Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

Pumped Well Geothermal Power Generation in the Indonesian Context

Ridwan Febrianto1, Jane Bydder2, Aaron Hochwimmer3, Greg Ussher2
PT. Jacobs Group Indonesia, Jacobs NZ Limited, Jacobs Projects (Philippines) Inc.
Ridwan.Febrianto@jacobs.com, Jane.Bydder@jacobs.com, Aaron.Hochwimmer@jacobs.com, Gregory.Ussher@jacobs.com

Keywords: power generation, pumped production, low enthalpy, economic assessment

Abstract with the RUKN (Draft) 2015-2034 aiming to transform the

Indonesia has made ambitious commitments to reduce its
greenhouse gas emissions and increase the renewable energy
mix from 12% in 2017 to 23% in 2025. This is likely to have
large-scale impacts on the Indonesian energy system.
Geothermal energy stands out as proven technology and
opportunity to improve the country’s energy security at the
same time as meeting environmental obligations and
contributing to electrification targets, and is expected to
contribute 9% to the energy mix by 2025. Many of the high
enthalpy geothermal areas have been explored; however, a
large potential resource of medium and low enthalpy energy
exists.
Using electric line shaft or submersible pumps, fluid can be
pumped from relatively shallow depths and electricity
generated using binary power plant technology. This has been
proven to be a commercially viable development approach for
hot sedimentary or naturally fractured aquifers in a range of
non-volcanic settings. It can also be effective in exploiting
lateral outflows of higher temperature geothermal systems in
volcanic terrains, potentially allowing expansion of already
developed systems.
This paper considers the utilisation of pumped wells to exploit
low and medium enthalpy resources in the Indonesian
context. The commercial viability of pumped wells depends
on the resource as well as a number of economic and
development factors. With the new 2017 regulation of
electricity tariff in Indonesia it may be a cost effective
development approach in areas where the tariff is favourable,
as well as an environmentally sensitive method for replacing
diesel, electrifying rural areas or deferring infrastructure
investment, particularly in the eastern areas of Indonesia.
We present the potential scale for this type of development
approach in Indonesia; consider areas for application and
present indicative development costs, risks and opportunities.
Key technical and commercial factors of these projects are
discussed along with sensitivities to commercial viability.
Background
Ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties Indonesia
submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution
(INDC), committing to unconditionally reduce 29% of its
greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Whilst deforestation is a significant contributor to carbon
emissions in Indonesia, the largest sectoral emitter is power
generation. Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank
(2015) notes that in looking out to 2030: “The largest increase
in emissions will come from the power sector”.
The Rencana Umum Ketenagalistrikan Nasional (RUKN)
sets out targets and actions for the power generation sector,
energy mix for power generation to 24% renewable energy in
2025. For context in 2015 electricity generation was 88%
conventional thermal, 6.8% hydroelectric and 5.2% other
renewables.
Indonesia faces an energy trilemma, needing to balance
energy security, energy equity and environmental
sustainability. As at 2014, 7.7 million people in Indonesia,
primarily in rural areas, did not have access to electricity
(World Bank DataBank World Development Indicators).
Many of the country’s remote regions and islands remain
dependent on electricity generated from subsidised diesel fuel
transported over large distances.
Globally, geothermal development has been concentrated on
high enthalpy magmatic geothermal resources; however, over
the last decade technological advances mean that a wider
range of systems can be economically exploited. Here we
consider whether pumped wells with binary power plant
technology to utilise medium and low enthalpy resources may
address the above issues in a cost effective manner when
compared with available tariffs.
Enthalpy is a measure of the heat content of a system, and
while there is limited agreement on the definition of low,
medium and high enthalpy across the global geothermal
industry, these are typically differentiated by temperature
(and sometimes pressure). In this paper we consider the
viability of using pumped technology for systems with
temperatures less than 200°C.
Features of pumped wells
As noted by Hochwimmer et al. (2015), down-hole pumping
technology is typically required for geothermal power
generation for low temperatures (<200°C), and shallow
(<1000m) resources will be the most economical to produce.
In a pumped well system geothermal fluid is pumped from
production wells along surface pipes to a power plant.
Thermal energy is converted into electrical power, normally
using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant, and the
cooled fluid is discharged back into the reservoir. A cascaded
direct heating application can also be considered, as
Combined Heat and Power (CHP), to recover additional low
grade heat prior to re-injection.
Additional injection pumping may be required depending on
the capacity of injection wells and the surface discharge
pressure provided by the down-hole pumps.
The key resource performance indicators are temperature,
well productivity index and inter-well permeability. The well
productivity index has a direct bearing on how hard the pump
has to work for a required flow and as such dictates the
parasitic power lost in driving the system.

