Company Profile

Maibarara Geothermal Power

The development of Maibarara field started in the midseventies as part of the development of
the Mak-Ban potential. However, due to the failure to define a field large enough to support a
bigger capacity plant, the existing productive wells remained untapped and idle. The Maibarara
resource was initially suspected to contain substantial reserve because of the presence of
surface manifestations similar to those that had characterized well-known geothermal fields.
These include fumaroles, hydrothermally altered ground emitting odor of H2S gas and low
resistivity anomalies within the area. The first deepwell drilled, Maibarara 1, was-initially
completed at 591 m where a two-phased rig test suggested that the well flowed about 7.5
kg/sec of high steam fraction at 8.78 kg/cm well head pressure. However, when the well was
developed, an extreme temperature reversal occurred that resulted in the damaging of the
shallow production zone. The well was found to be no longer commercial eventually. Maibarara
No. 2 on the northern side of the hydrothermally-altered ground was also a failure. Similar
temperature reversal was encountered. The third well however was successful. It is believed
currently to tap the heart of the Maibarara geothermal field. While Maibarara No. 79-llSH was
drilled as a slim hole and as such is not commercially productive. The 315' C resource
encountered extended from -716 m to the bottom of -1, 402 m elevation. Subsequent drilling of
Maibarara, Numbers 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 has expanded the known productive area only slightly.
Significant area expansion outside of the general Maibarara No. 79-llSH area has been
unsuccessful in every direction so far. 1n' the southern part, two wells (Maibarara 4 and 8) were
drilled but intercepted hot formation only below -1,067 m elevation with extensive cool rock
above said depth. The inability of these two wells to flow had discouraged additional exploration
towards the south.
Further exploration was undertaken to determine the, boundary of the reservoir, with a total of
twelve wells drilled for a period of six years. Finally, it was concluded that Maibarara reserve is
limited in size, underpressured, and of limited capacity. It has also been characterized as a high
temperature resource with five wells surrently capable of supplying 63 Kg/sec at 10.9 kg/cm
wellrheacl 'pressure and at most 11 MW in Output.

The project is to be located in Sitio Capus, Barangay San Rafael, Sto. Tonas, Batangas, about
65 km south of Manila. The site is accessible from the Sto. Tomas - Calamba road thru a 5 km
feeder road.
Site Evaluation
Evaluation of the candidate sites were made according to the following criteria:
a. Proximity to Steam Source 25 %
b. Topography/Earthworks 20 %
c. Geologic Condition 20 %
d. Fresh Water Supply Availability 25 %
e. Effects on Field Developer's
Facilities (Existing and Future) 5 %
f . Flood Risk 5 %

The proposed generating plant is to be constructed in a 1.2 ha agricultural land characterized by

gently rolling terrain planted to coconuts and bananas.

The Maibarara resource has five productive steam wells. These wells are known to have high
temperature but of limited size, under pressured, and of limited permeability and unknown
storage.
The 20 MW modular units was previously selected for this particular project due to its standard
design that is adaptable to changing pressure, flows and gas content of steam. However, further
investigation of the reserve capacity of the field showed that the field is ideally suited for a small
power plant with rated capacity of 13.6 MW Since the capacity of the modular unit is too big for
the geothermal energy, NAPOCOR on advice of Philippine Geothermal Inc. ( P G I ) .elected to
install a 10 MW geothermal generating unit suited to the field.
The project will compose of a single unit (10 MW) of conventional condensing steam turbine
geothermal power plant designed to utilize geothermal energy from wells drilled in the
Maibarara Geothermal Field.

Project Goals, Objectives and Purposes

The power capability of Luzon Grid has been significantly reduced by derated condition and
frequent shutdown of ageing power plants, low generation capacity of hydro-electric plants
caused by low reservoir level because of droughts, and late implementation of new power
projects. The power cut- down resulted to frequent power failure in mostparts of Luzon
including Metro Manila. Though the power generation capability of this project is small
compared with other geothernal power plants of NAPOCOR, development of this project will
add to the aggregate capacity of existing generating power stations, utilize a cheaper
indigenous energy and increase employment opportunities to local population. Since electricity
consumption relates directly with growing economy, the greater availability of cheap and reliable
electricity will help sustain the growth of industries and commercial establishments and our
economy to a positive direction.

Plant layout
The power plant shall consist principally of powerhouse building, containerized control/support
building, cooling towers and switchyard. The proposed powerstation will occupy an area of
approximately 1.2 ha. The cooling tower and the high voltage substation will be situated at the
southern and northern sides of the powerhouse, respectively.

Process Flow
Two-phase geothermal fluid from the production wells enter the separator from
where the steam is separated from water phase fluid. The segregated steam is
filtered by the strainers attached to each pipeline. The steam enters the turbine
which is directly coupled to an air-cooled generator, then to the condenser. In the
condenser, the exhaust steam from the turbine mixes directly with streams of cooling
water, thus condensing the steam. A set of steam gas ejectors with their own
condenser remove gases from the condenser maintaining a vacuum of 101.6 mm

Hg absolute. The cooling water (together with the condensed steam) collected in the
condenser is pumped to the cooling tower. About 80 to 90 % of water added to the
cycle by condensation of steam is released by evaporation from the cooling tower.
The remainder is a waste (blowdown) to be disposed off into a reinjection well. The

cooling water which is heated by condensing steam in the condenser is cooled by air
flowing through the cooling tower.

Observation
Maibarara Geothermal Plant is a big step in changing to reneawable energy source
which I think a very important change that must be funded very well. Although the
Plant is not yet complete there are signs of changes on the surroundings of the plant
like the trees are not anymore able to bloom leaves. There are still people living near
the site which I think a very impractical thing to do because of the hazardous gas
that the plant may produce. I would like to come back to Maibarara when it is fully
operational as a power plant and maybe become a part of the development of the
Geothermal Plant.
Recommendation
In terms of the way they extract steam underground I cant think of any changes in
their existing designs. The things that I think that needed to have their attention are
the people living near the power plant area. Too much exposure to hazardous gas
can lead to illness or worst death. They must provide a relocation area for this
people to prevent any unnecessary accident.
Reference
Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Department and
Impact Assessment Division, (May 1992).

PLANT TOUR

ON

Maibarara Geothermal Plant

Gaite, John Phillip M.

2007103809
BSME-IV
May 25, 2011