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Indonesian Volcanic Geothermal Systems

Article · June 2017

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 20 Forschung und Entwicklung

Geothermal manifestations of geothermal systems are widespread throughout

Indonesia. Over 300 sites are listed in Government inventories (Geological Agency,
2007; Directorate of Geothermal, 2016). At least 200 sites are associated with
Pleistocene volcanic arcs along subduction zones (see Fig. 1) hosting volcanic geo-
thermal systems on Sumatra, Java, Banda Arc Islands, N-Celebes and the Halmahera
Arc. Other sites with thermal manifestations can be found outside the arcs, repre-
senting ›thermal spring‹ systems (on Celebes and Borneo).

Indonesian Volcanic Geothermal Systems

TEXT: Manfred Hochstein, Sayogi Sudarman

The term ›volcanic geothermal system‹, asso- Characteristics of Indonesian strato-volcanic

ciated with Indonesian volcanoes, is used here
for a heat and mass transfer system involving
heat transfer from the top of concealed magma-
tic intrusions to the surface. Volcanoes hosting
geothermal systems within Indonesian arc seg-
ments can be grouped into:
Group A: c. 100 young strato-volcanoes (c. 50
active during the last century).
Group B: a set of older, partly eroded strato-
volcanoes that includes c. 20 compound (com-
plex) volcanoes and c. 15 volcanoes with caldera
or maar structure;
Group C: a few volcanoes that support peripheral
geothermal systems or transfer hot fluids to lar-
ge fault zones (graben-volcanism),
Characteristics of many systems can be subdi-
vided by using the concept of ›acidic feeder(s)‹ to
describe the phenomenon of the ascent of acidic
fluids (containing also magmatic fluids) in the abo-
ve listed types of volcanic geothermal systems.
Results of detailed exploration (and deep drilling)
of up to c. 33 Indonesian geothermal prospects
during the last 40 years, including development
and partial exploitation of 11 high-T prospects,
are presented here to assess fluid flow and re-
servoir characteristics of these systems (refer
to Geothermics 2008 and WGC 2015 papers in
the reference note). The location of each prospect
is shown with its inventory number (#) in Fig.1.
systems explored by drilling (Group A):
Three sub-groups are indicated for Group A with
the following characteristic features:
1. Discharge of magmatic gasses and con-
densates in the summit region of a volcano
through conduits.
2. Near-surface, down-flow surface discharges
of acidic condensates within the volcanic
strata from the summit region to the lower
flanks with acidic fluids becoming neutral
(pH) bi-carbonate waters further down-slope
constituting ›advective (flank) flows‹.
3. Development of a convective hot fluid
reservoir beneath the foothill region produ-
cing concealed (also advective) ›outflows‹
beneath the outer terrain and neutral-pH hot
springs at the toe of the flows.
Reservoirs beneath the summit area of a strato-
volcano:
The only known exploited reservoir of this type in
Indonesia is that of Sibayak volcano (#19) loca-
ted beneath a small caldera. The reservoir was
discovered after 1992 by 10 deep wells, encoun-
tering rather low permeability (plant capacity c.
10 MWe). The project has been shut down. Low
permeability and acidic fluids were found in 3
deep wells drilled in 1984 in the summit area of
G. Salak (#90), the project was abandoned. Two
deep wells, drilled in 1983 in the summit area
of G. Kunjit (#55), also encountered low perme-
 Geothermische Energie Heft 87 // 2017 / 2 21

ability rocks; deep follow-up drilling has been 80 MWe plant. Close nearby, the high-T system Note:
started recently near the same site. A high-T re- of Tompaso (#188) was detected by deep wells The article covers a
servoir beneath the partly eroded Hululais (#60) that probably encountered a deep outflow struc- slightly revised versi-
strato-volcano has been explored recently with a ture. An example for a reservoir beneath the sur- on of the same topic
few, 3 km deep discovery wells that were devia- rounding flank of a strato-volcano is the Patuha as presented by the
ted beneath the summit region and which ope- (#104) reservoir that is pierced by an acidic fee- senior author at the
ned the prospect for development. The Hululais der structure and capped by an acid crater lake. German «Geother-
reservoir feeds a large advective outflow. The reservoir and its productive 2-phase layer miekongress 2016”
support at present a 55 MWe plant. (31.11.2016, Haus
Inferred reservoirs beneath the flanks of strato- der Technik, Essen).
volcanoes: Reservoirs associated with concealed thermal Earlier versions of the
Such search started in 1985 when a 2.1 km outflows of volcanic systems: same theme by the
deep exploratory well was drilled over the lower Geothermal reservoirs beneath the outer foothill authors can be found
S-slope of G.Karang (#86), upstream from the region of a few strato-volcanoes can discharge in the Proceedings of
hot (Citaman) springs. Advective flows with T up thermal fluids via advective flow in form of con- the World Geother-
to 120 deg C were found at bottom-hole causing cealed ›outflows‹, often with characteristic ma- mal Congresses 2015
abandonment of the project. A high-T reservoir nifestations along their downstream path. The (Melbourne) and in
beneath the lower E slopes of the partly eroded concealed outflows can be recognised by T-in- Geothermics (2008),
Sibualbuali strato-volcano (#28) was located in versions in the bottom section of deep wells and vol. 37.
1994 by a few deep wells. A small development quasi constant Ts near the ›toe‹ of long outflows.
is still planned as part of the greater Sarulla Field A quasi constant down-hole T (< 120 deg C) was
(#27) development. Exploration drilling using found 1986 in the 1.2 km deep Cisolok (#97)

