Distribution and origin of lithium-enriched formation waters in … · 2020. 3. 16. · AGS 16...

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Distribution and origin of lithium-enriched formation waters in Alberta G. Lopez, J. Weiss and R. Huff March 28, 2018

Transcript of Distribution and origin of lithium-enriched formation waters in … · 2020. 3. 16. · AGS 16...

Page 1: Distribution and origin of lithium-enriched formation waters in … · 2020. 3. 16. · AGS 16 Samples from Carbonates Evaporites Dolomitized Carbonates Non-Dolomitized Carbonates

Distribution and origin of

lithium-enriched formation

waters in Alberta

G. Lopez, J. Weiss and R. Huff

March 28, 2018

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Outline

AGS history on lithium-rich formation waters

Lithium in Alberta Interactive Minerals Map

Distribution of lithium-enriched formation waters

Characteristics of lithium-enriched formation

waters

Origin of lithium-rich formation waters (Huff,

2016)

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AGS history on Li-enriched

formation waters

Hitchon (1993-95):

• Search elements of

potential economic

interest

• 130,000 analyses of

formation waters (708 for

Li)

• Li up to 140 mg/L in

Devonian formation

waters in west-central AB

3 Modified from Hitchon et al, 1993

Hitchon, B., Underschultz, J.R. and Bachu, S. (1993): Industrial mineral potential of Alberta formation waters; Alberta Research Council, ARC/AGS Open File Report 1993-15, 92 p.

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Eccles et al. (2010, 2011):

• 1,511 analyses

• Li up to 140 mg/L in Devonian formation waters

AGS history on Li-enriched

formation waters

From Eccles & Berhane, 2011

Eccles, D.R. and Berhane, H. 2011: Geological introduction to lithium-rich formation water with emphasis on the Fox Creek area of west-central Alberta

(NTS 83F and 83K); Energy Resources Conservation Board, ERCB/AGS Open File Report 2011-10, 22 p.

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AGS history on Li-enriched

oilfield brines

Huff (2011, 2012,

2016, report in

progress):

• Saline aquifer project

Edmonton-Red Deer

• Lithium in Devonian

carbonate formation

waters

• Sampling in west-

central AB in 2016

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Alberta Interactive Minerals Map

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Alberta Interactive Minerals Map:

lithium hits

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2017 2018

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Sample location

and sources

8

Total of 1,683 samples

with lithium analysis

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Distribution of

Li-enriched

samples

9

172 ≥ 50 mg/L

74 ≥ 75 mg/L

17 ≥ 100 mg/L

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Distribution of

Li-enriched

samples

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Distribution of lithium-enriched

formation waters

Li ≥ 100 mg/L: Devonian

carbonate formation waters of the

Swan Hills, Leduc and Nisku

Fms.

Li ≥ 50 mg/L:

• Cambrian, Triassic, Devonian, and

Carboniferous-Mississippian units

• Two samples in Jurassic and

Cretaceous units.

11

Dev

on

ian

(w

est-

cen

tral

pla

ins)

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Wright et al., 1994

D D’

D

D’

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Li vs TDS

13

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 350000

Other

Nisku

Leduc

Beaverhill Lake

Li (m

g/k

g)

TDS (mg/kg)

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Li vs K

14

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Other

Nisku

Leduc

Beaverhill Lake

Li

(mg

/kg

)

K (mg/kg)

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Origin of Li-enriched oilfield brines in

Devonian carbonates

15 Huff, G.F. (2016): Evolution of LI-enriched oilfield brines in Devonian carbonates of the south-central Alberta Basin; Canada. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum

Geology, Vol. 64, No3, p. 438-448.

Study

area

Alberta

Basin

Modified from Huff, 2016

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Samples from Carbonates

Evaporites

Dolomitized Carbonates

Non-Dolomitized Carbonates

Gas Pools

Oil Pools

Eccles and Berhane (2011)

AGS OFR 2011-10

Huff et al. (2011, 2012)

AGS DIG 2011-07

AGS DIG 2012-01

Origin of Li-enriched (≥ 50 mg/L) oilfield

brines in Devonian carbonate

Huff, G.F. (2016): Evolution of LI-enriched oilfield brines in Devonian carbonates of the south-central Alberta Basin; Canada. Bulletin of

Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol. 64, No3, p. 438-448.

From Huff (2016)

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

NiskuLeducSwan HillsOther

Na/Br (mass)

Cl/

Br

(mas

s)

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Na-Cl-Br systematics

Modified from Huff, 2016

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Li vs Cl/Br

Modified from Huff, 2016

0

25

50

75

100

125

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Nisku

Leduc

Swan Hills

Other

Cl/Br (mass)

Li (

mg/

kg)

modern seawater (Drever, 1982)

Modified from Huff, 2016

Evapoconcentration

of seawater beyond

halite saturation

Halite dissolution

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0

50

100

150

0.705 0.710 0.715 0.720 0.725 0.730

Nisku

Leduc

Swan Hills

Other

87Sr/86Sr

Li (

mg/

kg)

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Origins of Li-enriched oilfield brines in

Devonian carbonates of south-central AB

Modified from Huff (2016)

Li enrichment from

crustal fluids and

possibly formed

through halite

dissolution

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Problem: how to explain Li

enrichment in Leduc and Nisku

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Leduc and Nisku brines show:

• No 87Sr/86Sr evidence of Li derived from silicates

• Oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios are

characteristic of evaporation

• Cl/Br ratios indicate a degree (but not enough)

evapoconcentration

From Huff, 2016

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Modified from Wright et al. (1994)

D D’ Step 1 – Concentrate Br and Li

D D’

Potash mineralization

• Sylvite

• Carnallite

Concentrate Br and Li

in potash minerals (Huff, 2016)

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Step 2 – Remobilize late-stage evaporites

into evaporated middle Devonian seawater

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Remobilizing brine under-saturated with

regard to potash minerals

• Storm events?

Collect the Li and Br enriched brines in

underlying permeable carbonate

(Winnipegosis/Contact Rapids)

From Huff, 2016

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Step 3 – Tip the carbonates westward and

allow the dense Li-enriched brines flow west

Modified from Wright et al. (1994)

D D’

D D’

Dense Li-enriched brine

migrated downward into

underlying formation and

then westward in response

to tilting beginning in the

Jurassic (Huff, 2016).

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Step 4 – Establish deep penetration of meteoric

water due to topography caused by Laramide

Orogeny

Modified from Wright et al. (1994)

D D’

D D’

Li-enriched brine diluted by

mixing with meteoric water

into Devonian formations in

response to hydraulic

gradients - Laramide

tectonics (Huff, 2016).

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Summary

Li ≥ 100 mg/L: Devonian carbonate formation

waters of the Swan Hills, Leduc and Nisku.

Two brines with distinct chemistry/evolution

histories (Huff, 2016):

• Swan Hills Formation brines: dissolution of halite and

mixing basement-derived fluids.

• Nisku and Leduc formations brines: preferential

dissolution of lithium-enriched late-stage evaporite

minerals, likely from the middle Devonian Prairie

Evaporite, into evapoconcentrated late Devonian

seawater. 25

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