Mineral Waters of Tomsk Oblast

A. D. Nazarov, V. G. Bykov, N. M. Rasskazov,
P. A. Udodov, A. A. Rozin

In connection with the rapid growth of the population, the vigorous development of industry, and the exploitation of oil and gas deposits in Tomsk Oblast, which is characterized by a harsh climate, the question of creating a sanatorium-and-resort base in the oblast has come to the fore; this, in particular, is stated in the resolution of the Tomsk Oblast Executive Committee of December 20, 1968. All the necessary conditions exist for resolving this question: beautiful places, forest, rivers, and a variety of types of mineral waters. In almost any populated locality it is possible to discover and use several types of therapeutic waters. This makes it possible to apply them for treatment both with and without interruption from work.

On the territory of the oblast, sulfide, iodine-bromine, bromine, siliceous, ferruginous, radon, and mineral waters “without specific components and properties” have been discovered and studied (distinguished according to the classification of Ivanov and Nevraev), as well as waters and muds of peat deposits [1–8].

The main regularities in the distribution of mineral waters in the territory of Tomsk Oblast are shown on the accompanying schematic map, compiled by the authors using materials of the Tomsk Polytechnic Institute and the Tomsk and Novosibirsk geological administrations.

In the course of work on the map, a new methodology was developed for compiling maps of mineral waters of platform regions [7], which may find broad application in the compilation of other geological maps as well. The development of the new methodology was necessitated by the need to place on a single map sheet a large amount of factual material for six mutually overlapping aquifer complexes.

The authors used a method of superimposing maps compiled for individual aquifer complexes upon one another. All factual material was plotted on horizontal lines uniformly distributed over the area. The maps were superimposed in such a way that the lines of different aquifer complexes together formed bundles, which, in turn, were uniformly distributed over the area. In this arrangement, the lines in a bundle were positioned in accordance with the occurrence of the aquifer complexes in the section, forming a simplified hydrogeological section. Such an arrangement of lines in a bundle, and of bundles on the map, makes it possible to plot a large amount of factual material and to trace the regularities in the distribution of water types and their composition both over the area and through the section simultaneously.

The approach to selecting conventional symbols for depicting specific hydrogeological indicators (gas and chemical composition, mineralization, temperature, etc.) may vary.

A map compiled according to the proposed methodology, despite the abundance of factual material plotted on it, is normally loaded and easy to read.

It makes it possible to outline directions for further hydrogeological studies in the search for and exploration of mineral waters in the territory of Tomsk Oblast.

The bulk of the mineral waters have a regional distribution. It is characteristic that with depth and from the margin toward the center of the West Siberian artesian basin, there is an increase in the content of sodium and calcium chlorides, iodine, and bromine; mineralization increases (up to brine), and the temperature and methane saturation of the waters rise [5].

The water abundance of the formations varies in section. The most water-abundant are the deposits of the Pokur Formation; well yields are 50–400 (up to 3000) m³/day. The least water-abundant are the deposits of the Tyumen Formation; well yields are 10–50 (up to 100) m³/day.

Iodine-bromine and bromine waters are distributed to a greater extent in the western part of the oblast and are confined to the most closed parts of the formations. The iodine content reaches 25 mg/l, bromine—200 mg/l. The water composition is sodium chloride and sodium-calcium chloride, with mineralization of 10–80 g/l; the temperature under reservoir conditions is 20–100°C and higher. The gas composition is methane.

At present these waters have been brought to the surface at the Sovetskoye oil field from deposits of the Pokur Formation and are used to maintain reservoir pressure.

