Drilling Infrastructure Construction Challenges in Geothermal Exploration Project in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

In an attempt to achieve a national target of geothermal energy development, it is crucial to have all geothermal exploration projects run as per schedule. However, as an archipelago nation, Indonesia faces wide ranges of challenges in developing geothermal energy, especially those located in Eastern Indonesia. The lack of infrastructure development and the connection between the main islands are the main challenges. Another challenge is that most of Indonesia's geothermal prospects are associated with volcanic activities and lies in high-relief terrain, creating many geohazards. Moreover, other typical challenges such as community rejection, regulation, and environmental issues make it more difficult for any developer to run a geothermal exploration project in Eastern Indonesia, especially constructing the drilling infrastructures. This study aims to summarize several potential challenges that are most likely will be encountered by the geothermal developer in constructing drilling infrastructure during the exploration phase in Eastern Indonesia and several mitigation options based on the literature review and the author's experiences.