Results of geothermal gradient core hole TCB-1, Tecuamburro volcano geothermal site, Guatemala, Central America

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5785201· OSTI ID:5785201

Adams, A I; Chipera, S; Counce, D; Gardner, J; Goff, S; Goff, F; Heiken, G; Laughlin, A W; Musgrave, J; Trujillo, Jr, P E ^[1]; Aycinena, S; Martinelli, L ^[2]; Castaneda, O; Revolorio, M; Roldan, A ^[3]; D,

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Swissboring Overseas Corp. Ltd., Guatemala City (Guatemala)
3. Unidad de Desarrollo Geotermico, Guatemala City (Guatemala). Inst. Nacional de Electrificacion

Results of geological, volcanological, hydrogeochemical, and geophysical field studies conducted in 1988 and 1989 at the Tecuamburro volcano geothermal site in Guatemala indicated that there is a substantial shallow heat source beneath the area of youngest volcanism. To obtain information on subsurface temperatures and temperature gradients, stratigraphy, hydrothermal alteration, fracturing, and possible inflows of hydrothermal fluids, a geothermal gradient core hole (TCB-1) was drilled to 808 m low on the northern flank of the Tecuamburro volcano Complex, 300 km south of a 300-m-diameter phreatic crater, Laguna Ixpaco, dated at 2,910 years. Gases from acid-sulfate springs near Laguna Ixpaco consistently yield maximum estimated subsurface temperatures of 250--300{degrees}C. The temperature versus depth curve from TCB-1 does not show isothermal conditions and the calculated thermal gradients from 500--800 m is 230{degrees}C/km. Bottom hole temperature is 238{degrees}C. Calculated heat flow values are nearly 9 heat flow units (HFU). The integration of results from the TCB-1 gradient core hole with results from field studies provides strong evidence that the Tecuamburro area holds great promise for containing a commercial geothermal resource.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: AID; Agency for International Development, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5785201
• Report Number(s): LA-12185-MS; ON: DE92009665
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150200* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CENTRAL AMERICA
CHEMISTRY
COMPILED DATA
DATA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DRILLING
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GUATEMALA
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT FLOW
HYDROLOGY
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
INFORMATION
LATIN AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
VOLCANOES
WELL DRILLING
WELL LOGGING