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The Ungaran geothermal field

Conference Paper · May 2007

DOI: 10.29118/IPA.644.07.SG.008

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 © IPA, 2011 - 31st Annual Convention Proceedings, 2007
PROCEEDINGS, INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION
Thirty-First Annual Convention and Exhibition, May 2007
THE UNGARAN GEOTHERMAL FIELD
Yudiyoko Ega Sugiharto*
ABSTRACT
Indonesia lies in volcanic arc area that is related to
geothermal such as in Ungaran which is located 40
km southwest of Semarang, Central Java. Ungaran
is formed by volcano tectonic depressions which
form fault that shorten geothermal manifestations.
There are several geothermal manifestations in
Ungaran, such as fumarole, hot springs, hot pools,
diluted bicarbonate waters, silica sinter teraces, and
altered grounds. The manifestations which are
related to rock permeability is dominated by
fracture permeability like in Gedongsongo,
Nglimut, and Kaliulo. Gedongsongo is the main
geothermal manifestation. The Ungaran geothermal
system is water dominated. Temperature
manifestation on surface up to 91°C which can be
interpreted that the reservoir has a high temperature
system with minimum reservoir temperature of
approximately 280oC. Its pH between 7-9, which is
a good potential for geothermal energy utilization.
The geothermal study of Ungaran can be used for
understanding the geothermal potency. Therefore, it
can be explored and exploited.
INTRODUCTION
The Ungaran geothermal prospect area lies on the
North Serayu Range, which was uplifted into a
geoanticline during the Miocene. Gedongsongo is
the main geothermal resource, associated with the
upper young strato-volcanic system of Ungaran
volcano. The strato-volcano consists of series of
andesitic to basaltic lava and breccia with
occasional interbedded tuff. This formation is
overlying marine sediment formation.
Chemical data of thermal manifestation, such as
fumarole, hot springs, and acid surface
hydrothermal alteration grounds, indicates that
Ungaran is typical of hot water dominated
system with minimum reservoir temperature of
* University of Diponegoro
IPA07-SG-008
approximately 280oC. The pre-caldera volcanic
rocks and the Tertiary marine sedimentary rocks are
inferred to be the main reservoir rocks. This system
is mainly controlled by northwest-southeast,
northeast-southwest, and the Ungaran collapse
structures that runs from west to southeast
(Budiardjo et al., 1997).
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Central Java was formed by two mountainous, i.e.
North Serayu and South Serayu Mountainous. The
North Serayu Mountainous bordered by Bogor zone
in West Java and Kendeng zone in East Java. Based
on those physiographics, Ungaran is a transition
area from North Serayu Mountainous in Central
Java along Kendeng Mountainous in East Java
(Bemmelen, 1970).
Ungaran Mountainous is a volcanic complex which
was formed by volcano-tectonic depressions. The
shape of that depression is a large and long curve
which is determined by tectonic and volcanic
processes in the plateau that produces volcanic
material. That shape of the depression looks like a
cauldron (a crater which is the ruin that caused by
magma), but faults bordered which is caused by
tectonic force, and the length can reach a hundred
kilometers.
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
Structures which are mostly found in Ungaran are
normal faults and fractures. The normal faults are
Ringin fault, Gading fault, Kalibanger fault,
Berokan fault, Losari fault, Gongso fault, Tarukan
fault, and two faults that are located geothermal
manifestations (Corong and Panjang faults).
Corong normal fault might be identified according
to Corong river pattern which flows from northeast
to southwest. There are different morphologies
which could be used to distinguish between old
Ungaran and young Ungaran. The fault, as the
border of the differences, can be found in
Gunungsari area, northwest of research area.
Panjang normal fault was formed by the depression
of young Ungaran. It forms fault scrap which runs
to south. In this fault, the geothermal manifestations
can be found such as hot springs, warm pools,
fumaroles, steaming grounds, and hydrothermal
alterations. This pattern is based on the river flow
and morphology which has northwest-southeast and
north-south directions. The northwest-southeast
direction pattern can be found in Kaligesik, the east
and south side of Gajah Mungkur Mountain, and
east side of Gendol Mountain. The north-south
pattern can be found in Babadan, the north side of
Gendol Mountain, and it continues until Kali
Paromasan (Syabarudin, 2003).
GEOPHYSICS
Geophysics exploration which has been done
consists of gravity, geomagnetic, and
magnetotelluric. Geomagnetic anomaly shows that
the north side of Gedongsongo is characterized by
