PROCEEDINGS.

Twenty-First Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineenng

Stanford University. Stanford, California. January 22-24. 1996
SGP-TR-I51

EXPLORATION OF ULUMBU GEOTHERMAL FIELD,

FLORES.EAST NUSA TENGGARA
INDONESIA

DID1 SULASDI
-
PT.PLN (PERSERO) DIRECTORATE OPERATION
J1. Trunojoyo Blok M 1/135 - Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta 12160, Indonesia

ABSTRACT exploratory drilling of Ulumbu field for the mini

geothermal project and discusses the geoscientific
investigation and environmental aspects during the
This paper describes the progress made in drilling implementation.
developing geothermal resources at Ulumbu Flores,
Indonesia for utilization mini geothermal power
generation. Two deep exploratory wells drilling 2. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
drilled by PLN confirmed the existence of the
resources. The well measurement carried out during The quaternary volcanics are distributed in the
drilling and after completion of the well indicated island of Flores mostly in the Central part of the
that the major permeable zone at around 680 m region.
depth and that this zone is a steam cap zone, which
is likely to produce high enthalpy steam. The most prominent volcanic region is Manggarai
District, including the Ulumbu geothermal field,
The above information indicates that well ULB-01 which has been selected as one of the first area for
will produce a mass flow at least 40 tonnes per geothermal exploration due its high concentration of
hour, which will ensure a 3 MW (E) Ulumbu mini thermal manifestation.
geothermal power plant.
A full scientific programme of geological,
geochemical and geophysical exploration was
1. INTRODUCTION carried to identify and assesses the resources.

The Ulumbu Geothermal field is located in the

Manggarai District Flores Island of Indonesia. The Following this;. two (2) deep exploratory well were
nearest principal village is Ponggeok situated about drilled to check the result of the scientific
9 kilometres west of the field on the main district investigations, so that geothermal energy
road between Ruteng the capital of Manggarai development can be made on an extensive scale to
District to north and Iteng to the south coast. ensure powex production.

A full scientific programme of geological, 2.1. .GEOLOGICAL SETTING

geochemical and geophysical exploration was . I I

carried out. The Poco Leok volcanic complex within which the
Ulumbu geothermal system occurs reach on
Following this, two (2) deep exploration wells elevation of approximately 1600 metres.
(ULB-01 and ULB-02) were drilled succesfully, and
well testing will be implemented after reinjection It has been erupted onto a miocene basement to
well is drilled. PLN assures that geothermal energy comprise volcanics including lavas, breccias and
at Ulumbu will substitute the diesel generation tuffs and possible calcareous sediment of similar
wherever it is economically feasible. age. The complex be formed from tuffs and
andesite lavas erupted from Mandosawu volcanic
This paper describes the ongoing proggress of the center approximately 7 kilometers to the north of

51
Poco Leok and successive lava flows and breccias Warm springs occurs some 5 km west of Ulumbu
of the Rii eruptions and later volcanism. at lower elevation 430 metres. The relative low
sulphate content of these bicarbonate rich neutral
Renewed volcanism followed formation of the Rii pH waters indicates that they are most likely to
Caldera and the product breccias and lavas known have formed by condensation of high CO, or low
as the Poco Leok volcanic, partially infill it. The H2S being steam into ground waters. No deep
Poco Leok centre which is about 1.5 kilometres water being discharged in any of these features
from the Ulumbu thermal features, has not been sample thus far. The steam and gas analyses
volcanically active historically. indicates deep fluid temperature of the least 250°C
and possibly temperature to 300°C. The water
The Ulumbu geothermal field on the flank of the chemistry shows the warm spring in the west are
Poco Leok volcanic complex at an elevation of farther from the source than those at Kokor and
some 650 metres above sea level. Lungar.

