Proceedings of the 3rd Applied Science for Technology Innovation, ASTECHNOVA 2014

International Energy Conference

Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 13-14 August 2014

Utilization the Wastes of Geothermal Well Drilling for the Making of

Portland Pozzolana Cement in West Sumatera
Elgi Alam Pangestu, Fikriansyah Ersyad, M. Prasetya Fauzi
Mining Engineering Department Universitas Negeri Padang
Jln. Prof. DR Hamka, Padang, Indonesia
elgialam@gmail.com; fikirans.ersyad@gmail.com; m.prasetyafauzi@yahoo.co.id

ABSTRACT
Geothermal energy is one of renewable energy that have hot issues in the entire of world. Because
of it can replace fossil fuels for energy. Indonesia curently has installed capacities about 1196 MW (Surya,
2011), it means Indonesia has accounted 40% of geothermal global potential with 276 existing number of
geothermal location. Geothermal well drilling also potentially generates well drilling wastes, such as drill
cutting cement which contains silicca, iron oxyde, and other minerals that can harmed the water resources.
There was an opportunity to utilizating the waste of geothermal drilling for adding as raw materials in the
making of cement. After knowing how much proporsions and contents of geothermal well drilling, we can
utilized it and wont harm water resources anymore, it can be more usefull.
KEYWORDS: Environmental Compliance, Well Drilling Wastes, Cement

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the
energy that determines the temperature of matter. The thermal energy in the core left over to the surface.
The temperature at the core may reach over 6,650C (12,000F) (Ronald., 2007). It cause some rock were
melting as molten rock (magma). Sometimes it mixed with some minerals and dissolved gasses which
happened while the temperature was upward. It melted at the outer core, mantle exactly. Mantle is the
layer that surrounds the core. Rock and water is heated in the crust sometimes reached up to 370C
(700F).
Heat reaches the surface at some plates boundaries. It converged by moving towards each other, and
convergent plates are associated with heat release. Sometimes hot magma enters the gap between plates,
and leads to the formation volcano. Geothermal power energy used first time in Larderello, Italy (Alan.,
2010). In 1960 they used the natural steam to generated electricity. Geothermal energy can work in some
ways. First, Geothermal energy can be used directly which employed hot springs near building. It flew
from a sources such as well into building heat-system. Its changed in building heat-system by a heat
exchanger. Its ready to be used for common needs. After it used, a pipe carried the water back into the
ground and it can be used again, so this why geothermal energy is called as renewable energy.
1.2

Geothermal Well Drilling Wastes

There were two basic types of drilling rigs: cable tool (percussion), and rotary. Penetrating the cable
tool into rock formation by doing draw cable tool upward. Its drawn by driving engine. Sampling with

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these tool are very simple and fairly accurate, and not easily for contaminating by previously drilled
zones. The following brief is described as the Figure 1 shown below.

Figure 1: Cabletool drilling rig

Rotary drilling is method that used rotary force to penetrating into the rock formation. Rotary
drilling is the most common used drilling method in Geothermal well drilling. There are some variations
for rotary drilling: downhole hammer, reverse circulation, drill through casing driver, dual tube reverse
circulation. Here the figure for rotary driling mechanism shown as Figure 2.

Figure 2: One of Rotary drilling: Reverse circulation drilling (Johnson Division, 1966)
Drilling operations in several wells produce fragmented rocks as chip and called as drill cuts. This
drill cut may contain minerals, and if we doesnt have correct plan to manage this waste, it worried harm
water resources. According to Ronald DiPippo (2007), there are several places where geofluids may get
into the environment during field development, especially drilling operations. These fluids contain
minerals and elements that may harm humans, flora and fauna, and the biosphere. West Sumatera was
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exceeded by The Quartenary volcanic belt that potencials of geothermics, ephitermal mineralization,
solfatara and fumarole, and building materials. According to the volcanic kenozoikum rock map, West
Sumatera potentials volcanic quternary rocks that consists of pyroclastics, lahar, lava, breccia, and tuff.
The drill cuts based on kenozoikum rock map indicated contain mineral such as sillica, and iron oxyde. It
can be used as raw material on the making of cement. We have to know the chemical compounds of drill
cuts to make sure it can be used. Moreover if the drill cuts contain amrphous sillica, these can be used as
additive material for cement types Portland Pozzolana Cement.
1.3