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c Fig. 1: Geographical
c. 0.6 km deep temperature gradient (TG) wells well intersecting a large outflow outlined by features of Indonesia, plate-
was undertaken over the mid slopes of the acti- low resistivity anomalies that continue beyond tectonic structures, location of
ve Tangkuban Perahu (#107i) and G. Ungaran the 9 km up-stream thermal Cisukarame (#95) volcanic arcs, volcanoes and
(#139i) volcanoes but did not discover a high-T springs. The source of this large outflow is still location of geothermal fields
reservoir. A liquid-dominated reservoir with bot- unknown. A channelled outflow structure was (by inventory Nr) proven by
tom-hole T > 300 deg C was found in 1983 at discovered more recently by deep wells in the deep drilling
Lahendong (#187) in wells drilled over the E foot- S Muarolabuh (#48) prospect whose volcanic
hills of the inactive G.Lengkoan strato-volcano on source lies in a nearby protected National Park. The index ›i‹ at the end of a
Celebes (Sulawesi). A few wells encountered an A 12 km long, large outflow originates from the site# denotes wells of inter-
acidic feeder system. The reservoir supports an Ulebulu (#80) reservoir beneath the S foothills of mediate (0.5-1 km) depth.
 22
the inactive G. Rendigan strato-volcano.
It has been developed recently and sup-
ports a 165 MWe plant.
A thermal outflow structure was also
discovered in 1994 on Flores by a
1.9  km deep well at Ulumbu (#165).
This outflow is now being exploited by
4 small power plants (total 10 MWe).
Outflow structures are also indicated at
Sokoria (#172i) and Atadei (#176i) in
wells of intermediate depth (0.8 and 0.5
km depth respectively). A small 2-pha-
se fluid system was found at Mataloko
(#169i); the few productive wells (0.4
to 0.75 km depth) can not supply suf-
ficient steam for a 2.5 MWe plant. An
outflow structure is indicated by deep
T-inversions in 2 wells drilled to 1.8-2.2
km depth in the Kotomabagu (#190)
prospect on Celebes into outflows from
the active Ambang volcano. Another
thermal outflow structure was found re-
cently at Tolehu (#251) in the S-Maluku
Islands; its source is unknown.
In rare cases, outflows from strato-
volcanic sources can move within a con-
cealed, broad and widening fan struc-
ture, also recognisable by T-inversion at
bottom-hole depths. Such a ›fan outflow
structure‹ is indicated for the Rantau-
Dadap (#67) prospect; it has affinity
with the fan-shaped outflow structure of
the Tiwi system in the Philippines.
Characteristics of Group B volcanic geo-
thermal systems
This group includes systems beneath
compound volcanoes, systems with re-
servoirs of different fluid type and sys-
tems hosted by calderas. Lumut Balai
(#68) belongs to the first sub-group; it
has been explored with success by deep
drilling and is ready for plant installation.
The sub-group also includes the Waya-
ng Windu (#116) reservoir, found be-
neath a broad, elongated volcanic ridge,
capped by three small volcanic centres
hosting minor acidic feeders. The dis-
covery well (WWD-1), drilled in 1991,
encountered an extensive 2-phase lay-
er that is now being exploited by a 225
MWe plant.
A second sub-group includes the large
Dieng (#136) field, hosting three reser-
voirs with different fluid characteristics.
Its Sileri field contains high-T (> 340
deg C) neutral pH fluids; the adjacent
Sikidang field, however, exhibits layers
with acidic fluids from acidic feeders.
The casing of most Sikidang wells col-
lapsed in 1998 due to corrosion. Fluids
from the Sileri field were used (after
2002) to support a 60 MWe plant (pre-
sent running capacity 25 MWe).
View publication stats
The Telaga Bodas (#117) prospect and
the adjacent Karaha field (#122) were
explored from 1995 to 1998 by deep
drilling. The T-B prospect hosts a part-
ly magmatic fluid plume that changes
gradually to a neutral pH condensate-
vapour layer structure in the nearby Ka-
raha field. A bottom-hole T of 315 deg
C at 2.8 km depth was recorded at Ka-
raha. Work on both prospects was sus-
pended after 1998 and was followed by
litigation. The exploration of the Karaha
field was recently completed, indicating
that the field can be exploited for electric
