AEG March Meeting: Tuesday, March 24
Please join us on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at Aviator’s Restaurant! We will be hosting Jim Bailey who will be giving a presentation titled Migrating Mud Pot – Emergency Responses to Protect Critical Transportation Infrastructure at Aviators in Sacramento!
SPEAKER BIO:
Jim Bailey has more than 36 years of water supply development and ground water management experience. His water resource work has focused on municipal water supply including water rights, well design/construction, and evaluation of well performance issues. He is a nationally recognized expert in the area of well development and rehabilitation, and a frequent speaker at workshops on well performance and rehabilitation throughout the U.S. and Canada.
SPEAKER ABSTRACT:
The Salton Sea located in southern California, is the southern terminus for the San Andreas fault and a locale for sediment hosted, low temperature geothermal features. Commonly known as mud pots, these features are believed to form in this area by decarbonation reactions involving sedimentary carbonate that generate carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. As the gas rises through various water bearing sediments, likely along existing fault lineaments, they pull sediment and water toward the surface.
In early 2018 one of these mud pots began migrating toward a critical Union Pacific rail line, a fuel pipeline and California Highway 111 paralleling the east side of the Salton Sea. This was the first time a mud pot had been observed migrating. The mud pot produces a sediment slurry at approximately 30 to 40 gallons per minute, eroding soils in the direction of the railroad tracks. As the mud pot got closer to the tracks the railroad took actions to stop or redirect the migration.
Initial actions included multi-method geophysical surveys, dewatering of the mud pot caldera, and installation of a sheet pile wall. After Imperial County declared an emergency, three deep borings/wells were drilled to depths up to 800 feet deep. The borings were used to determine the feasibility of depressurizing one or more aquifers that might be contributing to the flow. Drilling conditions were challenging due to high concentrations of CO2, H2S, daytime temperatures up to 1150 F, and occurrence of high-pressure gas and water.
In late September of 2018 the mud pot breached the sheet pile wall and UPRR was forced to construct two temporary tracks. The fuel pipeline was re-routed in early 2019. The California Department of Transportation took defensive measures in 2019 in anticipation of the Mud pot impacting Highway 111. As of February 2020, mud pot movement has slowed but still moving in a westerly direction.
AGENDA:
- Social Hour – 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Announcements & Dinner: 6:30-7:30pm
- Presentation: 7:30-8:30pm
Usual great food, including three meat entrées, salad, rice, potatoes, vegetable and iced tea. A no-host beer and wine bar will be available.
MEETING COSTS AND RSVP:
Members: $30.00
Non-Members: $35.00
Students: $10.00
Please RSVP by Monday, March 23 at noon so we can provide an accurate headcount to Aviators.
2020 Calendar of Events
| Date | Event |
| January 21 | AEG January Meeting Speaker: Mitchell Swanson Talk: Lower American and Sacramento Rivers Geomorphology Applications for Bank Erosion and Levee Stability and Ecosystem Restoration Location: Aviators, Sacramento Registration: HERE! |
| February 25 | AEG February Meeting: Jahn’s Lecturer Series Speaker: Scott Lidnvall Talk: Characterizing Fault Displacement Hazards: Significant Progress and Significant Uncertainties Location: Aviators, Sacramento Registration: HERE! |
| February 28 | Taber Ranch Foundation Drill Class Annual Taber Ranch one day course for undergraduate students. |
| March 24 | AEG March Meeting Speaker: Jim Bailey Talk: Migrating Mud Pot – Emergency Responses to Protect Critical Transportation Infrastructure |
| April 3 | Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships Deadline Deadline: Friday, April 12th |
| April 21 | Annual Student Night Theme: Student poster presentations, student-professional interaction and networking, AEG presentation of scholarship recipients Location: Old Spaghetti Factory, Sacramento |
| May 19 | AEG May Meeting Speaker: Alex Morelan Talk: Ridgecrest Earthquakes Location: Aviators, Sacramento |
| June 23 | AEG June Meeting Speaker: Augie Smarkel Talk: Slope Stability Case History Project in the AP Zone Along the Hayward Fault Location: TBD |
| July | No July Meeting |
| August 23 | August Meeting Speaker: TBD Talk: TBD Location: TBD |
| September 24 | No September Meeting: Annual Meeting |
| October 25 | AEG October Meeting Speaker: TBD Talk: TBD Location: TBD |
| November 17 | Joint AEG/CalGeo Emerging Professionals November Meeting Speaker: Ross Boulanger Talk: Liquifaction Location: TBD |
| December 14 | Annual Joint GRA/AEG Holiday Meeting Speaker: TBD Talk: TBD Location: Aviators, Sacramento |
