Development of Well Testing Methods at Wairakei 1950-1980

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the downhole and production testing equipment and methods that were developed and used at the Wairakei geothermal field over the last 40 years. Instruments to measure the downhole temperatures were developed and in use within a year of completing the first wells, and remained essentially unchanged as the preferred system for routine data collection for the next 20 years. Although separators were developed and available for permanent well test sites, for mobile exploration well testing, calorimeters were used until the James method became available in the early 1960ís. This method as the preferred method for testing large geothermalwell flows today.