Development of a numerical hydraulic model of the Los Azufres steam pipeline network

Abstract

The development and documentation of a hydraulic model of the steam pipeline network at the Los Azufres geothermal field is presented, as well as the results obtained using one- and two-phase numerical simulators. Flow simulations were performed to determine pressure and heat losses, flow directions and velocities in that network. Computed well pressures agree within ±10% with measured values, except in three of the 41 wells in the system where the differences are between 10% and 13%. Computed and measured steam flow rates entering the Los Azufres geothermal power plants agree within 10%, with the exception of one that showed a 26.7% difference. This is most likely due to a mismatch between the reported and actual flow rates delivered by the pipeline network. The computed results are considered highly satisfactory given the complexity of the Los Azufres network.