1. 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

2. 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

3. Geothermal Systems
>200°C
<200°C

4. Steam Turbine Power Plant

8. 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

11. Reservoir Models and Management
Key tools in understanding reservoir processes are pressure, temperature & chemistry monitoring
Levelling – Subsidence
Gravity – mass change
Seismicity – injectate tracking

13. Geothermal Drilling Typically drill to 2500-3000m 45-60 days duration
$8-10M per well
Can drill multiple deviated wells from a single location

16. Geothermal R&D Objectives
Strategic Research Areas
Graduate Support
Sustained Value from Innovation
Enhance NZ’s Geothermal Reputation

17. 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

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