San Jorge Basin
Encyclopedia
The San Jorge Gulf is a bay
in southern Patagonia
, Argentina
. It is an ocean basin that opens to the Atlantic ocean. Its shoreline spans Chubut
and Santa Cruz
province. The gulf measures approximately 142 miles (229 km) at its mouth and covers approximately 39 square kilometres (15 sq mi). It is located between Cape Dos Bahías and Cape Tres Puntas.
Due to its geography
, more than 70% of the gulf's basin is between 70 metres (230 ft) and 100 metres (328 ft) deep. To the south it is about 50 metres (164 ft) 60 metres (197 ft) deep and in the north 90 metres (295 ft). The seabed consists of mud, sand, gravel
, sand with carbonate
, formed by bivalves and cirripedial
remains.
The mean water temperature varies between 5.09 °C (41 °F) and 13.41 °C (56 °F); salinity
is around 33000 ppm.
's inhabitants live on the coast of the gulf. Comodoro Rivadavia
and Caleta Olivia
are two larger cities along the coast. Each have ports with oil buoys and fishing facilities.
The fishing towns of Camarones
and the seaside resort Rada Tilly
also lie along the gulf.
industry of very good quality along the bay, much of it related to oil exploration and extraction. A wind farm
provides energy as a non-conventional resource. After these first stages of testing have been passed, the system will totally be integrated to the main network.
is the most important activity along the bay, based on value; oil was discovered here in 1903, and the area remains the nation's second most significant source of oil. The city of Comodoro Rivadavia is the hub of these activities along the bay, including refinieris and other development and manufacturing facilities.
The typical shape of pumping equipment, commonly named “Pumpjack,” can be seen along much of the plateau
of Patagonia. These wells productions supply a large percentage of the national consumption, which has hovered around half a million barrels daily since the 1970's.
, energy based on hydrogen and a very incipient activity in the development of biofuel
.
Wind power generation represents 16% of the energy supply that Comodoro Rivadavia requires. That is satisfied through 18 eolic generators
located on Arenales Hill, 14 km (9 mi) away from Comodoro Rivadavia. The wind farm Antonio Morán is the largest in Argentina and the second one in South America.
The issues regarding hydrogen
are being researched in the city of Pico Truncado
, in Santa Cruz province, where there is an experimental center.
Another area that is being researched is the production of biofuel
from algae
. The results of this works are expected in the long-term. The Energy Center develops projects related to renewable and no-renewable energies.
in Chubut
, Argentina
with Chacabuco Port in Chile
. This connection is important for commerce and tourism.
Comodoro Rivadavia is an important city in the zone. It has some museums as The Oil Museum (linkear al artículo de General Mosconi), which is located in General Mosconi neighborhood, and the Astra Museum, located in Astra neighbourhood, about 20 kilometres away from the downtown.
is a small town close to the city of Comodoro Rivadavia. Its most important sight is the beach and the variety of activities that you can do there, for example swimming, fishing, windsurfing and scuba diving or just spend some outdoor time at the beach.
There also is a little sea lion reservation, a place where you can see the families of sea lions.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
in southern Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is an ocean basin that opens to the Atlantic ocean. Its shoreline spans Chubut
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
and Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)
Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country, in Patagonia. It borders Chubut province to the north, and Chile to the west and south. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean...
province. The gulf measures approximately 142 miles (229 km) at its mouth and covers approximately 39 square kilometres (15 sq mi). It is located between Cape Dos Bahías and Cape Tres Puntas.
Due to its geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, more than 70% of the gulf's basin is between 70 metres (230 ft) and 100 metres (328 ft) deep. To the south it is about 50 metres (164 ft) 60 metres (197 ft) deep and in the north 90 metres (295 ft). The seabed consists of mud, sand, gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
, sand with carbonate
Carbonate
In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, . The name may also mean an ester of carbonic acid, an organic compound containing the carbonate group C2....
, formed by bivalves and cirripedial
Barnacle
A barnacle is a type of arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in erosive settings. They are sessile suspension feeders, and have...
remains.