Cement

Cement is an adhesive hidraulic for all construction project. Cement could be classified and has
many type depend on its pressure. Cement is made by material which contain limestone, silica, clay, and
iron sand. Those material has oxide or mineral suitable with the rule of making cement. Usually, cement
are contain limestone 80%, silica 10%, clay 8%,and iron sand 2%. Good or bad quality of cement
can be measured by that own material. To make cement, all of material through some processes, such as
hulling on raw mill. By this process all materials get homogenizing, drying, and grinding to enter the next
process. The result on this raw mill called Raw mix has pulvurized form. On this process materials are
combusting and refregerating in klin and grade cooler. These process produced as called as clinker.
These just a half in the making of cement process. The klinker are entering a process on cement mill to
blend with a gypsum and add other materials based on the desirable type of cement. We could add other
materials such like LS, pozzolan, fly ash, and EP dust. At last, the result of those process are the real
cement.
2

RESEARCH METHODS

Due to determine how much proportion in cement compositions, we have to make certain about
what kind compounds are in wastes of geothermal well drilling sample. We used quantitative and
qualitative analysis both with X-Ray Flourescence and X-Ray Diffraction. Quantitative analysis is using
X-Ray Fluorescence to determine how much all of materials which could mix with another materials as
raw mix material. Whereas qualitative is using X-Ray Diffraction to detect how is silica compound shape.
Then we calculate Lime Saturation Factor, Silica Modulus, and Alumina Modulus, to create a cement raw
mix design proportion.
3

RESULTS

Quantitative analysis result that contains fine silica based on Semen Padang quality standard with
amounts 58.35%. Quantitative results are shown as Table 1 below.
Table 1: X-Ray Fluorescence Chemical Substances Analysis
Chemical Substances
Amounts (%)
SiO2
58.35
Al2O3
21.37
Fe2O3
8.12
Cao
5.13
MgO
2.74
LOI
3.07
H2O
26.03
BTL
58.01
Source : Biro Jaminan Kualitas & Pelayanan Teknis PT. Semen Padang
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Whereas cyrastal shape of sample (qualitative analysis) using X-Ray Diffraction show that is
amorph shape amounts 5.5% . The following is result of X-Ray Diffraction below.
Counts
pzl_dcc.15.07.14
Amorph 5.5 %
Andesine 92.6 %
Spangolite 0.0 %
Quartz low 1.9 %
10000

5000

0
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Position [2Theta] (Copper (Cu))

Figure 3: Graphics analyze view of chemical shape

DISCUSSIONS

In the making of cement, the main material such as calcium oxyde, alumina silica, and iron oxyde.
Those materials are needed for reacting and forming cement chemical compound. Beside of those raw
material, there are minor materials which have to keep its own proportions, cause it could bug cement
production, especially in burning process. Calcareous component was rock that contain much CaCO3
which used as calcium oxyde. Limestone contain CaCO3 80% 90% and consists calcite or aragonite as
main mineral. Chalk is more higher than limestone and contain 98% 99% CaCO3 because its geoligical
life was oldest than limestone. Whereas marl contain CaCO3 lower than both rocks above. Second,
argillaceous component is rock which contain silica oxyde and alumina oxyde used for raw mix material.
High alumina in argillaceous component such as clay is used with contain alumina-silica hydrate.
Based on X-Ray Flourescence test, the waste contain high silica which amount 58.35%, alumina
oxyde 21.37%, iron oxyde 8.12%, and calcium oxyde 5.13%. Those could be mix into limestone, clay,
and silicastone. Iron oxyde is not enough values to fulfill as ironsand. Based on calculation raw mix
design, we could get how much proportions are needed to get cement.
Raw mix compositions are expressed as modulus factors. There are three modulus factors include
LSF (Lime Saturation Factor), Silica Modulus (SIM), and Alumina Modulus (ALM). LSF is ratio between
effective CaO and maximum CaO which needed to tie chemical compounds such as silica oxydes SiO 2 ,
alumina oxydes Al2O3 and iron oxydes Fe2O3 . Theoritically, LSF formula is drawn as Eq. (1). SIM show
a ratio between SiO2 and Al2O3, Fe2O3. These is drawn as Eq. (2). Whereas ALM play role to determine
compositions from liquid phase. ALM refers to ratio between Al2O3 and Fe2O3, drawn as Eq. (3).

