| Title | Test Chemical Tracer in Las Pailas Geothermal Field, Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yalile TORRES, Gudni AXELSSON |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Test tracer, geochemistry, cooling, Las Pailas Geothermal Field, Costa Rica |
| Abstract | Commercial exploitation of the Geothermal Field Las Pailas began in July 2011 with the first production unit. This unit binary and combined cycle produces 42 MWe, using 80 kg / s of steam and 380 kg / s of brine, with a separation temperature of 160 ° C and 140 ° C reinjection temperature. With the putting in operation of this unit installed geothermal capacity in Costa Rica increased to 13% of the total energy consumed in the country. Due to the complex hydrogeology of the system and the proximity of the central production area with the reinjection sector, after two years of operation have been detected temperature decrease phenomena in some wells. Due to the chemical difference of the production zones, is difficult to monitor the reinjection using the own components of the fluid, this has lead to the use of chemical tracers oriented hydrogeological characterization system. This paper presents the results, methodology and the interpretation obtained from tracer tests carried out in the Geothermal Field Las Pailas injecting sodium benzoate in reinyector well and monitoring in the rest of field. |