Siliceous waters in deposits of the Kiyalin, Tarsk, and Tyumen formations are distributed almost throughout the entire oblast, excluding areas adjacent to the southern and eastern margins. In deposits of the Pokur Formation this type of water is distributed west of the Kananak—Kolpashevo—Parbig line, and in the Upper Cretaceous deposits—west of the Aleksandrovo—Sr. Vasyugan—Ognev Yar line. The metasilicic acid content reaches 324 mg/l. The water composition is sodium chloride and sodium-calcium, with mineralization of 1–80 g/l. The reservoir temperature of the waters is 20–100°C and higher. The composition of dissolved gases is methane, nitrogen-methane, and methane-nitrogen. The waters have been brought to the surface at the Sovetskoye oil field and are used for injection into oil reservoirs. The regularities of distribution of siliceous waters over the area and in section, especially in the upper complexes, are still not entirely clear and require clarification.

Waters with mineralization of more than 1 g/l, containing no biologically active components, are combined into the group of mineral waters without specific components and properties. They are distributed in the upper and the parts of the section closest to the margin. These waters are widely used for therapeutic purposes at the “Lake Karachi” health resort, Novosibirsk Oblast. In Tomsk Oblast such waters have been brought to the surface in the city of Kolpashevo (well 1—R, 1.1 g/l, 24°C) and in the settlement of Bely Yar (well 1—R, 1.7 g/l, 48°C).

In the city of Kolpashevo, water supply has been organized using these waters. In the settlement of Bely Yar the water is not used.

Recent work by the authors in Jurassic deposits at a depth of more than 2200 m has discovered lithium mineral waters (brine, thermal, and methane) with lithium contents of 7–20 mg/l (0.0007–0.002%) and rubidium contents of 1.1–3.01 mg/l (0.0001–0.0003%). In these same waters an elevated potassium content has been found, up to industrial levels (186–532 mg/l). Lithium is a biologically active element and

its effect on the human body is significant even at low concentrations (above 5 mg/l). Its accumulation in waters is associated with the general processes of concentration and metamorphization of groundwater, the principal component of which is most often sodium. The accumulation of sodium probably leads to the simultaneous accumulation in the waters of other alkali metals related to it (lithium, rubidium, cesium, and potassium). The main source of accumulation of lithium, rubidium, and potassium is rocks. In the latter, according to the data of A. E. Kontorovich et al. (1971), for Tomsk Oblast lithium is contained at 0.0047–0.0052% and potassium at 1.49–2.08%, that is, considerably higher than in the waters [5].

Ferruginous waters of high and medium mineralization are distributed in Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits in the western and central parts of the oblast. In chemical composition they are sodium chloride waters with mineralization of 27–70 g/l, slightly alkaline, with total iron content of 10–110 mg/l. The temperature of the waters under reservoir conditions is 20–100°C and higher. The gas composition is methane. The presence in the waters of a high chlorine content and a low content of bicarbonates makes it possible to assume the presence of a considerable quantity of iron in the form of chlorides readily assimilable by the body. The patterns of distribution of ferruginous waters over the area have as yet been poorly studied. Only in the Jurassic deposits is the area of occurrence of this type of water outlined, somewhere west of the Kananak—Kolpashevo—Parbig line.

Sulfide waters have been exposed in deposits of the Tara suite near the village of Chazhemto. The content of total hydrogen sulfide is 13.2 mg/l. The waters are sodium chloride, with mineralization of 5.6–6.3 g/l, thermal (temperature at the wellhead 64°C). The gas composition is methane. The well has been flowing (since 1958) with a discharge of 500 m³/day. In origin, the waters are associated with a destroyed hydrocarbon deposit. Similar waters are used for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system and certain skin diseases. The convenient natural setting, proximity to large populated localities, the possibility of exposing other types of mineral waters at the site, and the presence in the same area of peat waters and muds raise the question of the earliest possible use of these waters. In addition, the creation of an artificial reservoir would promote the accumulation of valuable hydrogen-sulfide muds.

Fresh ferruginous waters, often enriched with humic organic compounds, are confined to sediments of Quaternary, Paleogene, and Upper Cretaceous deposits. In chemical composition the waters are calcium-magnesium bicarbonate waters, with mineralization of 0.1–0.7 g/l, slightly acidic, with total iron content up to 60 mg/l (P. A. Udodov et al., 1965), more often 10–30 mg/l. The regional patterns of their distribution over the area and in section have as yet been poorly studied.

