either property can seriously shorten the service life of piping in the source well, the process plant, or the reinjection well. Scaling and corrosion constitute serious technical barriers to the utili- zation of geothermal resources. Because of the large quantities of water that must be processed to obtain heat, many conventional approaches to these problems, such as the use of inhibitors, are not economically viable. These problems can be controlled through innovative applications of materials science and chemistry. The papers in this special technical publication should be of interest to all those who deal with materials problems in geothermal systems. Such materials problems are approached from several points of view in this collection of papers, including fundamental scientific investigations, field studies of materials in geothermal systems and some new alternative materials, and some aspects of the chemistry of the geothermal fluids. This should provide a useful reference for both the scientist/engineer who must deal with specific geothermal systems and those in management/ operations who require an overview of the technology of materials problems. The two symposia represented in this book were organized to provide a forum within the materials science and chemistry communities for the presentation and discussion of current research into the problem. Ap- preciation is expressed to the Metallurgical Society of the American In- stitute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers and to the American Chemical Society for their joint cooperation with ASTM in these symposia. L. A. Casper T. R. Pinchback EG & G Idaho, Inc., Idaho National Engi- neering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401; symposium cochairmen and editors. Copyright® 1980 by ASTM International wwrwasimorgR. L. Miller’ Chemistry and Materials in Geothermal Systems REFERENCE: Miller, R. L., “Chemistry and Materials in Geothermal Systems,” Geo- thermal Scaling and Corrosion, ASTM STP 717. L. A. Casper and T. R. Pinchback, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, 1980, pp. 3-9. ABSTRACT: The development of a geothermal fluid is traced, from its origin as meteoric water precipitating on the earth’s surface, as it flows through the soils and rocks of geological formations, to the point where it returns to the surface as a hot spting, geyser, well, or other form. Water of magmatic origin is also included, The tendency of these hydrothermal fluids to form scale by precipitation of a portion of their dissolved solids is noted. A discussion is presented of types of information re- quired for materials selection for energy systems utilizing geothermal fluids, including PH, temperature, the speciation of the particular geothermal fluid (especially its chloride, sulfide, and carbon dioxide content), and various types of corrosive attack on common materials. Specific examples of responses of materials to geothermal fluids are given. KEY WORDS: corrosion, geothermal environment, materials selection, scaling Corrosion and scaling in geothermal energy recovery systems are two of the more important problems that require the close attention of chemists, geologists, and materials scientists. These problems result from the nature of the geothermal fluids encountered as systems are designed and built to extract energy from these resources. The geothermal fluid, in turn, is a result of the environment from which it is extracted. The history of the fiuid as it comes into contact with various minerals is the key to under- standing the tendency of these fluids to promote scaling and corrosion and, as a consequence, making rational materials selections for plant construction. Origin and Chemical Characteristics of Geothermal Fluids Geothermal resources vary in character and distribution, but some generalities are evident. First, there is a close relationship between earth- "Senior scientist, E G & G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 Copyright? 1980 by ASTM International wwwasimorg,