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 Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017
2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

The pump impeller must be set below the dynamic water level services before. This may imply that downhole pumps are
and this dictates the pump setting depth for reliable operation. relatively “new” technology in the country.

Equipment performance indicators include the mean time There are relative advantages and disadvantages between the
between failures (MTBF) of the pump. Fluid chemistry has a two types of pumps as outlined in Table 1 (adapted from
significant influence on this as outlined in the experience of DiPippo (2016)), and these aspects can be the basis in
Ravier et al. (2015) at the Soultz EGS site in France. selecting which pump type is preferred for a particular system.

The two main types of downhole pumps in use are lineshaft Table 1 Lineshaft vs electrical submersible pumps
vertical turbine pumps (LSP) and electrical submersible Lineshaft Electrical
pumps (ESP), distinguishable by the location of the motor. Pumps Submersible
The former have been utilised extensively in USA since the Pumps
1970s (refer Figure 1), the latter are less widely used in Limited to Relatively deeper
Well depth
geothermal applications but have been used in France, USA ~730m > 1km
and Germany (refer Figure 2).
Well deviation Vertical Deviated
13-3/8”
Primary
Production
Casing
Time Time Quick
installation consuming
Motor driver At surface Submersible
location
Temperature High ~215oC Limited to
capability ~160oC (higher
claimed by
vendors)
Pump and Higher Lower
motor efficiency
Wear prone Less (lower More (higher
speed) speed)
Capital and Less expensive More expensive
O&M Cost
Maintenance Predictable Routine
schedule inspection
Flow rates Less (~500 More (~900
m3/h) m3/h)
Delivery Up to 7 MPa Up to 7.5 MPa
pressures
Environmental Oil lubrication None
Impact system used
for shaft
Figure 1 Lineshaft pump installed at a well in USA bearings

The ESP temperature limit arises because the pump motor is

submerged and the geothermal brine acts as a cooling fluid.
Vendors have claimed pumps can operate higher than 160oC
but this can translate into derating of the motor output and/or
reduced MTBF.

Another key consideration for a downhole pump is materials

selection for construction of the impeller, shaft and body of
the pump. Because there are no two geothermal sites with the
same characteristics, geothermal fluids will be different and
the pump materials have to be tailored to suit the specific site.
The goal is to ensure the pump is able to address any specific
corrosion issues that the geothermal fluid poses.

Unlike pumps being used for other services such as brine or

Figure 2 ESP installation in Germany (wellhead arrangement
shown – ESP itself not visible as it is installed in the well)
According to one of global pump manufacturers that has a
local presence as well as is providing pump services after sale
Indonesia, they have not done any such downhole pump
condensate reinjection that can be designed to have a
redundancy of 2 x 100% or 3 x 50%, downhole pumps have
to be designed as 1 x 100% and therefore have to be reliable
and durable. MTBF has a significant impact on the
commercial viability of this type of development as outlined
below.

