Data from 53 geothermal wells to depths of 1 to 3 km on either side of the right-lateral Cerro Prieto fault, as well as geophysical data, indicate vertical displacements of this fault of 400 to 600 m. This episoidic vertical movement has offset deltaic sandstone reservoirs that are primarily at 1200 m and 1800 m depth and contain 250{sup 0} to 345{sup 0}C water. A major fracture system for convective fluid movement has been thus maintained, with production at 150 MW.

In this report, the fifth in a series describing the geothermal power plants of the world, the countries of Mexico and of Central America are studied. The geothermal plants are located in areas of recent and active volcanism; the resources are of the liquid-dominated type. Details are given about the plants located at Cerro Prieto in Mexico and at Ahuachapan in El Salvador. In both cases, attention is paid to the geologic nature of the fields, the well programs, geofluid characteristics, energy conversion systems, materials of construction, effluent handling systems, economic factors and plant operating experience. Exploration and development activities are described for other promising geothermal areas in Mexico and El Salvador, along with those in the countries of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.