EKPLORATION GEOTHERML

RESOURE IN SARULLA IN
SARULLA BLOCK, NORTH
SUMATERA, INDONESIA
Wira Novita

Department of Geologica Engineering, Universitas Pertamina

ABSTRACT

There are so many geothermal system along an active Sumatra Arc that have at least 30 high
temperature system (>2000C). This systems are controlled by Sumatra Fault Zone which have eleven
active volcano, five degassing volcano, and one Caldera (Lake Toba). Between 1993 to 1998, Pertamina
with a Joint Operation Contract have an extensive explorationn program designed and evaluate
commercial geothermal system on the Sarulla Block of North Sumatra, Indonesia. This exploration
have 13 deep wells target with a geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys first. The location
of the geothermal system exploration are 4 wells in Eastern Sibualbuali geothermal field, Five wells in
Silangkita field, and four wells in the Namora-I-Langit field which are located on several kilometres
of the Great Sumatra Fault. When the three of them are combined proven reserves of 330 MW for 30
years. In Namora-I-Langit has a geothermal system liquid dominated with the maximum temperature
is 2600C. The geothermal power plant will have the capacity until 220 MW. To develop the numerical
model the first information based from geological, geochemical, geophysical, and well data and use the
TOUGH2 software. The numerical model give us the information that are to characterize reservoir that
including area, thickness, pressure, temperature, permeability distribution and to determine geothermal
energy reserve of numerical model of Namora-I-Langit Geothermal System by probabilistic method.

Key : geothermal, sarulla, exploration, geothermal system, north sumatra, indonesia

INTRODUCTION

Geothermal energy becomes one of the renewable energy sources that are believed to be
abundant and environmentally friendly, including geothermal energy in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the
amount of geothermal reserves in Indonesia has not been fully utilized and still depends on the energy
sources of fossils. Speaking of potential, according to data PT. Pertamina Geothermal Enery
(pge.pertamina.com), Indonesia has 40% of all geothermal potential in the world. The sources are
spread in 251 locations such as Sumatra, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, to the western tip of Papua.
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2013) estimates that all reserves and geothermal energy
resources in Indonesia reaches 28,994 MWe (Megawatt Listrik). The largest geothermal reserves are
located in the western regions of Indonesia, namely Sumatra, Java and Bali.

figure 1 : map of sarulla geothermal field
the electrical resistivity structure of the subsurface over the area of the survey and to determine the area
to be drilling. The last phases is drilling of 13 deep wells in the three highest priority prospects.
Examples are the sarulla geothermal
field, northern sumatera, indodesia. Heat
transfer by intermittent volcanism, however, is
only a minor component of the total crustal heat
transfer along the Sumatra Arc. Most of the heat
is transferred by high temperature geothermal
systems where deep circulating meteoric water
sweeps heat from hot crustal rocks and cooling
intrusions to the surface. Sumatra island Sarulla
is located in Pahae Jae district, North Tapanuli
district, North Sumatra province. In this area
there is a geothermal source with considerable
geothermal potential. In February 1993, PLN
together with Pertamina entered into a
cooperation contract that aims to explore and
develop the geothermal field to generate 1000
MW with an initial stage of 330 MW. The stages
of the contract contain geological and
geochemical methods. This included mapping of
lithologies, alteration, and geologic structure as
well as locating, sampling, and analyzing fluid
from all surface thermal features within the
block (Gunderson et al., 1995). geophysical
programs utilizing gravity, time-domain
electromagnetic (TDEM) and magnetotelluric
(MT) surveys. This two phases used to define
SOURCE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND CHARACTERISTICS

According to Budihardi (1998) there are three interacting plates in Indonesia namely the Pacific
Plate, the Indian Plate of Australia, and the Eurasian Plate. The collision between the three plates
provides an important role in the formation of geothermal energy sources in Indonesia. The collision
between the Indian-Australian plate to the south and the Eurasian Plate in the north produces a zone of
sunduction at a depth of 160-210 km beneath Java-Nusatenggara Island and within 100 km below
Sumatra Island (Rocks et al., 1982). Because of the different types of magma produced by eating at a
greater depth it will be alkaline, liquid, and high magma content resulting in a strong volcano eruption
and will result in thicker and wider volcanic deposits. Therefore, geothermal reservoirs on Java Island
are generally deeper and are present in vulcanic rocks, while geothermal reservoirs in Sumatra are
present in sedimentary rocks and found in shallower depths.

