A Survey of Computer Assisted Production Operations in The Geysers

Abstract

In the decade of the 1980s, computer assisted operation of geothermal production facilities was extensively utilized in the Geysers. All companies which operation production facilities utilize computer based Distributed Control System (DCS) to monitor and control the current conditions at physical entities such as production wells, injection wells, condensate vessels, and pressure relief vent valves. Some of these systems also proved extensive real time data collection, reporting, and supervisory control features. In May of 1989, a survey of five operating organizations was performed to determine what features and benefits are currently provided by their DCS systems and to identify additional DCS features and benefits which are desired for the future. The results of the survey are documented in this article. It is hoped that companies and individuals involved in the development or operation of new or existing geothermal production facilities will benefit from the experiences of the organizations which participated in this survey. These organizations collectively represent a total of over 30 calendar years of geothermal production facility DCS operations experiment.