| Title | Managing Technical, Social and Environmental Challenges in Providing Water Supply for Geothermal Drilling Operation in Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Authors | Dorman Purba, Daniel Adityatama, Agung Mukti |
| Year | 2023 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | geothermal, drilling, Indonesia, water, social, environmental, people, livelihood, ESIA, impact, unrest, cost, well, pond, pump, risk, corrosion, infrastructure |
| Abstract | It is commonly known that geothermal drilling operations in Indonesia require more water supply compared to the drilling operations in oil and gas. This is due to the formation is dominated by faults and fractures that will lead to loss circulation of drilling fluid. Failure to continuously pump water into the wellbore can result in stuck pipes and well control issues, which can significantly increase the total drilling cost. Consequently, the drilling team should be able to provide a continuous supply of water to be pumped, especially when drilling in lost circulation zones. As geothermal projects in Indonesia are typically located in mountainous areas, finding a suitable water source for drilling is more difficult than in the lowlands. The challenges commonly faced are insufficient water flowrate, low water pH, risk of interfering with local community water use, difficult terrain, and difficulty in obtaining associated permits due to the water source located in the conservation area. This study seeks to identify and map out various scenarios that the drilling team might face when searching for a water source for drilling. The scenarios described in this study are based on various cases collected from literature and interviews with drilling personnel in Indonesia. Based on these cases, this study then maps out the different solutions that have been carried out. Other alternative solutions that can be applied to the challenges are also identified along with their respective impact on social, environmental, and project costs. This research discusses different methods of mapping the locations of water sources and their utilization by residents in the area, the steps and process of obtaining permits from the local community in the area and the local government to utilize the water from the source, selecting the most effective and efficient method in transferring the water to the drilling sites. Mitigation plans to anticipate the disruption of water supply during drilling operations are also discussed. The result of this study is expected to help the Indonesian geothermal industry by providing integrated guidance on how to properly manage technical, social, and environmental issues in providing water supply for geothermal drilling projects. |