Most of the exploration wells

were designed as hybrid wells: to be
drilled using standard rotary drilling
technology down into the geothermal
reservoir, and then continuously cored
below that (if necessary) using
diamond coring technology (Furry et
al, 1996). These wells were designed
to be capable of production and yet to
also be capable of reliably attaining
targeted depths to prove sufficient
reservoir thickness. Information
regarding reservoir porosity,
permeability, and structure could also
be retrieved through analysis of the
deep continuous cores (Moore et al.,
1998).

This exploration have 13

deep wells target with a geological,
geochemical, and geophysical
surveys first. The location of the
geothermal system exploration are 4
wells in Eastern Sibualbuali
geothermal field, Five wells in
Silangkita field, and four wells in the
Namora-I-Langit field which are
figure 2 : map of sarulla geothermal area located on several kilometres of the
Great Sumatra Fault.
EASTERN SIBUALBUALI

There are 4 wells on the eastern side of sibualbuali, 3 of which have been drilled through a
massive fault string and have thickness of andesitic rock surfactant. these three wells are productive and
have geothermal systems with temperature and permeability controlled by the great sumatra fault. the
maximum temperature measured at east sibual wells reaches 2670C while in the production zone is only
around 218-2480C. The thermal and chemical properties of the geothermal system are a reflection of
the mineralogical changes occurring in these three wells.

figure 3 : Schematic cross section through the eastern

figure 4 : Sketch map showing elements of the Sibualbuali
Sibualbuali geothermal field

SILANGKITANG

there is a series of hot springs and fumaroles located in the Sarulla graben area near the village
of Silangkitang at the center of the Sarulla contract block (Figure 1). There were 5 wells in the
Silangkitang during the period 1994-1998, just like The Sibualbuali, these wells have temperature and
permeability controlled by the great sumatra fault. The first drilled well vertically drilled well / rock
subvolcano through tuff to the underlying sedimentary rock and two other well-targeted wells found
very strong current flows significantly depressed with respect to a normal hydrostatic gradient having
a fluid temperature exceeding 310 0C. Similar to sibualbuali, the caldron undergoes mineralogy changes
reflecting the thermal and chemical conditions of the reservoir.
figure 6 : Map showing the main elements of the figure 5 : Schematic cross section through the
Silangkitang geothermal field Silangkitang geothermal field.

NAMORA-I-LANGIT

The volcanic complex of the Namora-I-Langit is composed of two vast volcanoes and
comprising andesite to rhyolite and tuff lava. This location also has fumarole springs and acid sulfates
but also includes a neutral source of Cl-sulfate-bicarbonate water, gas seepage. Fumarole temperature
reached 117 0C. The volcanic complex of the sky is composed of two vast volcanoes and comprising
andesite to rhyolite and tuff lava. This location also has fumarole springs and acid sulfates but also
includes a neutral source of Cl-sulfate-bicarbonate water, gas seepage. Fumarole temperature reached
1170C. There are 4 wells in this location. The four have large geothermal systems and their temperatures
and permeabilities are different from those of the samurai and sibualbuali that are unmanageable by the
great sumatra fault, having very low vertical and lateral temperature gradients in reservoirs with
temperatures of 2600C The fourth well indicates a neutral pH and a high geothermal system, while the
other three wells under alteration of mineralogy.
figure 7 : Map showing the main elements of the figure 8: Schematic cross section through the
Namora-I-Langit geothermal field Namora-I-Langit geothermal field.
CONCLUSIONS

geothermal exploration in the north sumatra sarulla block of Indonesia proves that the
existence of large geothermal reserves and can be utilized its potential as renewable energy replacement
oil and gas and capable of supplying 330 MW for 30 years. The methodology used is geological and
geochemical. This is include mapping of lithologies, alteration, and geologic structure as well as
locating, sampling, and analyzing fluid from all surface thermal features within the block , geophysical
programs utilizing gravity, time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) surveys
and exploration phases.
The exploration program discovers and assesses three new geothermal systems with varying
thermal permeability and permeability characteristics.The two smaller ones of the geothermal system
found in Sarulla have very controlled permeability and temperature distributions by the Great Sumatra
Fault, while the largest are not. The hottest and most permeable parts of the Sibualbuali East and
Silangkitang geothermal fields are found in the fault zone itself. During the period 1994-1998, thirteen
wells drilled in Sarulla discovered three new geothermal fields with reserves of at least 330 MW. This
reserve is now proven and awaiting development as the economic climate in Indonesia improves.
Significant additional potentials remain in the Sarulla block in the unfilled fields of Sibualbuali and
Namora-I-Langit.
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