Geothermal Drilling Waste Management in Indonesia: Regulation, Practices, and Utilization

Abstract

The 2030 national target of Indonesia's geothermal energy development will lead to an increased number of drilling activities in various geothermal prospects, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia. In some cases, geothermal developers in Indonesia, when planning drilling operations, are too focused on rig equipment and well construction and tend to simplify matters related to drilling waste. This often leads to negative impacts on the overall drilling project where poor waste management creates environmental pollution that harms the local community and ultimately destroys the trust that has been built among the stakeholders. This paper aims to summarize various aspects related to drilling waste management such as various types of drilling waste, waste management regulations, equipment used for the waste management, and the utilization of the drilling waste. In addition, this paper will also discuss some relevant case studies in Indonesia to provide context to the reader. The goal is to bring and increase awareness to the geothermal community in Indonesia on how important planning and implementing proper waste management is in order to achieve the overall drilling objectives.