Exploration geothermal gradient drilling, Platanares, Honduras, Central America
This paper is a review and summary of the core drilling operations component of the Honduras Geothermal Resource Development Project at the Platanares geothermal prospect in Honduras, Central America. Three intermediate depth (428 to 679 m) coreholes are the first continuously cored geothermal exploration boreholes in Honduras. These coring operations are part of the Central America Energy Resource Project (CAERP) effort funded by the Agency for International Development (AID) and implemented by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos) in cooperation with the Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica (ENEE) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This report emphasizes coring operations with reference to the stratigraphy, thermal gradient, and flow test data of the boreholes. The primary objectives of this coring effort were (1) to obtain quantitative information on the temperature distribution as a function of depth, (2) to recover fluids associated with the geothermal reservoir, (3) to recover 75% or better core from the subsurface rock units, and (4) to drill into the subsurface rock as deeply as possible in order to get information on potential reservoir rocks, fracture density, permeabilities, and alteration histories of the rock units beneath the site. The three exploration coreholes drilled to depths of 650, 428 and 679 m, respectively, encountered several hot water entries. Coring operations and associated testing began in mid-October 1986 and were completed at the end of June 1987.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Swissboring Ltd., Guatemala City (Guatemala); Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica, Tegucigalpa (Honduras)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5747525
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-87-3603; CONF-880134-2; ON: DE88001798
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ASME/ETCE conference, New Orleans, LA, USA, 11 Jan 1988; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Recommendations report for the platanares geothermal site, Department of Copan, Honduras. Reporte de recomendaciones para el sitio geotermico de platanares, Departamento de Copan, Honduras
Geothermal corehole drilling and operations, Platanares, Honduras, Central America