Contributions from IIE, Mexico, to the Deep Geothermal Resources Task of the IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement

Abstract

The Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas, Mexico, through its Geothermal Unit, has submitted three projects to the International Energy Agency's "Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Progranune on Geothermal Energy Research and Technology". Two ofthem, Borehole Logging Based on Optical Fiber Technology and Development ofan Expert System for Assessment and Management of Geothermal Fields Under Production correspond to the Agreement's TaskN DEEPGEOTHERMALi?EsOURCES. In this paper we summarize these projects. The first project aims to develop a borehole logging system capable of simultaneously measuring distributed temperature and pressure along geothermal wells. This system will be rated to 450°C and 500 bar at depths to 4,000 m, with spatial resolution of 0.25 m and aquisition time of -4 minutes. We will apply the high-quality data obtained with this logging system to deVelop techniques for better assessment of geothermal reservoirs and wells. The goal of the second project is to develop a sophisticated and powerful expert system for assessment and management of exploited geothermal reservoirs. From analysis ofproduction histories corresponding to groups of wells, this system will infer the mechanisms that control reservoir production at the present time, in different areas ofthe field. Then, it will warn about likely consequences for future production.