very low negative anomaly lower than -44500 nT,
while in Darum and Ngipik the anomaly is quite
low (less than -400 nT with 400 m width (Gaffar et
al., 2006)). The value of susceptibility sediment in
Gedongsongo is very low, i.e. 0.0020 emu
(Nuridyanto et al., 2004).
The gravity anomaly around Gedongsongo shows
lower value, less than 10 mGal and tends to be
lower in the north peak of Ungaran (Gaffar et al.,
2006).
The highest heat anomaly in Kali Panjang, the
upstream of Gedongsongo, is 54oC, while its
surrounding area is 20-30oC. The rock conductivity
value in Gedongsongo is between 0.01103–0.57961
W/m². The highest conductivity value is around
fumarole with heat flow about 1.9 W/m² (Wahyono,
2004).
The resistivity value of CSAMT in Gedongsongo
between 0-280 Wm in the depth less than 200 m,
while the 200 – 500 m depth has great range
resistivity value (Faulin et al., 2002).
Pertamina had drilled four shallow wells to a depth
from 230 to 500 meters. The wells gave a wide
range of temperatur gradient (from 31 to 47.5oC).
One shallow well which was drilled to 500 meters
at the center part of Ungaran prospect gave
temperature gradient of 1.04 oC/10 meters with
maximum temperature of 47.4 oC at 500 meters
depth (Budiardjo et al., 1997).
GEOCHEMISTRY
Although the Ungaran volcanic is complex, not all
of the surface manifestations are on its slopes but
are spreaded over a wide area. The only area of
surface activity is at Gedongsongo on the southern
slopes of Ungaran in a collapsed cleft from which
runs a stream fed by a number of springs. The
springs range in pH from 1.5 to 5.2 depending on
whether they are low-flow, steam-heated sulphurous
waters alone, or meteoric slightly diluted with the
steam heated waters.
There is a considerable area of solfatar and
steaming ground in the area as well as gypsum and
kaolin deposits. Other hot springs occur within the
Ungaran region but are much removed from the
solfataric area. In Diwak, 10 km to the east, two
warm (40°C) neutral-bicarbonate springs arise
within an area of andesitic volcanics which may be
small outflows from this region. Gas (unmeasured)
is presumed to be mainly CO2 as the smell of H2S is
not obvious and there is evidence of travertine
deposits. Silica levels (240 ppm) in the acidic spring
are assumed to be from the suspended amorphous
form. Further to the north-east at Kaliulo, there are
two other hot springs, the chemistries which are
greatly affected by the sedimentary deposits in the
country rock. The water is low flow (30 kg/s) and
are sulphurish in colour although the presence of
H2S is not detected by smell. Further travertine and
kaolin deposits exist in the area, implying that areas
to the east of Ungaran are in decline.
Ungaran has numerous cold springs emitting from
its flanks. In Banaran, south of Gedongsongo, a
chemistry of geothermal water is shown, strongly
diluted by low salt content meteoric water,
emerging from a highly permeable rock outcrop.
The only other hot spring relevant to Ungaran exists
at Nglimut on the northern slope. This water surface
closed to pyroxene andesite outcrops through
volcanic breccia and may be a diluted outflow from
beneath the massive.
GEOTHERMAL MANIFESTATION
Most of geothermal manifestation can be found in
upstream part of Panjang River in Gedongsongo,
such as hot springs, fumaroles, warm pools, and
altered grounds. The geothermal manifestation in
Gedongsongo is the main object of the research.
The geothermal manifestation which comes up in
the south side of Ungaran (Banaran) is diluted
bicarbonate water, the north side of Ungaran
(Gonoharjo) is hot springs, Kendalisodo Mountain
(hot springs), Diwak (warm-hot springs), and
Kaliulo (hot springs). The surface geothermal
manifestation temperature in Ungaran is between
34oC (Kaliulo, 364 m msl) to 91oC (Gedongsongo,
1300 m msl).
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
Based on volcanic facies and the structural
development in the research area, we may predict
the geothermal system of Ungaran. This prediction
includes of the reservoir, cap rocks, heat source, and
recharge area.
The Ungaran geothermal prospect is a hot water
dominated system, which is associated with
Quartenary volcanic system. The emergence of the
Ungaran volcanic system was structurally
controlled by existance of the Ungaran caldera. The
reservoir fluids are most likely the occupy fractured
lower Quartenary volcanic rocks. The reservoir is
inferred to be capped in the upper Quartenary
volcanic rock of post caldera.
Reservoir
The important of rock physical properties in
geothermal system are its porosity and its
permeability. The primer porosity of volcanic rock
was caused by vesicles which was formed during
the cooling process. In other hand, porosity of
pyroclastic depends on the uniformity of grain size
and its sortation. The permeability value on
volcanic rock varies and depends on its physical
