Evaluation of Thermal Fluids In The Northwestern Chimborazo Province, Ecuador

This study uses geochemical methods to evaluate the geothermal potential in the northwestern Chimborazo province-Ecuador, through the characterization of thermal waters collected from 1984 to 2016. With this unique dataset, the minimum temperatures of the resources were estimated, and the geothermal fluid production properties evaluated.

Samples that were used here were not collected and analysed during this study. Only limited information regarding sampling and analysis was found in the literature. Therefore, this investigation is based on chemical compositions provided in previous studies.

Geothermal fluids were classified using the Piper Hill Langelie and the Cl-SO4-HCO3 ternary diagram. The estimation of the reservoir temperature was established through the Na-K-Mg geothermometer and the WATCH software. Finally, the mineral saturation states was calculated using the PHREEQC computer program.

Geochemical information was collected from a total of 29 geothermal fluid samples within the study area. The results confirm the existence of a low enthalpy geothermal reservoir, whose use has to date been limited to balneology.

The alkaline Cl-Na mature waters have estimated reservoir temperatures of 70-102°C. The waters at the edge of the geothermal reservoir are alkaline HCO3 with estimated temperatures of 77-99°C. Both show direct use potential in applications such as greenhouse air conditioning that can be linked to the current agricultural activity.