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 Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017
2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia
The production WHP should be set above the saturation
pressure of the fluid. This is to ensure the geothermal fluid is
kept in liquid phase to avoid energy loss through flashing
(latent heat of vaporization) and also to avoid any operational
issues with scaling (such as calcite scaling in the well).
In summary downhole pump selection and design play a
crucial role in order to minimise downtime and allow for
revenue to be maximised.
Suitable areas and potential resource
Potential geothermal settings for pumped well developments
primarily include:
1. Hot sedimentary or naturally fractured aquifers in
a range of non-volcanic, but most ideally, high heat
flow settings. These are typically extensive in
horizontal directions and can occur at any depth,
but deeper is likely to be hotter.
2. Structural controlled systems that also may be in
non-volcanic but most ideally high heat flow
settings. Semi-vertical fault/fracture network
structures bring fluids that have been heated by
deep circulation to shallower levels where they can
be tapped in the fracture zone or shallower aquifers
adjacent the fracture system as shown in Figure 3.
3. Lateral outflows from geothermal systems in
volcanic environments. Some high temperature
circulatory systems have limited boundaries at
shallow levels where permeability is typically
greatest and considerable hot fluid outflows at
shallow levels, sometime feeding distant hot
springs. This type of system is shown in Figure 4.
Figure 3 Muraoka et al. (2010) noted the relationship of
geothermal systems with major structures in Sumatra
(Muraoka et al.’s Figure 3 reproduced here)
Figure 4 High temperature systems can have lower
temperature outflows that may be developable with pumped
wells.
While the “quality” of these resources in terms of temperature
and hence the power development achievable per square
kilometre of reservoir is less than high temperature systems,
the structural (2) and volcanic outflow (3) type systems can
occur at relatively shallow depth and are likely to be in much
more accessible terrain than many of the high temperature
systems that have been developed. These important
characteristics may make them more commercially viable
than deep and remote high temperature systems in some
regions.
While Indonesia has considerable surface volcanic activity,
the high heat flow associated with deep magmatism, plus
major geological structures such as the Sumatra Fault Zone
along the tectonic plate boundaries along the archipelago
provide sources for these lower temperature systems.
Exploration of Indonesia’s large geothermal resource is
indicating that many of the identified geothermal systems are
lower temperature and so warrant further understanding in
terms of their reservoir characteristics plus how they can be
produced and developed for power generation.
Some examples of lower temperature systems and regions in
Indonesia include:
 Ulubelu in South Sumatra is presented as example
of a volcanic outflow system is noted by Hochstein
and Sudarman (2015). Although much of this
system is higher temperature where it is presently
feeding two power plants, it has downstream areas
with lower temperature. Typically, such lower
temperature outflows have been ignored as not
being useful for power generation.
 Riogilang et al. (2012) note that two wells drilled
into sediments and limestones hosting an outflow of
Kotamobagu in North Sulawesi found temperatures
of about 160°C and so would not flow naturally.
 Muraoka et al. (2010) note the presence of many
geothermal systems particularly associated with 13
identified pull-apart basins along the Sumatra Fault
Zone. There are often volcanic features in
proximity to these systems because some of the
volcanism is also associated with these structural
controls and magmatism is providing high heat
flows, but the systems themselves are primarily
located and controlled by major fracture systems.
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 Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017
2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

 Herdianita and Mandradewi (2010) describe the which compares levelised electricity cost (LEC) with tariff in
low temperature system at Cisolok-Cisukarame in order to assess commercial viability of pumped well
Java which may have once been a hotter convective developments in Indonesia. Inputs to the financial model
system, but which now may be about 160°C and has come from a technical model which takes into account
relatively high fluid outflow possibly through reservoir and process systems such as production, plant
limestones which provide the permeability for long operation and fluid collection and disposal.
distance horizontal flows.
Key assumptions included in this analysis are shown in Table
 Humaedi et al. (2016) describe wells that have 3.
drilled a highly permeable outflow with
temperature about 200°C from a hotter part of the Table 3 Key Modelling Assumptions
Rantau Dedap system in Sumatra. This thick and Production Wells (No.) 6
permeable outflow is an example of the strong Reinjection Wells (No.) 3
outflows that can occur from volcanic systems, and Well cost (USD/m) 4,000
if targeted at low elevations could present a Pump cost (USD) 450,000
development target in some systems. Power plant cost (USD/kW) 1,500
Debt:Equity Ratio 70:30
On the basis of temperature, an estimate of the potential
resource for utilising pumped wells for power generation can A Base Case and variables considered for sensitivity analysis
be inferred from Fauzi’s (2015) classification of geothermal are shown in Table 4. For example, we may assume that
resources in Indonesia as shown in Table 2. shallow wells (350m) tap outflows and deeper wells (750-
1000m) are appropriate for non-outflow systems.
Table 2 Indonesian geothermal resources classification
Classification Temperature range MWe Table 4 Variables considered in this analysis
Low enthalpy <100°C 850 Base Sensitivity (% change from
100°C to <150°C 2,660 Case Base Case)
150°C to 190°C 4,175 Drilling depth 750 350 (-53%) 1000 (+33%)
High enthalpy >190°C 16,134 (m)
Brine 180 160 (-11%) 200 (+11%)
In the next two sections we will review how much of this temperature (°C)
resource may be utilised for commercially viable power Well 10 5 (-50%) 15 (+50%)
generation. productivity
(t/hr.b)
Economic analysis MTBF (year) 2 1 (-50%) 3 (+50%)