power generation. Another rare type of
reservoir with sectors of partly acidic
and partly neutral pH fluids was detec-
ted by 4 deep exploration wells (1997)
at Namora I Langit (#29). Assuming
that during production the acidic sector
does not affect fluids in the neutral sec-
tor, a power potential of 210 MWe has
been inferred for the ongoing ›Sarulla
geothermal field development‹ that also
includes development of the Sibualbuali
field (#28) and the Sarulla (#27) field.
The subgroup of explored geothermal
caldera systems includes the Ijen Calde-
ra prospect (#155i) where a decaying
type of system was discovered by a 0.5
km deep TG well (80 deg C at bottom-
hole with a conductive T-gradient). The
well was sited over old thermal ground
in the S sector of the huge (c.15 km dia-
meter) caldera. A coherent high-T sys-
tem was discovered in the Bratan Calde-
ra (#160) on Bali by 3 deep exploratory
holes (max. bottom-hole T was 310 deg
C at 2.4 km depth); diameter of caldera
8 to 11 km. This prospect can not be de-
veloped yet due to local environmental
concerns.
Characteristics of Group C geothermal
systems
A few high-T systems were found in the
peripheral region of active volcanoes.
The Kawah Kamojang (#112) reservoir
occurs beneath a depression (caldera?),
c. 5 km to the W of the active Guntur
strato-volcano. Significant thermal ma-
nifestations occur above the 2-phase,
vapour-dominated type reservoir. It was
the first Indonesian high-T prospect de-
veloped for electric power production
(235 MWe plant at present).
Another vapour-dominated thermal
system, the Darajat (#113) prospect
c. 6 km to the SW from the Kamojang
field, was discovered at the same time
(1974) as the Kamojang field. It is now
exploited for electricity production (270
MWe plant). Since a large, young (<50
kyr) obsidian extrusion has been found
Forschung und Entwicklung
between Kamojang and Darajat, it is
possible that fluids in these reservoirs,
are heated by the same high-standing,
extensive magmatic source which ext-
ends to Guntur strato-volcano. The ero-
ded Awibengkok (#92) volcanic dome
hosts a large liquid dominated reservoir
and is covered by >8.4 kyr old phreatic
explosion breccia. Its E reservoir bound-
ary is c. 4 km to the SW of the active G.
Salak strato-volcano (#90). Drill-hole re-
sults have shown that the Awibengkok
reservoir is not supplied by an outflow
from G. Salak but by its own convective
deep up-flow(s). The reservoir is exploi-
ted to supply steam to a 377 MWe po-
wer house.
An unusual prospect is the Silangkitang
– Sarullah field (#27). It was found by
up to 2.3 km deep vertical and deviated
wells that were drilled along and across
the Great Sumatra Fault where hot flu-
ids (up to 310 deg C) were encountered
within the highly permeable fault zone.
It is presently developed as part of the
greater Sarulla Field development to
support a 110 MWe power plant. The
volcanic (?) heat source of the hot fluids
flowing within the fault zone is not known
but derives from magmatic sources.
Summary
A total of 33 high-T volcanic geother-
mal systems have been investigated
in Indonesia by surface exploration and
deep drilling during the last 40 years.
Ten fields have been developed during
that period for electric power production
resulting in a total of c. 1450 MWe pre-
sently installed plant capacity. Twenty
of the investigated prospects are asso-
ciated with Group A strato-volcanoes
(with ongoing or historic activity at 8
of the 20 prospects). Five prospects
(#187, #104, #19, #80, and #165)
have been developed with a subtotal
power plant capacity of c. 320 MWe.
Exploration drilling in nine prospects
did not find a suitable resource and in-
vestigation of four other prospects is
still incomplete. Only two reservoirs
(#116 and #136) of the seven Group
B prospects have been developed with
a sub-total capacity of c. 250 MWe.
However, most of the electricity of de-
veloped Indonesian geothermal fields is
produced by three fields (#112, #113,
#92) of Group C systems with a subto-
tal of c. 880 MWe plant capacity. These
systems appear to be associated with
peripheral magmatic sources that also
support nearby active strato-volcanoes
and ›young‹ volcanic centres. 