Mexican Geothermal Plays

Abstract

Defining geothermal plays is one of the initial steps for a proper comparison between geothermal energy potential and other renewable and non-renewable sources. Geothermal plays can be defined by the heat source and the geological elements that control the transport and storage of the heat and the geothermal fluids. The main geologic and geothermal characteristics of the Mexican geothermal fields of Cerro Prieto, Los Azufres, Los Humeros, Las Tres Vírgenes and Cerritos Colorados are succinctly described and the fields are defined in terms of their respective geothermal plays, following the initial classification scheme proposed by Moeck and Beardsmore (2014). Using this preliminary scheme, it is proposed that Cerro Prieto might be considered as an extensional domain play, and the other four fields as extrusive magmatic plays.