| Title | Silica Scaling Monitoring Strategy at Muara Laboh Geothermal Power Plant after Four Years Operation: Scale Coupon Installation and Silica & Metal Loss Audit in Brine |
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| Authors | Zakaria Z. Sumantoro, Rahmatul A. Andini, Munggang H. Purnanto |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | SEML Unit-1 has operated since the end of 2019 with high availability and reliability. High-High Pressure (HHP) separator station was introduced to system on 2020 as a mitigation for silica scaling problem due to high silica concentration observed from South-West (SW) production wells. With higher separation pressure on HHP separator, the silica from the SW wells is expected to be maintained in under-saturated condition, so it will not harm the entire process and equipment of SEML Unit-1. However, during last few months of 2023 it was observed that several equipment at the facilities were damaged. It was suspected that silica scaling is observed in these equipment. In order to determine whether the SEML Unit-1 is able to perform continuous operation normally without any problem caused by silica scaling found in the system or equipment, a scaling monitoring strategy is performed. Started from early of 2024, SEML initiated a project to perform scaling monitoring strategy. First, take brine samples from several points at line and perform silica audit and metal loss in order to observe the amount of silica and other metal content at facilities. Secondly, install scale coupon at several points at injection lines in order to determine scaling deposition rate and silica polymerization rate. Third, perform XRD/XRF analysis for several silica scaling samples observed at the facilities. After analyzing all of these data, it was concluded that the scaling condition at SEML is still acceptable and manageable, and does not require further treatment during continuous operation. |