The quaternary rocks rise to an elevation of

approximately 1600 metres and rest o n a Tertiary 4. GEOPHYSIC
basement comprising mainly lavas, breccias and
tuffs and possibly calcareous sediment. The Geophysical study include resistivity mapping,
electrical sounding with maximum AB12 spacing of
The tertiary basement rocks to have been down 1000 metres and 2000 metres has been done at
faulted to south along an east-west trending fault Ulumbu geothermal field.
known as Cancar fault.
The interpreted resistivity data for Ulumbu area
The resulting Cancar depression is assumed to have shows a low resistivity layer sandwich between an
been partially infilled successively by massive upper shallow layer and basement of higher
dacitic lava flow erupted during early quaternary resistivity. The low resistivity layer has a model
volcanism centred north of Ulumbu probably in the thickness of approximately 600 - 800 metres. The
vicinity of Mandosawu Volcanic Range. resistivity model shows a broad continous layer of
very low resistivity between Rii Caldera and Wae
Meseh. Where it intersects the ground, the top
3. GEOCHEMISTRY surface of this layer is closely associated with the
locations and elevation of that springs. It is
The thermal features at the Ulumbu geothermal reasonable to conclude, therefore, that this layer is
field are devided into 3 groups, namely the hot caused by hot geothermal fluids flowing through
spring which has the hottes fluids (near local porous and altered rocks toward lower elevation in
boiling point), hot spring with moderate the west and southwest.
temperature (maximum temperature 68°C) and
warm spring (temperature 30 - 50°C).
5. EXPLORATORY DRILLING
The hottes fluids are those which discharged in the
river Waikokor valley at elevation of 630 and 665 Two production wells ULB-01 and ULB-02 and one
metres. The features include pools of boiling point reinjection well was drilled whithin the Ulumbu
water and fumaroles together with associated geothermal system. Well ULB-01 was drilled
hydrothermaly altered ground wich discharge gas vertically to a depth of 1887 metres and Well ULB-
and steam. Geothermometry of the fumarole gases 02 was drilled directionaly to a depth of 878.7
indicates a high sources fluid temperature, probably meters, 4,5 metres to the north east of well ULB-
greater than 200°C and possibly as high as 300°C. 01. A reinjection well ULB-03 was drilled
Hot spring occurs some 1.5 km east of Ulumbu at directionaly from the well ULB-01 pad in south
elevation of 820 metres to 920 metres. easternly direction to a depth of 951 metres.

The chemistry of these spring is similar to those at Environmental constrain preclude utilization of
Ulumbu except that they have a neutral pH and surface disposal of effluent geothermal fluids, such
contain appreciable concentration of calcium and effluent fluids produced from the production well.
bicarbonate. And also similar origin to the Ulumbu
features. Information collected during the drilling of well

52
ULB-0 1 indicates underground formation to the head pressure should reach about 27.6 bar, a
total depth of 249 metres are mainly consistings of pressure which is very close to the minimum
volcanic breccia, pyroclastic deposit (tuff) and pressure saturated steam at maximum enthalpy.
volcanic lava (andsite) and formation from 249
metres to the total depth of 838 metres are mainly
volcanic breccia interlayed by volcanic lava. This would tend to indicate that there is steam cap
Volcanic breccia shows relatively high degree of the reservoir. The temperature excepted at this
alteration that indicates fluid flows through rock depth will be about 235OC if this is a steam zone. In
porous. an attempt to hasten the heating of the 700 m zone
the well put on bleed through a 2 inch pipe.
The loss zone below 680 metres and possible
presence of Adularia below 770 metres might The well was bleed for two hours during which
indicates some reasonable permeable zone from 680 time only gas, with a distinct smell of H2S, was
- 853 metres. The loss zone between 680 metres to observed existing the bleed line.
853 metres as the permeable zone also is indicated
from the result of geophysical exploration. The The pressure of gas from the bleed line decrease
formation to the total depth of 1887 metres are over the two hours periode. With in thirty minutes
mainly calcareous sediment. of closing the bleed line a well head pressure of 9
bar was recorded and this steady increase a to 27.6
bar.
5.1. MEASUREMENT DURING DRILLING
Immediatly after the well was shut in temperatures
Measurement within the drill string made during the were recorded between 600 m and 800 m depth.
drilling which was run into the well. The measured The desired effect was achived in that temperature
pressure at 450.7 m (CT) depth was 24.1 bar which at 700 m increased from 123.99"C to 137.8"C
is a water level at 214 m assuming a column of however the temperature increase was not high as
20°C water. was excepted.

