| Abstract |
Geothermal energy panorama in Argentina continues being very positive given that during the last five year significant advances have been done in numerous geothermal projects. In high enthalpy a Geo-themoelectrical Plant is being built and studies went into more details in other areas. In low enthalpy, same way as during the last 2 decades, projects were carried out which exploitation generated a noticeable development in those communities. Thermal fluids oriented to recreational tourism are a very good alternative for several regions around urban concentrations like Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, Córdoba, Rosario, etc. In projects oriented to electrical generation Copahue geothermal field (Neuquén Province) is highlighted, which is the project that has the most development degree so far, the Canadian enterprise Geothermal One finally started construction of a Geothermal Plant. This will have a power of 30 MW and will demand and inversion of 100 million US dollars. Besides, this project considers a transportation line of 132 KW up to the provincial capital. In the Domuyo geothermal area (Neuquén province), the Neuquén Investment Development Agency (ADI-NQN S.E.P.) calls for investors interested in submitting proposals to award an exploration contract to discover and produce in the area. The winner of the lease would have the right to develop the resource, build power plants, and sell the electricity in the Argentine wholesale market. The (latest) deadline to submit bids was 7 November 2013. In Thermal field Los Despoblados (San Juan Province) an enterprise under the transitory enterprises union (UTE) integrated by EPSE (province), Geotermia Andina and Barrik, has drilled five (5) wells of 300 meters depth. Results showed values very similar to a normal heat flow. In this area there is no current volcanism evidence. In Mendoza Province Canadian Company Geothermal One belonging to the Australian group Earth Heat, together with an argentine company Geo-energia has just started investigations in Los Molles and Peteroa.Thermal areas are located in the south of Mendoza mountain chain. In Termas de Rio Hondo area, located in Santiago del Estero province, studies to evaluate potential were started. In this large area characterized for the presence of a remarked heat anomaly, first of all the promising regions were delimited and then a deepen geophysics has been done. This allowed identification of a sector where deep structures were distinguished (-10.000 m.). Currently, 25 gradient wells are being made in order to select the area where the planned exploratory well will be drilled at 1.800 meters depth. In geothermal deposits in Tuzgle-Tocomar (Jujuy y Salta provinces), Company Vancouver, Britsh Columbia signed an agreement (February 2010), with national resources companies for assignment and acquisition the area under an exploration contract with an option to purchase ("Exploration and Option Agreement"). The geothermal deposit Tuzgle-Tocomar is located near a lithium and potassium deposit that requires large quantities of energy. Among the projects oriented to direct use, linked to geothermal resources of low enthalpy, investigations became a reality in Carlos Pellegrini (Santa Fe Povince) Curuzú Cuatiá and Monte Casero (Corrientes province) and Dolores and Tapalqué (Buenos Aires Province). In all of these localities deep well drills have been made with average depth of 1.200 meters. Thermal fluids obtained with temperatures of 38º and 42º C, are oriented to balneology that will allow exploitation of new recreational therapeutic complexes. This thermal bathing tendency in Argentina, appears to be a marked alternative of development, considering the important inversion that communities are doing to attend tourism originated (hotels, restaurants, etc.) is backed by the ten (10) new projects of the last years. Two (2) of them en Cordoba Province (Marchiquita and Chazón), one (1) en Corrientes Province (San Roque), two (2) en Misiones Province (Wanda and 2 de Mayo) and finally five (5) en Buenos Aires Province (Ramallo, Tigre, Las Flores and Chascomús. |