Last Updated: 09-Aug-2009
Attending
These notes were written by Chris Cobb:
Following are notes that I was able to collect.
Any errors in reporting are entirely mine.
Overall impressions: The meeting was good and informative, and lasted for a couple of hours. We clearly couldn't cover every aspect regarding a project of this size in this amount of time, but we did get a lot of information.
The ICE Engineers had a PowerPoint presentation that gave some history of this project. It also contained some photos from similar projects. At this moment I do not have a copy of this presentation.
For PH Savegre, there are five project phases:
We did not resume discussion of the other two phases, but at the end of the meeting I asked: Assuming all phases were optimal, when could construction possibly begin?
The response from Sr. Aragon was that the investigations need to be completed by 2011 with results from all the study phases. Funding would be needed from the legislature by 2014. Next they would need to purchase the machinery by 2019 or 2020 then, after that, they would proceed with construction.
Regarding the electrical connection for the power house, there are two options.
We were told that two other projects are underway that will have the same issues.
We were told that the PH Savegre project was for power to be used within Costa Rica, and not distributed to other countries via SIEPAC. While it is possible to use international SIEPAC lines for transmission, it is also possible to retain the Megawats generated within Costa Rica.
José said he would contact the ICE group that is coordinating the SETENA/SIEPAC power project and ask them to also have a meeting with us here.
To determine the viability of one tunnel route over the other and, given the fact that with route (B) (see map), the tunnel will pass directly beneath the Hills of Portalon development, ICE is asking to drill core samples in two locations. The first is on Lot #4 where there would need to be a pressure release tank (explained below). The second is on Lot #15 owned by Chris and Cindy Cobb, as the proposed tunnel will pass directly beneath their home.
The process of taking a core sample, apparently, is very slow. They will only drill about 3 meters per day to a depth of 200 meters, requiring a drilling time of around 70 days at *each* location.
Of course, HoP will not be the only location. They will take various samples along the propsed tunnel routes. For areas with reasonably good access, a 1.5 meter wide road will be constructed through the jungle to provide access to surveyors and equipment.
When constructing a road is not feasable, other options exists such as locating drill sites via helicopter, or using explosives for Geophysical and Seismic studies. In the case of explosives, a small hole, 10 cm. in diameter and 1 meter deep is used with only a sufficient amount of explosive to create sismic waves to the depth indicated at various locations. When core samples are taken, depending on the area they will be 7 cm in diameter and between 30 and 350 meters.
Part of the tunnel system will include a large pressure release tank. If the route under Hills of Portalon is selected, this will be located on Lot #4. The tank will be 18 to 20 meters in diameter, and over 100 meters tall. However, only about 10 meters of this height will be exposed above ground.
This tank will be connected to the water tunnel, and the top of the tank will be at about the same height as the level of the resoirvoir. This way, water flow can be sarted and stopped after the tunnel is filled. Otherwise, the high pressures involved would be able to damage the system.
The tunnel will exit the side of the mountain near Finca de la Rana Roja at an elevation of about 150 meters. From there, a single above-ground tube 4 meters in diameter will conduct water to the machine house and the pweer generators. Much of the water velocity will be absorbed in the generation of power which, of course, is the whole point of the project.
There will still need to be a 14 meter-wide canal to provide a return of the water to the Savegre. The location of this canal will obviously depend on where the machine house is located. One reason the Pasito location is prefered over the Culebra location is that the water return will be shorter.