The increase in temperature at about 670 m was

also monitored. Monitoring exercise was carried out The geothermal water from the well was estimated
a further 38 hours later. to be approximately 40 tonnes/h. It is likely that
this fluid originates from the 1800 m zone as
The temperature incured from 152.1"C to 166.4"C similar drilling condition prior to reaching this
the heating rate indicated that high temperatures depth did not result in greater fluids returns than
might be expected in this zone. were being pumped.

When the initial target depth for the well of 1500 rn

was monitored to evaluate the likely productivity of 6 . ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
the well and to decide whether to drill to deeper
levels. Rapid heating occured over the entire length
of the well even at 700 m where there is a Some of the principle social issues raised during the
temperature inversal. exploration well drilling is the complains of the
local communities to PLN :
Simple Homer analysis of the temperatures built up
data indicated formation temperature of about 24OoC The implementation of the realignment of the road
at 500 m, less 'than 2OOOC at 700 m and about away from Lale, in order to avoid the discruption
22OOC at both 1000 m and 1480 m. of having heavy vechicles and other trafic pasing
through the midle of the village.
In general such analysis give minimum
temperatures, however this information indicates The implementation of the special religous ritual for
that the major permeable zone in the well at about land compensation of the drilling site (ULB-01,
700 m maybe relatively cold inflow. ULB-02), because this drilling site is a Lingko
Rame owned by peoples of village of Wewo.

However, it is interesting that that the stable well According to the local tradition a Lingko Rame is

53
direcly related to a Rumah Gendang and is owned
and exploited by the Tua Ten0 (head man) and his 1. Karto Kusumo W.S and Somad (1982):
rural elite family. This special agriculture field is Geochemistry report of the Ulumbu
inherited from one generation on the other Geothermal Area in Flores, East
generation. The Lingko Rame at the drilling site Nusatenggara.
(ULB-01, 02 and 03) is called Lingko Nio. It is
very fertile field. 2. Radja VT (1990) : Preliminary Evaluation
of the Geothermal Energy Potential of
The local communities has give an alternative to Flores.
realignment of the temporary road to the land Monograph No. 08 ER-70.
behind the village. The people has no objective to
give their land away to clear the way for the 3. Setiawan and Saputra (1984) : The geology
alternative road. of Ulumbu Geothermal Area, Flores
Indonesia.

7. CONCLUSIONS 4. Simanjuntak and Akhmad (1985) : Report

of the Geophysical study of Ulumbu
Resistivity data, together with the distribution and Ruteng.
chemistry of fumaroles and hot springs suggest the
existence of an extensive hydro thermal system 5. University of Nusa Cendana (1989) :
centred in the Poco Leok - Ulumbu locally. Penelitian Analisis Dampak- Lingkungan
(EW
The geothermometry indicates a source fluid Pusat Listrik Panasbumi (PLTP Ulumbu)
temperature probably greater than 260°C. Manggarai Flores Nusa Tenggara.

The result of exploratory drilling, especially ULB- 6. Sulasdi, Didi (1985) : Exploration of the
01 which was drilled to a depth of 1887 m with the Lahendong Geothermal, North Sulawesi,
top 838 m consisting of volcanic breccia with 1st Afro Asia Geothermal Conference,
subordinate andesitic and basaltic lavas and tuffs. Chiang Mai Thailand.
These volcanic rocks are quaternary age.

The 1049 m of rocks in the lower part of well

belong to the Flores Island tertiary sedimentary
sequence.

Hard limestones make up over half of this

sequecne, the remainder of the tertiary rocks are
dominated by volcano clastic (sand stones).
Laumontite is found to be stable in the temperature
range of 150°C to 220°C and within ULB-01 is
observed within the quaternary volcanic below 400
m.

Epidote was observed in the well below 700 m,

indicating that temperature below this depth should
be in over 230°C to 250°C.

Major zone of permeability have been found at

about 680 m and at about 1800 m. A minimum of
40 toneslh can be produced from the well.

In order to avoid social complict, PLN have to be

taken to solve the problems of realignment
temporary road and special religious ritual is
needed to establish a Lingko Rame.

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