Economic feasibility of a pumped well development depends
on resource extent and temperature, permeability in terms of
well productivity, drilling depth and parasitic load, and pump
reliability.
Following from Hochwimmer et al. (2013), an economic
analysis using discounted cash flow has been undertaken
Gross outputs vary between 14 to 26 MWe depending on the
scenario.
Applying the above assumptions, we get a Base Case LEC of
9.52c USD/kWh.
The results from the sensitivities applied as per Table 4 are
shown graphically in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Sensitivity of Levelised Electricity Cost

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 Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017
2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

Considering the assumptions and variables outlined above, Discussion

the LEC ranges between 7.64 to 12.48 cUSD/kWh.
Normalising for percentage change from the Base Case, the
biggest impact on tariff comes from temperature followed by
depth. Well productivity has the third largest impact on tariff
and mean time before pump failure has the lowest relative
impact on tariff.
The analysis outlined above relates to an IRR of 7%. This is
more suitable for an SOE than a private developer, which
would likely require an IRR of at least 10%.
Tariff
Under MEMR Regulation No 12-2017, fixed tariffs for
renewable energy for electricity provision will apply with a
cap based on the average cost of generation (known as BPP)
for the previous year. For geothermal:
 If regional BPP generation > national BPP
generation, maximum tariff is regional BPP
generation.
Based on the economic analysis and consideration of current
tariffs outlined above, pumped well developments in areas
with BPP > 9.5 cUSD/kWh may be commercially viable
depending on resource variables such as temperature and
permeability, economic aspects of development such as
interest rates and cost of capital, and other features of the
development such as land and electricity demand.
Based on the 2015 BPP this would include the areas of Kaltim
(East Kalimantan), Sulutenggo (Northern, Central Sulawesi,
and Gorontalo), Sumut (North Sumatra), NTB (West Nusa
Tenggara), Papua, NAD (Aceh), Kalbar (West Kalimantan),
Babel (Bangka and Belitung), Maluku and NTT (East Nusa
Tenggara).
According to Fauzi (2015), the potential in various areas in
the temperature range 100°C to 190°C is as shown in Table 5.
It is noted that not all of these areas will have a BPP greater
than the national average, nor will all areas be suitable for
pumped well development; however, it allows an upper limit
to be estimated.

 If regional BPP generation < national BPP Table 5: Geothermal potential by selected area in Indonesia
generation, tariff shall be based on business to (MWe)
business negotiation. <100°C 100°C to 150°C to
<150°C 190°C
Error! Reference source not found. 6 shows the audited Sumatera 25 875 1,810
2015 BPP numbers across regions in Indonesia (exchange rate N. Tenggara 31 746
assumption is 13,300 IDR:USD) and national BPP which is Kalimantan 65 55 25
7.5 cUSD/kWh. The figure infers that for instance in NTT
(Nusa Tenggara Timur) the regional BPP is 16.94 cUSD/kWh Sulawesi 485 416 678
therefore any new power generation can be set with the Maluku 50 210 293
regional BPP as the maximum tariff. Papua 75
Total 700 1,587 3,552
As can be seen in Error! Reference source not found. 6, as
of 2015 areas in eastern Indonesia dominate the relatively
Some non-commercial areas may be suitable for pumped well
higher BPP compared to other areas. This is largely due to the
development on the basis of enhancing electrification rates,
fact that the majority of current power generation in those
deferring infrastructure investment and providing generation
areas is from diesel fuel.
which is less expensive and more environmentally friendly
than diesel.

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 Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017
2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia
Figure 6 Audited 2015 Average Cost of Generation (BPP) (from Baker & McKenzie (2017))
Conclusion
Indonesia has a large amount of low and medium enthalpy
geothermal resources that traditionally have been overlooked
in favour of exploiting high enthalpy magmatic resources.
This paper has outlined the current status of pumped well
technology, typical areas in Indonesia where this technology
is appropriate and estimates of cost. Comparing the LEC with
tariffs based on BPP we can conclude that pumped well
technology may be commercially viable in areas with BPP >
9.5 cUSD/kWh, typically seen in eastern parts of Indonesia
where there is significant diesel generation. In the area of
Maluku alone, exploiting low enthalpy resources could
unlock up to 500 MWe of geothermal capacity.
In addition, using pumps to exploit geothermal energy may
have benefits relating to increasing electrification, deferring
infrastructure expenditure and replacing diesel generation. A
large increase of additional geothermal electricity generation
could benefit Indonesia economically, environmentally and in
enhancing energy security and access.
We recommend further exploration of Indonesia’s identified
lower temperature geothermal systems in terms of their
reservoir characteristics to determine how they may be
developed for power generation.
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2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

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