Indonesia Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (ESDM) to evaluate 8 geothermal fields

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is preparing evaluation activities in eight geothermal fields. The Cikakak 1 and Cikakak 2 fields as part of the Cisolok field in Sukabumi Regency, West Java will be the initial stages of evaluation activities.

The Head of the ESDM Research and Development Agency (R & D) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dadan Kusdiana, said the process for determining the location was based on data from the Geological Agency. For that, he highlighted the process of implementing the evaluation by taking into account potential risks and mitigation.

“Potential obstacles that must be anticipated include a lack of data, unavailability of the equipment or software needed, changes in the location of the geothermal field, the impact of Covid-19 and funding,” said Dadan in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Friday (16/10).

One of the highlights is the limited human resource capacity. Dadan suggested adding competent experts, especially in the BLU Research and Development Center for Electricity Technology and New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (P3TKEBTKE).

In order to overcome this, the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation will form a team consisting of the Geological Agency, the Directorate General of EBTKE and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Expert Staff who will work together to assess the implementation of this activity.

Currently, BLU P3TKEBTKE is conducting peer review of the proposed survey plans, data from detailed investigations (geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys), and conceptual models at the eight locations. The BLU P3TKEBTKE team will also determine the well targeting of exploration wells from the peer review results at each location.

Head of P3TKEBTKE, Chrisnawan Anditya explained, BLU P3TKEBTE also conducted studies on non-technical aspects such as the existence of access roads, location of water sources, and surface slopes which also need additional attention.

Meanwhile, PPPTMGB “LEMIGAS” researcher Panca Wahyudi explained that the Geological Agency already had previous survey data. However, these data need to be re-evaluated to be sure because geothermal reservoirs are different from oil and gas. The accuracy of determining the drilling point must be very precise, not even shifting up to 10 meters.

In the implementation process, the geothermal field evaluation activities include Well Targeting, Peer Review, Conceptual Model Analysis and Numerical Simulation. Apart from the Cisolok field, there are Jailolo fields, (South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku), Bittuang (Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi), Nage (Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara), Ciremai (Kuningan Regency, West Java), Marana, (Kabupaten Donggala, Central Sulawesi), Mount Endut (Lebak Regency, Banten) and Sembalun (East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara).