| Title | Northern Thailand Geothermal Resources and Development--A Review and 2012 Update |
|---|---|
| Authors | Singharajwarapan, Fongsaward Suvagondha; Wood, Spencer H.; Prommakorn, Natthaporn; Owens, Lara |
| Year | 2012 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Thailand; low temperature; hot springs; flow; geochemistry; geothermometry; silica deposits; power generation |
| Abstract | Northern Thailand has 16 hot spring systems with surface temperatures near or greater than 80°C with potential for binary plant power generation. Presently only Fang system generates power from wells flowing a total of 8.3 1/s of 116°C water to a 300 kW single module Ormat binary plant. Current production is 150-250 KW, which potentially can be increased by constructing new wells and increasing flow by pumping. Of the other 15 systems, 4 are in national parks and not considered for development. Several of the hot springs systems have silica geothermometry >130°C suggesting significant undeveloped resources exist in northern Thailand. Certainly the San Kamphaeng hot springs have the greatest known potential (estimated ~5MW) but like most of the systems it is associated with high-angle faulting and drilling has yet to find permeable zones yielding high flows (>11 l/s). The current project of the Thailand Department of Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) will survey these prospects with the intention of installing a small plant of 2-10 MW. |