Seismic Exploration and Safety Risk study for decentralised geothermal plants in Indonesia

Seismics is a key technology for subsurface investigation. High-resolution imaging in areas with high geothermal gradients is a relatively new application. The sustainable use of geothermal resources for decentral power generation in
Indonesia requires differentiated pre-site surveying, exploration and monitoring of the field because of the changeable geological conditions. Within the framework of the project, high-resolution seismic methods will be tested as to their potential for reservoir surveying and -monitoring and for derivation of the geotechnical parameters. The results can be calibrated with bore-hole and other geophysical investigations which are planned within the joint project. For site-specific optimisation of the results, reflection seismic techniques will be further developed. Another important part of our project is on-site lecturing and education.

Working Area Sipoholon

The primary working area is around Sipoholon in Northern Sumatra. It is a potential reservoir linked to faults, and is being currently investigated by project partners. The detection and tracing of fault zones, the imaging of the basin's border, the characterisation of the degree of fracturing and the determination of physical parameters of the bedrock are the main aims of this work.
With the aid of hammerblow and two different microvibrators, both p- and s-wave profiles have been acquired.

Further Working Areas

The next steps will be some measurements near Bandung (Lembang) in Western Java and near Tiris in Eastern Java. A workshop for students of the University of Bandung (ITB) will be arranged in 2012. It will compose of both lectures and seismic fieldwork.