RESERVOIR MODELING OF TOLEHU GEOTHERMAL FIELD,

AMBON, INDONESIA

Angga Alfandi Ahmad1, Bramono Prabowo2, Immanuel Lumban Gaol2, Milki Fabian
Moningka2

Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Institute Technology of Bandung, Ganeca St.
No. 10, Bandung, Indonesia

Email : anggaalfandi@gmail.com, bramonopramono@gmail.com, immanuel.lgaol@gmail.com,

milkifabian@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Tolehu geothermal field is located in Eastern part of Ambon Island, Indonesia. Tolehu has
100MW expected reserve potential. It is in the process of advanced exploration stage with 1
exploration well and 3 shallow thermal wells that has been drilled before 2012 under PT. PLN as
the developer and planned to be operational in 2018 with 20MW installed capacity (PLN, 2001,
API, 1998). Since Tolehu field will be developed further, it is important to develop reservoir
model to improve our understanding of its reservoir system and characteristics.
Reservoir model developed here will be based on preliminary conceptual model of Tolehu by
Nasution et al (2015) with top of model follows the topography of Tolehu and with basic
assumption of water dominated reservoir.
Model will be run until natural state condition achieved and will be compared to shallow thermal
wells of 150m depth. Sensitivity analysis will be done to the model for 2 parameters (porosity
and permeability) of the reservoir.

Keywords
Tolehu geothermal field, Indonesia, reservoir, modeling, TOUGH2

INTRODUCTION One of geothermal area developed by PT PLN

The growth rate of energy needs in Indonesia
requires the addition of energy generation. PT
PLN (The Indonesia Electric State Company)
has targeted an increase in electricity generation
from renewable resources of geothermal energy.
in Ambon is Tolehu geothermal field.
Tolehu geothermal field is located in Eastern
part of province of Maluku, Indonesia. It is
approximately 40km far from Pattimura airport
and 30km far from Ambon city (Fig.1).