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LSF

100 CaO
90 100
2.8SiO2 1.18 Al 2 O3 0.65 Fe 2 O3

(1)

SIM

SiO2
2.2 2.7
Al 2 O3 Fe 2 O3

(2)

ALM

Al 2 O3
1.3 1.6
Fe 2 O3

(3)

All of its values must be manageable, to prevent another chemical reactions. High LSF cause mix
material is difficult to be burned and as fuel requirements are increasing as it over reacting. Influence of
modulus values toward productions are given by Table 2 below.
Table 2: Influences of Modulus Factor
Number
1.
2.
3.
4.

Influences High LSF

Influences High SIM

Difficult in burning raw mix materials

Difficult in burning raw

mix materials
Produce free Lime (f-CaO)
Produce free Lime (fCaO)
Increasing C3S, cause high early pressure Decreasing amount of
strenght
liquid phase
Cement setting time is
more slowly.
Source: Laboratorium proses PT. Semen Padang

Influences High ALM

Difficult in burning raw
mix materials
Decreasing amount of
liquid phase
Increasing C3A but
decreasing C4AF
Cement setting time is
more quickly

Calculate delta each modulus factors are needed to determine cement dry-base compositions. The
Eqs. (4) - (6) are drawn as delta each modulus factors. Comparing each modulus factor on target with each
modulus factor based on calculation are equals delta each modulus factor. All of total material proportions
must be equals 1. These is given by Eq. (7). Based on delta each modulus factor, there were 4 variabel on
it. Substitute and eliminate them to get each dry-base composition. Because all of material are in dry
condition without enclose water composition, we must calculate wet-base proportion based on water
contains. Calculate wet-base proportion is drawn by Eq. (8) below.

LSFSP
DLTLSF CaO1

LSF

(4)

SIM SP
DLTSIM SiO2 1

SIM

(5)

ALM SP

DLTALM Al 2 O3 1

ALM

(6)
(7)

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% xi (dry)

% H 2 O xi
)
(1
100

100%
% xi ( wet )
% xi (dry)
i
% H 2 O xi
(1
)
100

(8)

Based on calculation, we simulate for best cement proportions as shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Raw Mix Proportion
No

Parameter

% Wet

Raw Mix Ratio

Component
Limestone
Silicastone
Clay
Iron sand

Simulation Raw Mix

Clay
Limestone
Silicastone
82,78%
83,43%
83,22%
6,35%
8,09%
7,23%
9,21%
6,67%
7,85%
1,66%
1,82%
1,70%
20 % : 80 % 99 % : 1%
98 % : 2 %

Seeing on the table above these materials could be mix as clay considering economics factor, and
effetive factors. If we refers to Semen Padang price standard for raw mix, we could be economized up to
20%.

CONCLUSION

Mixing waste of geothermal well drilling with cement raw material is one way to avoid
environmental risk because of drill cut that may harm water resources. Based on calculation for cement
proportion, we suggest to use these material into clay. With proportion limestone amount 82.78 %,
silicastone 6.35%, clay 9.21%, and iron sand 1.66%. And utilize waste about 20% waste, and 80% Semen
Padang raw material. This waste contain amrphous silica amount 5.5% based on X-Ray Diffraction test.
These materials could add as pozzolan in cement mill process. But, with 5.5% amorphous silica are not
enough reactive as pozzolan. So, these wastes just could mix as raw mix material.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank those who assited us in the research processMrs. Ike Wiyana, Mr.
Hendrio, Mr. Artila Bhoer. We also wish to thank Agem Hartias Putera as Chairman of Association of
Mining Engineering Student, Mr. Heri Prabowo as our lecturer, Mr. Bambang Heriyadi as Chairman of
Mining Engineering Department for their able assistance and fund us in this research. We also appreciate
the interest shown in the study by Professor Ganefri, Ph.D, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Universitas
Negeri Padang.

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REFERENCES
Culver, G. Drilling and Well Construction. Chapter 6, pp. 129-134.
DiPippo, R. (2007). Geothermal Power Plants: Principles, Applications, Case Studies and Environmental
Impact, Dartmouth: BH Publisher. XIX, pp. 394-395.
Pengendalian Bahan Dalam Proses. PT. Semen Padang. pp 2-12.
Surya D. (2011). Current Outlook on Geothermal in Indonesia, In ASEAN - Australia New Zealand
Business Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand, June 2-3, 2011, pp 4.
Watchel A. (2010). Energy Today: Geothermal Energy, Chelsea Club House Publisher, USA, pp. 4-5, 17.

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