Popocatepetl

Mexico City Valley. Popocatepetl Volcano

Consider Mexico’s geographic location, it is situated at the epicenter and pivoting point of the former super-continent, Pangaea. Its location is at the center of what used to be all six continents in one. These matter, energy and geo-dynamic evolution created a lithosphere full of unique structures, reliefs and configurations. For instance, the Yucatan Peninsula is the only north-facing peninsula in the world, while the Baja California peninsula, is the longest south-facing peninsula. Both acting as gigantic natural pendulums.

Mexico is divided in the middle by two distinct geologic platforms combined into one neo-volcanic system, located in the middle of the Americas, at the top of the Cocos/Ring of Fire tectonic plate and a parallel to the Equator (at approximately 850 km). The newly-emerged volcanic ridge formed a million years ago, is equivalent to a huge natural dam that changed the hydrology of several basins.

Central Region. The Popocatepetl/Ajusco neo-volcanic system formed a 70-km long volcanic dam transforming the Mexico City Valley into a closed basin without a natural outlet to the sea.

The geological activity in the Popocatépetl volcano results in the evaporation of large volumes of groundwater (regularly forming steam clouds), a phenomenon that is thought be a tendency to shorten the habitability of the Mexico City Valley and Puebla. Its chimney is nearly seven acres across and frequently ejects incandescent material, gases, minerals, ash and water steam.
The exhaling takes place when large volumes of water from regional aquifers are sucked in by the volcano reducing the availability of ground water, which in return, causes ground subsidence (40 centimeters per year), voids, cracks, fractures, flooding and infiltration of waste water onto plateau.
The Popocatepetl Geo-thermoelectric Project (PGT), located in Puebla and Mexico States, is conceptualized; planned and developed around productively, optimally and objectively exploit the valuable, strategic and endless endogenous heat and steam to generate electric power. As well as to taking advantage of hydroponics to extend the alternatives for farming.
The above would be accomplished by setting up three very safe geothermal complexes or sites: Huitlostoc, Tlamacas and Xalipilcayatl. Each located at 3900 meters above sea level and four kilometers from the volcano crater.
It is evident that there are multiple risks associated with setting up such complexes in active-volcano areas. But, by transforming this form of energy into an endless source of clean energy, it would save a tremendous amount of hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas, fuel oil, and diesel), coal, and uranium. While on the economic side of it, energy and capital investments would rise their value and competitiveness by it almost immediately.
The complexes would feature inclined wells directed towards the volcano chimney. These wells would vary in length, from 3820m to 5660m depending on the inclination of the actual slope. The high-pressure, high-temperature steam flow, which is currently around 30 m³/s would be more than enough power to supply to the actual geothermal plants running sets of large turbo-generators (between 500 MW and 750 MW).

Neo-volcanic mountain range. Geo-thermal activity and tectonic subduction. Popocatepetl Volcano: 5440m above sea level.

It is a fact that the constant geothermal activity of the volcano is both, a threat, and a tremendous opportunity to continuing progress. By extracting and channeling part of the volcano’s endogenous energy, there would be a notable increase in natural gas supply overall and significantly reduce the use and consumption of hydrocarbon resources currently used by the electric (CFE) oil (PEMEX) industries.
Thus, the ability to drill the wells at an incline is at the very essence of the PGT project. With diameters ranging from one meter (40 inches to start) to 25cm (10 inches in the vicinity of the chimney), drilling for these geothermal wells will require innovation, new development and updated construction processes.

Popocatepetl Volcano. Huge water evaporation and groundwater consumption (about 30 cubic meters per second) of the aquifers in the valleys of Mexico and Puebla. Cloud formation.

Hence, it would be a priority to properly exploit the Huitlastoc, Tlamacas and Xalipilcayatl complexes, both, for energy, technical and economic advantages, as well for representing the possibility of leaving behind the current primary sources of energy, such as oil, natural gas, coal, diesel, uranium, etc.
The invaluable gift that the Popocatepetl volcano represents to the middle region of Mexico should be put to work immediately as opposed to be seen as a constant danger or threat. By implementing well-conceptualized, defined and coordinated plans and programs to use this energy resource, it would help sort and redirect development in the sector.
The amount of steam produced by the volcano makes it very attractive to install high-capacity power generation facilities. For instance, for each 1000 Megawatts used, there is a potential to generate 7440 Gigawatts·hour annually in return, which represent similar production numbers to those of the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Veracruz or the Power Plant in Tula, Hidalgo, but in this case, using a renewable and unlimited resource. Also, by doing so, the industry would replace 12.40 million barrels of fuel oil, 1.715-million m³ of natural gas, 3.72-million tons of coal, or 3.724-billion liters of diesel, which more and more are sourced from overseas suppliers.
Based on this information, the output and power production of the proposed geothermal plants would get multiplied by the thousands.