Fig. 1 Map of distribution of geothermal
potential in Mollucas (Immanuel LG, 2016)
The current maximum operating electricity
capacity of Ambon Island and its surrounding is
approximately 55.1MW, mostly derived from
diesel power plants. It is predicted that the
electricity demand will increase significantly by
the year of 2013. The peak load demand could
possibly reach 60-70MW. If there is no
additional energy development from other
sources the electricity capacity of Ambon area
will be desperately shortage. To fulfill the
electricity demand and to increase the electricity
capacity of the area, alternative local energy
resources existing in the island may be
developed for electricity generation. Fortunately,
Ambon Island has a geothermal energy resource,
located at Tolehu area in the eastern part of the
island.
Geographically, a complex of Tolehu geothermal
area (10-45masl) is located in Northing
(128.308056) and Easting (-3.593056) (Fig.2).
Fig. 2 Location of Tolehu geothermal study
area, Ambon islands (modified from Monnier
et al., 2003)
The thermal features consist of inactive
fumaroles, and hot springs, with temperature
between 3780oC, having HCO3-Cl type waters
(Nasution, et.al. 2010). A low temperature of
fumaroles (40oC at 40m depth) on the Banda
village crater indicates an upflow fluid from the
study area. The geophysical surveys (MT
survey) to define subsurface structures over a
potential field are mostly used in many
geothermal fields (eg.Ross, 1993; Mogi and
Nakama, 1993; Uchida, 2010).
GEOSCIENTIFIC STUDY
Geoscientific study consisting of geology,
geochemistry and geophysics has been
conducted to provide sufficient information of
geothermal prospect.
Geology
Geologically the Tolehu geothermal field is of a
graben structure with faults and fractures in its
rocks, forming a geothermal reservoir. Most
rocks in the area are of volcanic types,
consisting of lava and pyroclastics of andesitic
to dasitic composition distributed on high
topographic areas (pyroclastics) and in river
valleys (lava) and the rest are sedimentary rocks
(limestones and sandstones), colluvial and
alluvial deposits. Several faults and fractures are
recognized in the area by means of
topographical lineaments, lithological changes
and geothermal manifestations and distribution.
The sediments, the Calk-alkaline and tholeitic
volcanic rocks of Neogene to Quaternary ages
develop on Tolehu geothermal prospect area:
-The Old Sedimentary materials
The sedimentary rock composed of sand stone
and tuff of Tertiary age (Fig.3) which having
grey to dark color rocks with thickness about 1.5
to 15m.
-The Neogene volcanics
The Stratigraphy of Neogen Volcanic rocks
composed of Basaltic Tanjung lava, the dacitic
lava and pyroclastic Salahutu unit, the andesitic
lava and pyroclastics Bukit Bakar unit, the
andesitic lava and pyroclastic Huwe unit and the
pyroclastic Kadera (Fig.3).
-The Quaternary volcanic and sediment
Based on rock formations, which covering the
fields of Tolehu geothermal area, the rocks
compose of Quaternary volcanic and limestone
(coral reef) materials. The older volcanic is the
Eriwakang volcanic deposits, which composed
of ash, pumice, block lavas, exposed on the
eastern flank, and along the creek of Banda
small river (Fig.3).
A continuous stratigraphic sequence above
pyroclastic material in the lower part of northern
flank Mt. Eriwakang , strong altered zones are
observed. They are Banda and Hatuasa alteration
zones, which cropping out along at Banda
Hatuasa fault.
Fig. 3 The regional geology of Tolehu geothermal prospect area, Ambon
Geochemistry to 230oC for temperature values. By using Na/K
The geochemical study conducted in the area geothermometry of Giggenbach (1988), the
analyzes hot springs fluids. The analysis shows formula is toC = 1390/ [(log Na/K) + 1.75] - 273.
that the waters have high Cl, low SO 4 and The calculated subsurface temperature of water
moderate HCO3 concentrations, representing Cl samples from Sila and Hatuasa are from 230 oC
and HCO3 water types. These facts indicate that to 240oC.
the hot fluids are coming from deep reservoir,
diluted by shallow ground water.
The chemical composition of the water samples
in Ambon Island was investigated in terms of
relative Cl\ SO3 and HCO2 contents which the
results shown in Table.1 and Fig.4. The silica
concentrations are high compared to other
thermal discharges,particularly at Sila and
Hatuasa hot springs showing 236.00 mg/l. In
using SiO2 geothermometry by Fournier (1981),
the formula is toC = 1522/ (5.7 log C SiO2)
273. By using this formula, the sub-temperature
of Tolehu hot spring represent > 220oC. This is
supported by silica sinter deposits which are
found around Sila and Hatuasa hot spring areas.
In using Na/K geothermometry of Fournier
(1981), the formula is toC = 1,217/ [(log C
Na/K) + 1.483] - 273. The calculated
temperature of thermal discharges of water Fig.4 Type of hot water sample
samples from Sila show the subsurface from 210

Table.1 Chemical analysis of Ambon, Haruku hot springs (from Marini et al.,1999)
Geophysics m where low resistivity values obtained from the
combination of caprocks that contains rich
conducted minerals and hydrothermal layer
containing electrolite of hot water so that both of
these components make this layer as a
conductive layer.
The third layer (R3) below the conductive layers
has resistivity values of 15-100 ohm-m in depth
of 800-2500 m which assumed as location of
geothermal reservoir. There is a layer with high
resistivity (> 100 ohm-m) at a depth of 2500-
4000 m which is a basement rocks as a part of
the heat source.

Fig.6 The lateral distribution of resistivity

values to the subsurface

Fig.5 Geophysical Lines for MT Study

Geophysics method has been done to collect

datas with observation of Magnetotelluric (MT)
at flank of Mt. Salahutu to Mt Eriwakang using
34 points of measurement in spacing of 750m
which distribute in 7 sistematic lines from line A
to line G (fig. 5). The first to the seven sections
show passing through line-A to line G, where
every line having four to five MT points (fig. 5
& 6). MT data analysis illustrates the
distribution of horizontal and vertical resistivity
of the research areas that are arranged in three
layers resistivity; R1 for shallow layer with high
resistivity (5-50 ohm-m), R2 for moderate layer
with low resistivity (<5 ohm-m) and R3 for deep
layer with high resistivity (>20 ohm-m). Fig.7 The vertical distribution of resistivity
The upper layer (R1) has resistivity range of 10- values to the subsurface of Banda-Hatuasa
50 ohm-m with thickness between 50-150m and Eriwakang area show three resistivity
which contains fresh blocky lava and pyroclastic layers
materials.
The second layer (R2) has resistivity that lower
than 10 ohm-m with thickness between 300-700