condition. The permeability value of pyroclastic
rock which has not been altered has similar value as
silt and sand between 0.01 to 100 darcy (Wohletz
and Heiken, 1992).
Most of the flow pyroclastics in the mapping area
shows grain supported textures with fractured
fragment block which is known as jigsaw fracture.
The fractures in those fragments cause the flow
pyroclastic has good porosity. The fine volcanic
dusts cause the flow pyroclastic has low
permeability.
The geothermal manifestation in Gedongsongo is
dominantly controlled by secondary permeability in
the form of normal fault structure. The normal fault
in Gedongsongo and its surrounding area was
affected by the collapsing of old Ungaran into
several blocks which are known as volcano-tectonic
depression (Bemmelen, 1970).
The normal fault causes the rocks in the fault zone
occur intensive destruction so that the rocks become
good permeable reservoir. The geothermal
manifestation in Gedongsongo is controlled by the
fractures which are formed by Panjang fault.
Cap Rocks
The facies which was found around the geothermal
manifestation in Gedongsongo area is central facies
of young Ungaran, which consists of flow lava and
flow pyroclastic. It has low permeability as caused
by several minerals as the result of hydrothermal
alteration, especially clay minerals or argyle
(Ariwibowo, 2003). The alteration process causes
the rocks become impermeable and able to be cap
rocks of Ungaran geothermal system.
Heat Source
The microscopic observation in thin section of
several rock samples in the surface shows that most
lava and fragment in pyroclastic sediment is
andesite hornblende and andesite pyroxene. This
analysis shows that the source magma composition
that produces Ungaran rocks has andesitic
composition which able to be the heat source of
Ungaran geothermal system with main conduit
below the peak of young Ungaran volcano
(Syabaradin et al., 2003).
Recharge Area
The mapping area based on geomorphology
condition especially on young Ungaran volcano is
mountainous area. These areas have not been used
and most of them are still being the forest. Rain
average level in Ungaran and its surrounding area is
quite high, i.e. 2247 mm/year (DGTL, 2002). High
rain level and various kind of vegetation cause
weathered lithology on the surface area, made water
infiltrates to the ground. The different morphology
in the south area shows that Gedongsongo
geothermal system recharge area and its
surroundings in the mapping area is on the south,
i.e. in Lanjan, Berokan, and Banyukuning.
According to Bemmelen (1970), the zone is normal
fault which formed volcano-tectonic depression that
became the way for meteoric water to the reservoir
rocks.
DISCUSSIONS
Based on satellite image and aerial photo, the
dominant lineament patterns are to northwest-
southeast and north-south directions. In the field,
this lineament pattern is a reflection of faults
structure which is related to the evolution of
Ungaran volcano. The geothermal manifestation in
Ungaran always associated with fault zones and its
surrounding area, especially the most active
manifestation in Gedongsongo and Nglimut.
That lineament indicates the fault which controls
Ungaran and striking different lithology and sudden
morphology break could be found. The lineament
may also be recharge area for Ungaran geothermal
system.
Structural analysis in Ungaran revealed that its
volcanic system is primarily controlled by the
occurrence of its collapse structure that runs from
the west to southeast of it. The old volcanic rocks of
the pre-caldera formation were controlled by the
northwest-southwest and southeast-southwest
faulting system. The volcanic rocks of the post
caldera appear to be less structurally controlled by
regional faulting system. The pre-caldera volcanic
rocks and the Tertiary marine sedimentary rocks are
inferred to be the main reservoir rocks (Budiardjo
et al., 1997).
The Ungaran volcano tectonic boundary is structure
border which is on the north, south, west, and east
side of Ungaran, where a huge lineament of faults
could be found. Instead of becoming system border,
that lineament is also able to be far recharge area.
In Gedongsongo, the ground surface temperature on
steaming ground may reach 820C, while on the
fumarole may reach 720C. On inactive altered
ground the surface temperature may reach 320C.
The temperature of fumarole is 720C so it may be
determined as wet fumarole which is water
dominated surface geothermal manifestation that
sprays wet vapour.
The other location also shows temperature anomaly.
Although relatively low, the area on east and south
sides of altered ground, which previously is active
manifestation, the fumarole and hot spring can be
found.
The Gedongsongo shows that bouguer anomaly is
less than 27 mGal. This low anomaly is on the zone
located very close with fumarole and indicated area
