Geothermal Initiatives in Central America

Abstract

The U.S. Agency for International Development is supporting a new project in energy and resources exploitation for Central America. One of the largest components of the project involved exploration and reservoir development investigations directed at enhancing the production of electricity from the region's geothermal resources. An assessment of the geothermal resources of Honduras is in progress, and interesting geothermal regions in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica are being explored. Well logging activities are in progress in the production wells at the Miravalles geothermal field in Costa Rica, and preparations are being made for logging critical wells at Ahuachapan in El Salvador. A self contained logging truck, complete with high temperate logging cable and logging tools designed for geothermal service, is begin fabricated and will be made available for dedicated use throughout Central America. Geochemical and isotopic analyses of water samples collected in Panama are being evaluated to select a high priority geothermal site in that country. Application of low and medium enthalpy geothermal fluids for industrial and agricultural processes is being investigated in Guatemala.