Migrating Mud Pot - Emergency Responses to Protect Critical Transportation Infrastructure

The Salton Sea, located in southern California, is the southern terminus of 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. 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 and Highway. 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 115 F, and occurrence of high-pressure gas and water. The Mud Pot has since moved past the railroad tracks and is now threatening California 111. The State took several measures to protect the road but it was not successful. The road alignment has recently been moved to the west while the mud pot movement continues.

• Record URL:
  https://www.highwaygeologysymposium.org/wp-content/uploads/71st_HGS-OPT.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2022 Highway Geology Symposium (HGS). Abstract reprinted with permission of the HGS.
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Geology Symposium

  ,   United States 
• Authors:
  • Bailey, Jim
  • Deane, R Travis
• Conference:
  • 71st Highway Geology Symposium
  • Location: Asheville North Carolina, United States
  • Date: 2022-5-23 to 2022-5-25
• Publication Date: 2022

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 544-597
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 71st Highway Geology Symposium (HGS 2022)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hazard mitigation; Highways; Mudflows; Pipelines; Railroad rails; Sediments
• Geographic Terms: California; Salton Sea Region
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Pipelines; Railroads; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01852547
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 2022 1:39PM