with low density. This fact shows that usually
geothermal reservoir is fractured zone which
reduces the rock density compared to the
surroundings area.
The geomagnet anomaly shows that the north side
of Gedongsongo is indicated by low negative
anomaly, lower than -44500 nT. This very low
anomaly is correlated with conductive zone (a
reservoir layer). Hot fluids on the reservoir cause
de-magnetisms on surrounding rock so that they can
produce such a high magnetism contrast. After
going through a narrow magnetism anomaly level, a
very low anomaly (less than -400 nT) can be found
in 400 meters width. This low anomaly is between
Darum and Ngipik, which located very close to
cone resistive zone on north-south resistivity
trajectory type. This low magnetism anomaly can be
the representation of very resistive subsurface
parasitic cone in the form of keeping heat. The de-
magnetism process has occurred so it cause a
significant reducing rock magnetism value.
The high conductivity value, which is located
around the fumarole in Gedongsongo area, is caused
by vapour and altered process continually.
Resistive material which has resistivity value more
than 1000 Wm predicted as bed rocks (andesite).
Materials which have intermediate resistivity value
(100–1000 Wm) and low resistivity value (10–100
Wm) are predicted as main geothermal reservoir
rocks (volcanic rocks pre caldera and Tertiary
marine sediment rocks). The material with very low
relativity value (less than 10 Wm) is predicted as
cap rock (post caldera rocks which have
hydrothermal alteration).
The young Ungaran of post caldera is predicted as
good cap rock, which has low permeability
(impermeable) and caused by hydrothermal altered
rock. This rocks has low resistivity, less than 10
Wm.
The heating activity located in fumarole with heat
flow 1095.4 KJ/s and hot springs 19.12 KJ/s, and
water pool, 24.6 KJ/s. The biggest heat anomaly is
in upstream of Panjang River.
Based on the volcanic facies distribution and
petrographic analysis, the volcanic material consists
of andesitic magma which may indicate that heat
source of Ungaran geothermal system comes from
the main conduit. It has low permeability so it can
be good cap rock. It could be the reservoir which is
intensive faulting so it is permeable. The fault zone
runs from northwest to southeast in Lanjan and
Kalibanger is predicted as the main recharge area of
Ungaran geothermal system.
The geothermometer liquid measurements show
that reservoir temperature between 102oC to 291oC,
while the geothermometer gas measurements give
value between 231oC to 315oC. The medium-high
temperature fluids may indicate that Ungaran is
high entalphy geothermal system (Hochstein and
Browne, 2000).
According to Budiardjo et al. (1997), the
combination of geophysical studies have been able
to define the boundary of a geothermal prospect
area about 5 km2, giving a resource capability of 50
MW that could probably extend to 100 MW
electrical potential.
CONCLUSIONS
The center of geothermal system and subsurface
heat source is around fumarole in Gedongsongo and
the east of it. There is possible a fault zone trending
north-south direction. Intensive fault zones and
fracture made the rocks became permeable and
porous. The long fault zones and fractures increase
the rock permeability so it can create geothermal
fluids are going up as geothermal manifestation.
The geochemistry of thermal water in Gedongsongo
is sulphate and bicarbonate water. Diluted
bicarbonate forms in surrounding area such as
Bumen, Banaran, Kendalisodo, Diwak, and Kaliulo.
The geothermal system consists of cracked flow
pyroclastic which is grain supported as reservoir.
Cap rocks are altered lava and altered flow
pyroclastic, heat source is andesitic magma, and
recharge area is in Lanjan, Berokan, and
Banyukuning.
The geothermal resource capabilty could extend 100
MW electrical potential so that the Gedongsongo
could probably exploit to build power plant.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank to Yoga Aribowo
(Universitas Diponegoro) for his discussions and
suggestions.
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Indonesia, Vol. 1A, General Geology of Indonesia
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Tengah, www.dgtl.co.id
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 Figure 1 - Geological Map of Ungaran.

Figure 2 - Landsat TM Image Interpretation of Ungaran.

 Figure 3 - Aerial-photo Interpretation of Ungaran.

Figure 4 - Structural Geology of Gedongsongo (Bemmelen, 1970).

Figure 5 - Geothermal Manifestation Map of Gedongsongo. GS is hot spring and fumarole; AG is altered
ground.

Figure 6 - Total Field Magnetic Map of Gedongsongo (Gaffar, et al., 2006).

 Figure 7 - The Schematic Hydrogeochemical Model of the Ungaran Geothermal System (Phuong, 2005).

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