FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF EXPLOITATION AT THE MIRAVALLES GEOTHERMAL FIELD

Abstract

The Miravalles Geothermal Field has been producing electric energy since March 1994. It has provided steam for Unit 1 (60 MWe) since 1994, a Well Head Unit (5 MWe) installed in 1995, Unit 2 (55 MWe) in 1998 and Unit 3 (27.5 MWe) in the year 2000. The total installed capacity in Miravalles is therefore 147.5 MWe. The reservoir response during the seven years of exploitation is described in the following sections. So far the field has successfully supplied the steam needed to maintain constant production over the first seven years of exploitation. A new development (consisting either of a second-flash unit or a binary plant, the so called Unit 5 or "bottoming cycle" unit) of 10-20 MWe is expected to be online by the end of year 2002.