Probabilistic assessment af electrical potential of Tocomar Geothermal Field (Central Puna - NW Argentina) using volumetric method

FILIPOVICH RUBÉN; BARRIOS A.; AHUMADA, F.; AGOSTINA CHIODI; BAEZ WALTER; GIORDANO GUIDO; JOSÉ VIRAMONTE

Rotorua

Congreso; 39th Zealand Geothermal Workshop; 2017

The geological conditions along the Central Andes of South America allow the formation of geothermal fields of high, medium and low enthalpy. Even though Argentina has a high geothermal potential, specific resource assessment are widely scarce. In this work, the first preliminary estimate of the geothermal potential of the Tocomar geothermal field for electricity production is presented. All the calculations were carried out using the reformulated USGS heat in place volumetric method, together with Monte Carlo simulations. The reservoir specific parameters required in the formulas were acquired from geological, geochemistry and geophysical data, thus the results are for an inferred geothermal resource. Multiple iterations have been performed modifying the probability distribution of each assumption to analyse the different forecast. We analysed the electric generation capacity of the geothermal reservoir with a probabilistic approach due to the uncertainty level of each parameter and the exploration state of the project. The Tocomar geothermal field has a power production capacity between ~6 MWe to ~56 MWe, with a decrease in the occurrence probability. The recovery factor, as it is expected, is the most sensitive variable in the estimation of the potential electric power generation and it has a linear correlation with the power output. Finally, the strategic geographical position of Tocomar and its geothermal potential for power generation offer an optimistic scenario for the future development of this field that could largely mitigate local socio-economic problems and provide an energy alternative allowing the exploitation of several mining projects (Li, Cu, Au, Ag) often economically unviable due to the lack of energy resources.