Discharge Stimulation in Two-phase Liquid-dominated Wells in Dieng Field in Indonesia: Lessons Learned

Abstract

The Dieng Geothermal Field, Indonesia, is a two-phase high enthalpy reservoir with a current installed capacity of 60 MW. Some liquid-dominated wells near the reservoir boundary are non-artesian, primarily due to a water column above the main feed zones. This paper elaborates on discharge stimulation carried out for several production and idle wells over the past five years, including several methods, such as air compression, well-to-well, and nitrogen injection. The analysis encompasses the discharge prediction, method selection tailored to each wellbore condition and parameter, the designed program, and actual field results while highlighting challenges and lessons learned. In general, most methods have successfully reactivated all liquid-dominated wells. However, when implementing these methods in 25-year-old wells, several technical considerations need to be taken into account to minimize the adverse effects of sudden temperature differences in the well during the transition from non-discharged to discharged conditions.