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Porosity Distribution Characteristics and Geological Analysis of Brine Storage Medium in the Qaidam Basin, Western China

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Abstract

Underground brine is an unusual water resource that contains abundant mineral resources. It is distributed widely in the Qaidam Basin, western China, a hyperarid inland basin located in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Pores in the brine storage medium act as storage space and transmission channels of underground brine. Therefore, the porosity of brine storage medium determines its ability to store brine. In this study, Mahai Salt Lake was used as the research area as a modern saline lake located in the north area of the Qaidam Basin. A total of 100 porosity samples were collected from eight sampling points in two profiles of the research area at sampling depths of 1.30–314.78 m. The porosity distribution characteristics and influencing factors in brine storage medium were analysed according to the measured porosity data. Based on analysis of the pore structure characteristics, the brine storage medium contains intercrystalline pores, unlike conventional freshwater storage mediums. Moreover, the primary salt rock is susceptible to dissolution by lighter brine, facilitating the formation of secondary porosity. Due to the formation of secondary pores, a porosity greater than 20% remains even at buried depths greater than 100 m. Based on the geological statistical analysis, due to the geographic location, salt formation time, and depositional environment, the porosity values of Mahai Salt Lake do not exhibit a wider distribution, but also show more extreme values than a nearby salt lake. Based on the porosity characteristics by depth, due to the presence of secondary pores, flooding, stratigraphic static pressure, and other factors, porosity shows fluctuations with increasing depth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment of the Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Shuya Hu, Changlai Xiao & Xiujuan Liang

  2. College of Environmental and Resources, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Shuya Hu, Changlai Xiao & Xiujuan Liang

  3. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Quansheng Zhao, Jianwei Zhang & Juan Feng

  4. School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Guangcai Wang

Authors
  1. Shuya Hu
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  2. Changlai Xiao
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  3. Xiujuan Liang
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  4. Quansheng Zhao
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  5. Guangcai Wang
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  6. Jianwei Zhang
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  7. Juan Feng
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Correspondence to Guangcai Wang.

Additional information

Foundation item: Under the auspices of The National Natural Science Fundation of China (No. 41572216, 41672243), The Water Resources Project of Jilin Province (No. 0773-1441GNJL00390), The Natural Science Fundation of Jilin Province (No. 20140101164JC), Science and Technology Support Program of Qinghai Province (No. 2012-G-154A)

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Hu, S., Xiao, C., Liang, X. et al. Porosity Distribution Characteristics and Geological Analysis of Brine Storage Medium in the Qaidam Basin, Western China. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 28, 707–716 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-018-0979-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-018-0979-x

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