Cover Photograph: Highlights of Indonesia-Japan Flores Island geothermal project Upper: one of the ultimate goals of geothermal explorations for geothermal power generation is to acquire natural steam by drilling to geothermal reservoirs at depths where the effectiveness of geothermal explorations is strictly tested by the drilling result. The "Research Cooperation Project on the Exploration of Small-scale Geothermal Resources in the Eastern Part of Indonesia" was also tested by the drilling. The upper photograph shows distinguished guests including members of Indonesia Parliament getting off a helicopter that came from Kupan, Timor Island to Mataloko, Flores Island earlyin the morning of January 20, 2001. Residents were giving them a warm welcome in a traditional way. Their purpose of visit was to observe a flow test of NEDO well MT-2. Since the drilling equipments were restricted in a remote island area, this well was only drilled to a depth of 162.35m extremely shallow and it was a moment that all the members of this project were anxious. Lower: However, the flow test was quite successful as shown in the lower photograph. About 15 tons per hour of dry steam were stably produced at a valve-full-open state. The amounts are not small respective to the depth of the well. The shallowness of the reservoir seems a merit for economical development in turn. Dry steam also brings an advantage for seems a merit for the small-scale geothermal power development because we can save the drilling of reinjection wells. |