Radon waters with radon content of 14–28 Mache units have been identified in the area of the city of Tomsk and are confined to zones of tectonic disturbances. The waters are calcium bicarbonate, with mineralization of 0.3–0.4 g/l, slightly acidic, cold (4–5°C). The specific yields of wells are 0.1–0.5 l/sec. The low temperature of the waters, together with the low concentration of radon, makes it difficult to use these waters without heating. The solution of the problem should proceed in two directions: 1) use of these waters with heating in a closed reservoir in order to exclude radon losses, and 2) searches for thermal radon waters at greater depths [8].

In combination with the indicated types of mineral waters, peat waters and muds, in which Tomsk Oblast is rich, can be widely used. From peats, by means of steam extracts obtained according to the method of the Odessa Institute of Eye Diseases named after Filatov, it is possible to iso-

...to produce the preparation “Torfot.” Its balneological effectiveness, as shown by testing in the clinics of the medical institute, is 69–71% for floodplain lowland deposits and 45–50% for upland watershed deposits [6].

The organic composition of the waters has been poorly studied. Waters of deep horizons, and especially those near oil and gas-condensate deposits, are rich in various organic compounds (fatty and naphthenic acids, benzenes, etc.), which, along with the noted biologically active components, may have great balneological significance when mineral waters are used.

Thus, the question of using the mineral waters of Tomsk Oblast is an urgent one. At present, within a short time, hydropathic establishments can be created in the areas of the cities of Tomsk and Kolpashevo, the settlement of Belyi Yar, and the oil field at the Sovetskoe deposit. Radon, sulfide, mineral waters without specific components or properties, and thermal iodine-bromine siliceous waters, respectively, have already been brought to the surface here. Thermal waters may also be used for heating peat muds.

REFERENCES

1. V. G. Bykov, A. D. Nazarov, N. M. Rasskazov, P. A. Udodov, A. A. Rozin. Map of Mineral Waters of Tomsk Oblast. In: Materials of the Sixth Conference on Subsurface Waters of Siberia and the Far East. Irkutsk—Khabarovsk, 1970.

2. Hydrogeology of the USSR. Vol. 16. West Siberian Plain. Moscow, “Nedra,” 1970.

3. Hydrogeology of the USSR. Vol. 17. Kemerovo Oblast and Altai Krai. Moscow, “Nedra,” 1972.

4. A. D. Nazarov. Mineral therapeutic and industrial waters of Tomsk Oblast. In: Problems in the Study of Resort Resources and the Organization of Sanatorium-and-Resort Treatment in Siberia and the Far East. Issue 2. Tomsk, 1974.

5. A. M. Ovchinnikov, G. M. Rogov, L. I. Solomko. A new area of development of carbonic mineral waters in the Kuznetsk Basin. Izvestiya vuzov, 1964, No. 11.

6. N. M. Rasskazov, P. A. Udodov, T. Ya. Emelyanova, A. D. Nazarov, V. A. Shamolin. Principal hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical features of peat deposits in the central part of the Ob–Irtysh interfluve and certain methodological questions in hydrogeochemical investigations of bogs. In: Subsurface Waters of Siberia and the Far East. Moscow, “Nauka,” 1971.

7. N. M. Rasskazov, P. A. Udodov, A. D. Nazarov. On the methodology of hydrogeological investigations in the exploration of peat deposits (with the southeast of the West Siberian Lowland as an example). Abstracts of reports of the Seventh Conference on Subsurface Waters of Siberia and the Far East. Irkutsk—Novosibirsk, 1973.

8. P. A. Udodov et al. Hydrogeochemical Investigations of the Kolyvan–Tomsk Folded Zone. Tomsk, Tomsk University Press, 1971.