Comprehensive Hydrogeological and Geochemical Study of a Brine Deposit

Initially, historical data compilation, standardization, and critical analysis were conducted. With the validated data, a database was structured in HydroGeo Analyst software for information storage, along with queries and business intelligence reports developed for data visualization and analysis. The project then proceeded with the development of hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical conceptual models, aimed at understanding the flow in the hypersaline lagoon, the mineralogical reactivity of the reservoir rocks, and the physicochemical controls for salt precipitation and dissolution, particularly with the injection of low salt concentration solutions. The geological numerical model was developed using Leapfrog software, while the groundwater model was created in FEFLOW due to its significant flexibility in defining the numerical mesh, which allowed for better representation of the geometry and distribution of the modeled geological features. Geochemical models were developed using PHREEQC and PHREEPLOT.

Once the individual models had been calibrated with monitoring data, the spatial distribution of hydrochemical and mineralogical compositions was analyzed along the surfaces of the FEFLOW model using Surfer and ArcGIS software. This step facilitated the creation of PHREEQC models for all nodes of the model. Subsequently, the flow and transport models were coupled with the geochemical models in FEFLOW through the adaptation of the piChem plug-in.

To simulate different scenarios, an application was developed that allowed users to input desired variations in solution concentrations, injection and pumping well flow rates, as well as the inclusion and exclusion of solution inputs and outputs. The model was then updated, and the application executed the simulation. The results were automatically exported and integrated into a BI report connected to the database, enabling direct visualization of model calibration, comparison with historical data, mineral dissolution and precipitation, and the calculation of liquid and solid resources and reserves.