The Beshtaugorskoe deposit was discovered in 1956 when Koltsovskaya expedition was drilling a 998 m deep control-observant well “2-Beshtaugorskaya” (2-B) at a foot of Beshtau m. on the western flank of the Beshtaugorskoe uranium deposit, during that drilling in apt-Albian deposits of the lower chalk a low carbon dioxide thermal mineral water of hydro carbonate -sulfate sodium structure with a mineralization of 3.8 g/dm3 was uncovered. The well flow rate at free spouting was more than 5 l/sec.
In 1972, due to the mineral waters for bathing scarcity in the resort of Essentuki, based on the experience of exploration and operation of the Sredne-Essentuk (1-CMW-bis) section of the Yessentuki field, exploration well 66 was drilled to the Titon-Valanginian aquifer depth of 1850 m, from which a spouting (above 3 l / s) of low carbonic thermal siliceous mineral waters of chloride-hydrocarbonate-sulfate calcium-sodium composition with a mineralization of 6.2 g / dm3 was obtained.
In 1976-1977 at this (Central Beshtaugorsky) sector of the 2-B and 66 wells the experimental hydrogeological works for the purpose of mineral waters operational reserves assessing were carried out. They consisted in carrying out joint and single experimental-operational mineral waters releases from wells 2-B and 66. Based on the results of these works, the GKZ evaluated and maintained mineral water reserves in the amount of 600 m3 / day, incl. 350 m3 / day (cat. B) along the Aptian-Lower Albian aquifer and 250 m3 / day (cat. A) in the Tithonian-Valanginian one.
Since 1979 this plot was put into operation, so it can be considered by analogy with the Central, Middle-Essentuksky and Novoblagodarnensky sectors of the Eessentuky deposit as “Old”.
In 1993, after the GKZ review of materials for the revaluation of the operational reserves of medicinal mineral waters, developed by the resort of Essentuki, reserves of mineral water of the Central Beshtaugorsky sector were reduced from 600 to 490 m3/d i.е. they were approved in volumes equal to the "average long-term values of well production rates actually observed under conditions of relatively stable hydrodynamic, hydrochemical, gas and temperature operating conditions" of the 1987-1989 period, and in fact, according to the achieved in this period volume of water intake, which was completely determined by the needs of the Essentuki resort in the mineral waters of this area. Along with that only operational reserves of mineral water of the aptsko-nizhnealbsky water-bearing horizon were reduced from 350 to 240 m3/d, and the volume of the titonsko-valanzhinsky water-bearing horizon reserves, which were approved earlier – 250 m3/d was not changed, but these reserves were only transferred from category A to category B.
For the same reasons, as on the Eessentuky deposit, the new West Beshtaugorsky and Southern Beshtaugorsky sectors emerged on the Beshtaugorsky deposit in the late nineties of the last century, which were allocated on the basis of wells 79 and 80, drilled by the North Caucasian Hydrogeological Expedition in 1988-1991. In the well 79, which depth was 1982 m, in the titonsko-valanzhinsky water-bearing horizon were discovered low carbon dioxide thermal siliceous mineral waters having chloride – hydrocarbonate -sulfate calcium-sodium structure with a mineralization about 6 g/dm3 and a spouting flow rate about 2 l/sec.
Hydrogeological conditions of Beshtaugorsky deposit.
Beshtaugorsky mineral water deposit with all its three operating areas: Central Beshtaugorsky, West Beshtaugorsky and Southern Beshtaugorsky – is located in the southwestern part of the Mineralovodsky intrusive region. However, unlike the Eessentuky deposit, the Beshtaugorsky deposit isn’t located in Kislovodsko-Kumagorskoaya zone, i.e. not in merged part of the Kavminvodsky anticline, but on its east wing, determined a deeper (up to 2000 m) occurrence of all subdivisions of its hydrogeological section, the set of which is generally similar to the Eessentuki deposit. But the most important is that the Beshtaugorsky deposit is located on the area of the Mineralovodsky intrusive region, in the part where the intrusion of the Beshtau mountain massif into the sedimentary rocks occurred, accompanied by numerous semicircular and feathering radial tectonic disturbances.
The Beshtaugorsky mineral waters deposit is a complex water-pressure system that overlaps the waterproof Proterozoic-Paleozoic basement, the total thickness of which almost reaches 2 km, and the total area is about 15 km2.
The well 79 is in used on the West Beshtaugorsky, which exploits the titonsko-valanzhinsky water-bearing horizon.
The composition of the spontaneous gas lifted by the well 79 at the West Beshtagorsky area mainly contains carbon dioxide (62-98% by volume), methane, nitrogen, and oxygen are noted. The dissolved gas also contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen. The total gas content fluctuates in the range of 2.07-2.9.
Among the biologically active components, dissolved carbon dioxide (0.49-1.09 g / dm3), metasilicic acid (58-190 mg / dm3) was found in the conditioned concentrations in the water.
The temperature of the water lifted by the well 79 depends on the water intake and varies in the range 43-68 ° C, what characterizes these waters as very hot (high thermal).
The microcomponent composition of the researched samples meets the requirements for mineral waters GOST 13273-88 and SanPiN 2.3.2.1078-01.
According to the balneal resolution, the mineral water is high-thermal, low carbon dioxide, medium mineralized, chloride – hydrocarbonate-sulfate calcium-sodium, siliceous, is approaching by the composition the XXI group on the GOST 13273-88.