The mean water temperature varies between 5.09 °C (41 °F) and 13.41 °C (56 °F); salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
is around 33000 ppm.
Population centers
Approximately 90% of Chubut ProvinceChubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
's inhabitants live on the coast of the gulf. Comodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located on the San Jorge Gulf, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Chenque Hill. Comodoro Rivadavia is the most important city of the San Jorge Basin....
and Caleta Olivia
Caleta Olivia
Caleta Olivia is a city located at the northeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, on the San Jorge Gulf by the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of 36,000 inhabitants...
are two larger cities along the coast. Each have ports with oil buoys and fishing facilities.
The fishing towns of Camarones
Camarones, Chubut
Camarones is a small settlement located in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Florentino Ameghino Department....
and the seaside resort Rada Tilly
Rada Tilly
Rada Tilly is a town in Escalante Department, Chubut Province , Argentina. The town is between Punta Piedras hill to the north and Punta del Marqués to the south...
also lie along the gulf.
Fishing activities
Comodoro Rivadavia is ranked within the national and international market as center of lobsters and spider crabs. Numerous fishing ports function along the bay, as well as wharves and marinas for sport fishing and related activities.Industry
There is a metallurgyMetallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
industry of very good quality along the bay, much of it related to oil exploration and extraction. A wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
provides energy as a non-conventional resource. After these first stages of testing have been passed, the system will totally be integrated to the main network.
Mining
The petroleum industryPetroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
is the most important activity along the bay, based on value; oil was discovered here in 1903, and the area remains the nation's second most significant source of oil. The city of Comodoro Rivadavia is the hub of these activities along the bay, including refinieris and other development and manufacturing facilities.
The typical shape of pumping equipment, commonly named “Pumpjack,” can be seen along much of the plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of Patagonia. These wells productions supply a large percentage of the national consumption, which has hovered around half a million barrels daily since the 1970's.
Energy
The production of oil and gas in the San Jorge Gulf represents 5% of the area's economy. The region is also working on producing alternative energies such as eolicWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
, energy based on hydrogen and a very incipient activity in the development of biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
.
Wind power generation represents 16% of the energy supply that Comodoro Rivadavia requires. That is satisfied through 18 eolic generators
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
located on Arenales Hill, 14 km (9 mi) away from Comodoro Rivadavia. The wind farm Antonio Morán is the largest in Argentina and the second one in South America.
The issues regarding hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
are being researched in the city of Pico Truncado
Pico Truncado
Pico Truncado is a town and municipality in Santa Cruz Province in southern Argentina....
, in Santa Cruz province, where there is an experimental center.
Another area that is being researched is the production of biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
from algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
. The results of this works are expected in the long-term. The Energy Center develops projects related to renewable and no-renewable energies.
Tourism
The coast of San Jorge Gulf marks the start of the ocean-to-ocean corridor, a 517 kilometres (321 mi) stretch of land that connects the city of Comodoro RivadaviaComodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located on the San Jorge Gulf, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Chenque Hill. Comodoro Rivadavia is the most important city of the San Jorge Basin....
in Chubut
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
with Chacabuco Port in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. This connection is important for commerce and tourism.
Comodoro Rivadavia is an important city in the zone. It has some museums as The Oil Museum (linkear al artículo de General Mosconi), which is located in General Mosconi neighborhood, and the Astra Museum, located in Astra neighbourhood, about 20 kilometres away from the downtown.
Rada Tilly
Rada TillyRada Tilly
Rada Tilly is a town in Escalante Department, Chubut Province , Argentina. The town is between Punta Piedras hill to the north and Punta del Marqués to the south...
is a small town close to the city of Comodoro Rivadavia. Its most important sight is the beach and the variety of activities that you can do there, for example swimming, fishing, windsurfing and scuba diving or just spend some outdoor time at the beach.
There also is a little sea lion reservation, a place where you can see the families of sea lions.