Notes on the Early History of Wairakei
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Proceedings 20th Geothermal Workshop 1998 NOTES ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF WAIRAKEI R.S. 11Fiesta Grove, Raumati Beach, New Zealand SUMMARY These notes outline the major circumstancesand events influencing the decision to investigate the resources of New Zealand, together with problems faced in the early days of the development of They cover the period fiom 1918when the first suggestion for the investigationof the resource appeareduntil early 1953when Wairakei's development began in earnest. 1. INTRODUCTION would be more economical than the further use of water." 1924) 1.1. Early Interest in the Resource Eighty years ago, on 2 February, 1918, the Coincidentally, in 1925, a 250 generator was Masterton Chamber of Commerce requested the operating at the Geysers. However, no further Minister of Public Works to enquire into the development was being carried out because of the utilization of thermal energy for industrial and competition hydro and natural gas. other purposes, pointing out that the Italians were 1980). In other words, although now generating electrical energy fiom thermal districts the intensively developed geothermal field and were using it for lighting, and in the world, the Geyser's early development was munitions manufacture with great success. inhibited for much the same reasons as was New 1918). However, another four decades passed Zealand's. before New Zealand could say with some truth that it was using electricity fiom thermal The literature from this period is district "with great success". sparse, but one publication of significance is Geological Survey Bulletin 37. (Grange, 1937). Among a number of similar suggestions which This is the first detailed description of the geology appeared over the next two decades, perhaps the of the Zone and made an most unusual New Zealand's High important contribution to the subsequent Commissioner in London. Following discussions investigation and development of the resource. with Prince Ginoro di Conti after the first World Power Conference in 1924, the High 1.2. The Beginning of SeriousInterest Commissioner suggested to Government that New Zealand should investigate both the generation of Early in 1940, the Council of Scientific and electricity and the recovery of helium fiom the Industrial Research recommended that the thermal regions. The reason was that this would utilization of the thermal resources should be be of national interest should an Imperial Airship investigated. (Hamilton, 1954). Although at the Fleet be formed. time, the most promising prospect appeared to be power generation, hydro resources were still In his reply, the Prime Minister said that water considered to be sufficient for some years ahead. power schemes under construction had sufficient Nevertheless, at the request of the DSIR, Captain capacity to meet power requirements for at least F.E.N. Tuck, a Public Works Department twenty years. Somewhat prophetically, he added engineer with the 2nd NZEF, accompanied by that "At end of that it may possibly be Trooper D.E.Jobley visited Larderello in worth careful investigation to see whether the use 1944. of natural steam for the generation of extra power 13 Although a substantial part of the plant had been else was the frequently expressed emphasis on systematicallydestroyed by the retreating German urgency Government's wish to be Army, Tuck produced a well illustrated report on seen to be doing everything possible to overcome the power and chemical facilities at Larderello. the shortage of power. While reflecting Italian practices prior to the war, there is little doubt that his report had a significant The pressure was evident fiom the first weeks of influence on subsequent decisions to investigate the Committee's operations. the wider the geothermal resources of New Zealand (Tuck, investigation programme already under way was 1944). to be replaced with a concentrated of the 13 mile by 13 mile area surrounding Wairakei. Systematic investigation began with the The drilling programme would then be based on appointment of Jim Healy as Government the information fiom these investigations. Cabinet Volcanologist in 1945, followed early in 1946 by approval for to establish a camp and a DSIR meeting in Rotorua at which a five year procure seismic equipment for the revised covering the whole thexmal region programme was received on 23rd November, was agreed. Receipt of Cabinet approval enabled 1949. the work to begin without delay. However, only a fortnight later, the continued By the mid to late there were strong pressure resulted in a major change. Drilling was doubts as to whether sufficient hydro would, in to commence at Wairakei as soon as possible, the fact, be available to meet the North Island's needs. initial holes being sited on the basis of the The problem was compounded by serious delays information already available. in obtaining plant, by shortages of labour and materials, by a continuing shortage of A problem