Operational Considerations in the Process of Exploitation at the Miravalles and Pailas Geothermal Fields: 20 Years of Field Operation

Abstract

In the early 90s, a group of people from ICE, from Miravalles volcano zone, Guanacaste, formed a working group designed to operate productive fronts of what it would be someday the Miravalles Geothermal Field. This team will be known later under the name of Field Operation. Miravalles Geothermal Field started in 1994, while Pailas in 2011. Nowdays, Miravalles has an installed capacity of 163 MWe, while Pailas produces about 35 MWe. Field Operation has given logistical support during the explotation phase. This paper describes experiences of general activities related to the operation of Geothermal Fields in Costa Rica for 20 years of operation, as aspects of interaction between fluids, ascending fluid (vapor, liquid, biphasic), direct quantification fluids equipment (steam and brine), operation of neutral wells (inhibition system), operation of acid wells (neutralization system), aspects of binari units, operational logistics Separator Stations (improvements), subsystems optimization: elimination of drainage in systems with downward slope and upslope, among other