Mighty River Power’s Geothermal R&D Programme Joe Gamman Geothermal R&D Manager Mighty River Power 4 th Dec 2008 OERC Symposium University of Otago.

Mighty River Power’s Geothermal R&D Programme

Joe Gamman

Geothermal R&D Manager

Mighty River Power

4th Dec 2008

OERC Symposium

University of Otago

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Mighty River Power

Generator (22% of NZ’s energy)

• 1000 MW hydro

• 170 MW Nat Gas Cogeneration Plant

• 270 MW Geothermal

− NP: 132 MW on-line early 2010

− NT: 500 MW Geothermal by 2012

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Geothermal Systems

<200°C>200°C

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Steam Turbine Power Plant

UP

TO

4 K

M

CYCLONE SEPARATO R

C ON D ENSER

P SI

v v v v v v

V V V V V V

EL EC T R IC A LG EN ER ATO R

FLA S H IN G TOS T E A M -B R IN E M IX TU R EIN B O R E H O L E

R E S E R V O IR B R IN E

PU M P

S T E A MTU R B IN E

B R IN EIN JE C TIO NW E LL

C ON D ENSATEINJEC TIO N

W ELL

CO O LI N GTO WER

P U M P

CYCLONESCRUBBERS T E A M

S T E A M

T U RB IN E STE A M E XH A U ST

C O N D E N S AT E

C O L D C O N D E N S AT E

Geothermal Power Plant Cycle

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Geothermal Exploration

Gas & fluid geochemistry & resistivity are the major tools• Geochemistry provides temperature constraints• Geophysics addresses permeability

Geology, alteration, & structure establish context

Drilling targets based upon conceptual model

Drilling is expensive ($8-10M per well) and high risk!• ~ 1 in 5 exploration wells are successful

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Reservoir Models and Management

Key tools in understanding reservoir processes are pressure, temperature & chemistry monitoring

Levelling – Subsidence

Gravity – mass change

Seismicity – injectate tracking

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Geothermal Drilling

Typically drill to 2500-3000m

45-60 days duration

$8-10M per well

Can drill multiple deviated wells from a single location

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Geothermal R&D Objectives

Strategic Research Areas

Graduate Support

Sustained Value from Innovation

Enhance NZ’s Geothermal Reputation

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Strategic Research Areas

Still under discussion but may include topics such as:

• Advanced Materials

− Geothermal brines are extremely corrosive – we’re outside the standard parameters

• Understanding the Reservoir

− Better steamfield management and predictability

• Targeted Drilling Programme

− Exploration and well targeting through smarter MT and Seismic

• Understanding Scale Formation

− Molecular control of silica/calcite/x-oxide behaviour

Slide 18

Process

Identify, Incentivise and Collaborate with the best researchers

Create a valuable Point Of Difference over 3/5/10 y timeframe

Proposals are received and evaluated continuously

• Business Case prepared by MRP, evaluated and communicated back to the researcher

R&D Stakeholder Management

• Encourage campus-wide collaboration to rationalise stakeholder management ie, OERC