arose over control of the work in the hydrocarbons to supply the steam stations and by field. The DSIR had been leading the two dry years. Interest in the resource investigations to that time but, with the focus now quickened and in 1948, as well as accelerating on power development, the expected hydro investigations, the advised geothermal investigations to be in the Parliament that the DSIR were investigating the same way as were hydro investigations. This use of geothermal steam for power meant that although the GAC were in overall 1948). control, the work should be the Ministry of responsibility. For thisreason, Wairakei 13. The Final Commitment was placed under the control of the Project Engineer Mangakino. By the end of 1948, the power situation had , deteriorated to such an extent that Government In effect, a two part programme resulted. The required little persuasion to initiate a more DSIR continued to investigate the whole of the focussed investigation programme involving regions on an orthodox scientific basis MOW and the as well as the DSIR. For this while the investigations at Wairakei specifically purpose, the Geothermal Advisory Committee for power were continued under the control of the (GAC) was set up in mid-1949. Composed of the MOW. Each organization assisted the other as Commissioner of Works, the Secretary of the required, but was to receive priority. DSIR, the General Manager of the State Hydro- electric Department (SHD) and the Director of the Dissension over the accelerated programme for N.Z. Geological Survey, the Committee reported Wairakei persisted. In correspondence with John to Cabinet through the Minister in Charge of the Banwell later in the year, Sir Ernest Marsden DSIR. By the Committee responsible to suggested that it didn't matter much where the Cabinet, Govemment gave a clear indication of first bores were sited, as long as there were the importance attached to the investigation and surface indications of steam close by. His advice developmentof the resource. was to go ahead drilling a small hole without much more science. He agreed that this was a 'bull at a gate' approach and that the scientific 2 THEINVESTIGATION work should continue in parallel with any drilling, but he considered that, in view of the urgency, the 2.1. Setting Up need to take should be accepted. The Committee was faced with the usual Director of the N.Z. Geological Survey, problems in setting up a new activity, assembling was strongly of the opinion that hole siting should staff, plant and equipment and obtaining finance, be based on more scientific input. He considered all of which were in short supply. There was also the advice "irresponsible and dangerous to the the need to work with and develop a technology uninformed'' but, view of the pressures on the which was very much in its and, in some Committee, had little choice but to accept the areas, nonexistent. Overshadowing situation. 14 any particular bore was dependent on the results 2.2. The Selection of Wairakei for of the first stage drilling. Development Although not based on a detailed examination of 2.4. Rigs and Drilling Personnel the resource as a whole, the decision to go to At their meetings, the only rigs the Wairakei was not made lightly. Committee were aware of were two DSIR Sullivan 37 rigs already working at Wairakei, a The area at Wairakei was extensive with 1500foot capacity rig owned by the MOW and a one of the largest estimated natural heat outflows large oil exploration rig which had been moth in the thermal regions. The steam field and balled for 10 years. On inspection, neither of the potential power station sites were on Crown land latter proved to be suitable for the work and the and the topography of the area, together with the Committee was in something of a quandary. This availability of ample cooling water indicated a was resolved by denuding the Waikato hydro relatively straightforward power development. project of their investigation rigs, namely, three The proximity of the MOW hydro project at Sullivan 37s. Geothermal energy was given top Mangakino suggested a reduction priority! should be possible in the time required to set up and begin work. Finally, the supply for the The problem of how to handle the expected high Wairakei Hotel was an encouraging sign pressures and temperatures with a lack of regarding fromthe field. appropriate equipment and trained personnel also had to be resolved urgently. Mines Department Given the urgency with which answers were drillers frequently encountered high pressures required, these were compelling reasons for the when drilling investigation holes for coal. With selection of Wairakei for the investigations. their experience in the Under-Secretary of Mines was approached for assistance. As a result, 23. The Agreed Programme for Wairakei Bob McMillan, the Drilling Superintendent fi-om Greymouth, together with a Failing 1500 rig and On the 9th March 1950, a meeting at the Wairakei crew, were released initially on secondment, but Hotel of both DSIR and MOW personnel and later by transfer.