Business Divisions

Exploration and Production (E&P)Geothermal energy

Geothermal Energy Concessions Law Nº19,657 passed on January 7, 2000, established the legal structure of geothermal concessions, and it also amended ENAP’s activity in order to allow its participation in this industry. Geothermal energy has been successfully developed in several countries around the world, and it supplies a clean and sustainable energy for the environment.

ENAP has geothermal concessions at the Second, Seventh and Eighth Regions. Thanks to its wide experience in the hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation, ENAP is particularly qualified to lead such activity in Chile.  Its professionals (geologists, engineers and geo-physicists) have a large experience in the development of similar activities, with a great know-how in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits at complex areas, both in Chile and abroad, using highly specialized technology.

ENAP participates in two companies that are investigating the potential of this non-conventional renewable resource: Empresa Nacional de Geotermia S.A. and Geotérmica del Norte S.A. in association with the Italian company ENEL, with 49% and 44 % shareholdings respectively, The object of these companies is to use the geo-thermal energy gushing from underground for different productive processes, whether from the production of electricity or the use of steam.

A geothermal field is mainly a natural deposit existing in the earth crust, which allows the extraction of a pre-existing fluid at a high temperature. 

The essential elements determining its geothermal conformation are:

• Existence of a heat source;
• Presence of permeable geological formations that comply with the reservoir functions;
• Existence of a hydric reloading area; and
• Presence of geological units or structures acting as impermeable coating which locks the system so that heat concentration occurs.

The commonest uses of this natural and clean energy source are electricity generation, heating and mild water production.

High Temperature Geothermal Deposit