The microseismic observation in dry steam type geothermal field in Indonesia

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss about the use of micro earthquake method in monitoring of dry steam type geothermal field in Indonesia. This study takes X geothermal field, which is the pioneer of Indonesia’s geothermal development. Therefore, it should be maintained for long period by doing proper production and reinjection activities. Hypocenters of microseismic events is represented movements of reinjection fluids that means it could be space where fractured zone is formed. We use Single Event Determination (SED) method to relocate the hypocenters of microseismic event during the period of January - June 2014. About 179 events of micro earthquake were recorded on that period, these micro earthquake have magnitudes in range of 0.4 to 2.1 SR. Some of them are related to reinjection fluid from injection well INJ21. The hypocenters which is related to injection fluid from INJ21 shows that fractured zones exist on there. These fractured zones is located in geothermal reservoirs based on the geological setting. Fractured zones caused by high pressure of reinjection fluid where it happens in geothermal reservoirs containing high temperature, when reinjection water contacted with high temperature reservoir, it will be a new fractured zones because of high intensity of micro earthquake events.