Exploration Strategy in Kerinci Geothermal Prospect Located Inside the National Park of Indonesia

Abstract

The Kerinci geothermal prospect is located in the western part of Jambi Province (Sumatra, Indonesia) that planned to develop 1X55MW by Pertamina Geothermal Energy to meet electricity need in the southern region of Sumatera. Exploration activities conducted intensively by doing geological survey and geophysical survey, and also permit and land clearing to build 9 km road and well pads which are close to the boundary of the National Park finished in 2011. The prospect comes with several challenges as the heat source of up flow located inside a National Park area. The first exploration drilling sited in the western boundary accomplished in june 2013 with total depth of 2650 m measured depth. Well testing provides steam 70 ton/hour, 240 ton brine/hour, enthalpy 1100Kj/kg at well head pressure 5,5-6,5 Ksc. This well shows promising resources that continue to drill other exploration wells in the Northern and Southern boundary of the prospect .