Popocatépetl Geo-thermoelectric Project. Savings and Substituting Fuel.

Power Output Megawatts	Annual Production GW·h	Fuel. Savings in barrels x 106	Natural Gas. Savings in m³ x 106	Coal. Savings in tons x 106	Diesel. Savings in litters x 106
500	3723	6.20	857	1.86	1862
750	5585	9.30	1285	2.79	2793
1000	7450	12.41	1715	3.72	3724
2000	14900	24.83	3428	7.44	7448
3000	22338	36.75	5140	11.16	11172
4000	29800	49.64	6860	14.88	14896
5000	37250	62.05	8575	18.60	18620

By assessing with vision and objectivity the relation between benefit, cost and risk in terms of energy, the favorable economic impact of this project is evident, especially based on the fact that it would not require to relocate non-renewable resources. Also, by rationalizing the use of fossil fuels in the oil and power industries, the manufacturing sector would have access to better and more reliable fuels. As consequence, the Mexican Government would promote tax incentives to investors seeking to start and expand industrial, commercial and business activities, which in return, would result in the creation of countless sources of work and diversified activities.

Popocatepetl Geo-thermoelectric Project. Geothermal Fields

Concept	G.F. Huitlastoc	G.F. Tlamacas	G.F. Xalipilcayatl
Distance to crater	3850m southwest	4000m north	3750m northeast
Altitude (meters above sea level, masl)	3985	3860	3820
Latitude (north)	19° 00’ 34”	19° 03’ 31”	19° 02’ 08”
Longitude (west)	98° 39’ 22”	98° 37’ 28”	98° 35’ 23”
15°-inclined wells (length and depth)	from 3985m to 2953 masl	from 4141m to 2788 masl	from 3882m to  2815 masl
30°-inclined wells (length and depth)	from 4445m to 1762 masl	from 4620m to 1550 masl	from 4330m to 1655 masl
45°-inclined wells (length and depth)	from 5445m to 135 masl	from 5657m to -140 masl	from 5303m to 70 masl

By assessing with vision and objectivity the relation between benefit, cost and risk in terms of energy as opposed to economic, it would make it quite clear to understand the favorable impact on the economy itself as a result of not displacing non-renewable resources. Also, by rationalizing the use of fossil fuels in the oil and power industries, the manufacturing sector would have access to better and more reliable fuels. As consequence, the Mexican Government would promote tax incentives to investors seeking to start and expand industrial, commercial and business activities, which return, would result in the creation of countless sources of work and diversified activities.
If the convenient and strategic energy reserve in the Popocatepetl Volcano is not creativity transformed, it will continue evaporating and consuming large volumes of groundwater and be considered a latent danger.
It is clear that the Mexico City Valley is headed for collapse if no action is taken. Its 20-million inhabitants’ growing demand for water, the centralism, conurbation and territorial expansion (over 2000 km²) are at fault.
The PGT coupled with National Project México Tercer Milenio, particularly, the Amacuzac Chauzingo Valle de Mexico Project (ChAVM) would be the perfect solution to avoid this unflattering fate.

Inclined geo-thermal wells directed toward the volcano chimney. Endogenous heat and steam reservoir.

It is up to the public and the private and social sector with shared investment and development goals and objectives to put into effect a consistent and well-planned infrastructure project based on vast, continuous and safe electricity and food production. This project is aimed at replacing demand for imported fossil fuels and save non-renewable resources, not to mention, large amounts of money.
The PGT Popocatepetl is an innovative, viable and unique project, which based on its fundamentals, functions and contributions, will become an enduring and profitable business for Mexico.
Manuel Frias Alcaraz
Author of the Nationwide Project México Tercer Milenio (www.mexicotm.com)
Mexico, DF October 2012
© México Tercer Milenio. Documents, plans, programs, and all materials.