The rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand: its physical setting, hydrology, and response to exploitation

Allis, Rick; Lumb, J.T.

doi:10.1016/0375-6505(92)90065-h

Cited by 22 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Permeabilities are a factor of about 20 higher in the horizontal direction than in the vertical (Burnell, 1992). At a depth of about 100 m there is a distinct horizontal pressure gradient of 100-150 kPa extending along the western boundary of the Puarenga stream for a distance of about 1 km (Allis and Lumb, 1992) that is attributed to the ICBF (Environment BOP, 1999). The pressure gradient is evidence of a zone of very low permeability along that fault.…”

Section: Geological and Hydrological Setting Of The Rotorua Geothermamentioning

confidence: 97%

“…At Rotorua in New Zealand ( Fig. 1) there has been considerable interest shown (Allis and Lumb, 1992;Bradford, 1992;Burnell, 1992;Environment BOP, 1999;Scott and Cody, 2000) in the magnitude of anthropogenic disturbance to the nationally significant Whakarewarewa geothermal area, which includes New Zealand's pre-eminent geyser named Pohutu. In 1987 concerns over anthropogenic influence led to the closure of all wells over 70 m in depth sited within 1.5 km of the Pohutu geyser.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fourier analysis of short-period water level variations in the Rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand

Leaver¹,

Unsworth²

2007

Geothermics

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Section: Geological and Hydrological Setting Of The Rotorua Geothermamentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourier analysis of short-period water level variations in the Rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand

Leaver¹,

Unsworth²

2007

Geothermics

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Section: Rotoruamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Rotorua geothermal system (Figure 1.1, 1.2) is an elongate northwardstriking feature that occupies 18-28 km 2 (Allis and Lumb, 1992) of the northwestern part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. With an estimated natural heat flow of around 430 MW (Allis and Lumb, 1992) it is one of the more powerful geothermal systems in the region (Bibby et al, 1995). The Rotorua geothermal system lies astride the southern boundary of Rotorua Caldera, a roughly circular, 20 km wide structure that collapsed following the 140 ka eruption of Mamaku ignimbrite (Wood, 1992).…”

Section: Rotoruamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With increased exploitation of thermal waters in the Rotorua geothermal field between the 1920s and the 1980s, fluid pressures were observed to decrease within the area and the discharge of hydrothermal water from vents at the surface waned and in some cases ceased altogether (Allis and Lumb, 1992). To preserve the economic and cultural value of the geothermal field, restrictions were imposed to limit the amount of water being removed from the system in 1986 (Scott et al, 2005).…”

Section: Rotoruamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Velocity Modelling and Earthquake Relocation in the Rotorua and Kawerau Geothermal Areas, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Clarke¹

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<p>We analyse catalogued phase arrival times and seismograms from two sets of earthquakes that occurred in and around the Rotorua and Kawerau geothermal systems in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. These data sets contain 504 and 1875 shallow (less than or equal to 20 km deep) earthquakes, respectively, and span the 21 year period between the beginning of 1984 and the end of 2004. We use arrival time data from these earthquakes to calculate reliable 1-D P- and S-wave seismic velocity models and accompanying station correction terms for Rotorua and Kawerau. These models are well constrained at depths of 4 to 15 km and are consistent with models obtained in seismic refraction studies for the same region. Using a combination of precise cross-correlation-derived and cataloguebased arrival times, we calculate accurate hypocentres for 155 and 400 earthquakes in Rotorua and Kawerau, respectively. These hypocentres are far less scattered than those in the earthquake catalogue. In Rotorua, the earthquakes cluster near the geothermally active parts of Rotorua City and also beneath the Mount Ngongotaha rhyolite dome. In Kawerau, the earthquakes align along northeast-trending lineations, consistent with the predominant alignment of faults within the region. Earthquakes in Okataina caldera to the southwest of Kawerau are tightly clustered, particularly beneath Puhipuhi Hill. We use cross-correlation to identify clusters of earthquakes in Rotorua and Kawerau based on the similarity of their recorded seismograms. Apart from two clusters in the northern part of Rotorua City, these are generally indicative of relatively short-lived bursts of activity within these regions. We compute composite focal mechanisms for four of these clusters, all of which indicate rupture on normal faults, consistent with the extensional tectonic regime of the Taupo Volcanic Zone.</p>

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Geyser Decline and Extinction in New Zealand—Energy Development Impacts and Implications for Environmental Management

Barrick

2007

Environmental Management

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Geysers are rare natural phenomena that represent increasingly important recreation, economic, and scientific resources. The features of geyser basins, including hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles, are easily damaged by human development. In New Zealand, the extinction of more than 100 geysers provides important lessons for the environmental management of the world's remaining geyser basins. The impacts on New Zealand's geysers are described in sequential "phases," including the following: the first use of geothermal resources by the indigenous people-the Maori; early European-style tourism and spa development; streamside geyser decline caused by river level modification at the Spa geyser basin; multiple geyser basin extinctions caused by industrial-scale geothermal well withdrawal at Wairakei; the drowning of geysers at Orakeikorako after the filling of a hydroelectric reservoir; and geyser decline caused by geothermal well heating systems in Rotorua City. The crisis in Rotorua prompted preservation of the few remaining geysers at Whakarewarewa -- the last major geyser basin in New Zealand. The New Zealand government ordered the geothermal wells within 1.5 km of Pohutu Geyser, Whakarewarewa, to be closed, which was a locally controversial measure. The well closure program resulted in a partial recovery of the Rotorua geothermal reservoir, but no extinct geysers recovered. The implications of recent geothermal computer modeling and future planning are discussed. The New Zealand case suggests that the protection of geysers requires strong regulations that prevent incompatible development at the outset, a prescription that is especially relevant for the future management of the geothermal fields adjacent to the geyser basins of Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A.

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The rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand: its physical setting, hydrology, and response to exploitation

Cited by 22 publications

References 20 publications

Fourier analysis of short-period water level variations in the Rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand

Fourier analysis of short-period water level variations in the Rotorua geothermal field, New Zealand

Velocity Modelling and Earthquake Relocation in the Rotorua and Kawerau Geothermal Areas, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Geyser Decline and Extinction in New Zealand—Energy Development Impacts and Implications for Environmental Management

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