US Geothermal starts drilling at El Ceibillo project in Guatemala
Crater of the Pacaya volcano, Guatemala (source: flickr/ gregw66, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
30 Apr 2013
U.S. Geothermal reports it has started drilling of well EC-1 at the El Ceibillo geothermal project in Guatemala.
Today, U.S. Geothermal Guatemala, S.A., a fully owned subsidiary of geothermal developer U.S. Geothermal, reports that it has “started drilling well EC-1 at the El Ceibillo Project on April 29. Well EC-1 is planned for a depth of up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).
Well EC-1 is located approximately 114 meters (374 feet) from well B-7, a well drilled in 1999 that had a bottom hole temperature of 202degC (396degF) at 200 meters (656 feet) deep. In advance of finalizing the location for well EC-1, two geophysical surveys were completed during January and February that provided more detailed targeting information. A 262 station gravity survey, covering 2.2 square kilometers (.85 square miles), was conducted by MWH Geophysics of Reno, Nevada and a 12 station VES (Vertical Electrical Survey) was conducted by Sinergia of Guatemala City, Guatemala. Site work started on the project in January, with construction of an on-site office, property fencing, drill pad and test ponds.
An environmental study report “Construction and Operation of the Geothermal Electric Plant, El Ceibillo” was submitted to Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in late December 2012. This report was submitted in compliance with the concession contract for the geothermal rights granted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in April 2010, and with the Electrical Law and Regulation of Guatemala. The report was prepared by Eco-Servicios Integrados of Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The report underwent a public comment period which ended on January 29, and is now under formal review by the Ministry Of Environment and Natural Resources. No comments were received during the public comment period. Upon approval, an Environmental License will be issued that will allow the project to proceed with power plant construction and operation.
“We are very excited to begin development drilling on the El Ceibillo project in Guatemala,” said Dennis Gilles, CEO of U.S. Geothermal. “With three operating power plants in the United States now providing positive EBITDA, net income, and cash flow, we expect that the development of El Ceibillo will be a strong contributor to the next stage of growth for our company. The government of Guatemala strongly supports renewable energy, and we look forward to working with them to make the development of this first, 100% private geothermal concession a big success.”
Source: Company release via WSJ
