Development Strategy for the Bulalo Geothermal Field, Philippine

Abstract

All of the brine and condensate produced in the Bulalo geothermal field has been injected since 1979, when the first two 55 power plants came on-line. However, in 1989 the return of the cool injectate to the reservoir caused well productivity declines in the western part of the field. Between 1989 and early 1992, injection wells were drilled from production wells to mitigate this problem. Numerical reservoir validated this development strategy, and well productivity improved rapidly after injection was moved. Based on the predicted field performance, acceleration of production through capacity additions was shown to be feasible. In 1994, binary units comprising i 6 were installed, utilizing waste brine that was previously injected directly to the reservoir. Modular units consisting of 40 baseload capacity and 40 W e standby capacity will begin operation in 1995-96. After the planned additions, installed capacity will be 426 making it the second largest liquid-dominated field in the world.