Geothermal Power Development in Hawaii
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GEOTHEBMAL POWER DEVELOPMENT IN HAWAII. '/' ¥olume I."" ..;:'~ DOE/ET/27l33--T2 Vol. 1 DE82 020077 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy Under Contract DE-FC03-79ET27133 ,... DISCLAIMER ...., This report was prepared 85 an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof. nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, Of assumes any legal liability or responsibilitY for the accuracy. completeness. or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product. or process disclosed. or repretentJ that its use 'Mluld not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product. process, or !Jervice by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwtse, does not necessarily constitute or imply Its endorsement. recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. 'The views end opinions of authors expressed herein do not /- "----------------'-necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. .-/ Department of Planning and Economic Development State of Hawaii June 1982· -tV DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCmlfnn 'IS UNLIMITEO FOREWORD By Hideto Kono State Director of Planning and Economic Development and State Energy Resources Coordinator Hawaii imports about $1.5 billion in petroleum each year to provide the energy it needs. Meanwhile, there, are all around us prodigious alternate energy resources awaiting development. These include the sun itself; the wind; the heat of the earth, especially in our volcanic region on the Island of Hawaii; biomass--the things which grow from our fertile soil--and ocean thermal energy conversion. This new volume reviews and analyzes geothermal power development in Hawaii. It is one of a number of reports during the past few years which throw light on ways in which Hawaii can become more self-sufficient in energy. This is essential work, preparing the way for 'reduced dependence on imported oil. This work can mean greater economic stability for our Islands and greater economic freedom for Hawaii's people. I am grateful to all who have contributed their considerable expertise to the preparation of this volume.. It makes even stronger the base of information and assessment upon which wise decisions can be made regarding geothermal power plants and power distribution systems. INTRODUCTION This report~one of two related volumes--presents information derived during the first year (1980-1981) of a two-year project of reviewing and analyzing various aspects of geothermal energy in Hawaii. It addresses specific tasks set forth in work agreement No. DE-FC03-79ET27133 of a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and conducted by the State of Hawaii Department of Planning and Economic Development (DPED). The DPED's project manager was James L. Woodruff. The report con~ists of the condensation of several studies performed by the consultants listed below. It is intended not only as an information document for the U. S. Department of Energy, but also as a reference for a wide audience of planners, investors, legislators and other decision-makers. The other volume address infrastructure and community services require ments to accommodate the development of geothermal energy for the Island of Hawaii for the production of electricity. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following consultants contributed to this.report: Donald M. Thomas, Ph.D.· Energy Research Associates Matteson and Rae Associates Parsons Hawaii RobertM. Kamins, J.D., Ph.D. Wally Hirai and Associates TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. THE HISTORY OF GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION IN HAWAII ••••••••••••••••••••• 1 II. THE NATURE OF THE GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN HAWAII •••••••••••••••••••• 6 III. THE OCCURRENCE OF GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES IN HAWAII •••••••••••••••••••• 11 A. Kauai. •.••..•...••.•.•••.•••....•.•.•.....•.•.......•..• •. .•.. .. 11 B. Oahu. •...........•........................................... .. 11 C. Maui•..•••••••••••..•••••.••.••.• It·.,. ............................ 16 1. Lahaina-Ka'anapali••.•..........•..•....•.••.•...••.•.. 19 2. Olowalu-Ukumehame••••••••••••• '••..•.•••..••.••••.•........ 19 3. Haleakala northwest rift•••'......................... •• •••• 19 D. Hawaii••• . 20 1. Kilauea east rift••••• .................................... 20 2. Keaau•.•.....••.....•....•••.•.....•••._............... 22 3. Kawaihae •••••••...•.•...•••.•.•••.•.•..•.....•.'. ••...... .. 22 4. North Kona-Hualalai 23 IV. OVERVIEW 0' GEOTHERMAL MARKETS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 25 A. Introduction, .................•. • •••••••••••••••••.• .......-a ...... 25 B. Electricity Production•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••' 27 C. Direct Heat Applications for Geothermal Heat•••••••••••••••,•••• 28 ,1. TourismlSpa ,• ............... ., '••• ". 28 2. Agriculture..... ........••,. ..•..•..•.•.....••.•........•.. .. 29 3. Food Processing•••.•••..••.••...•..•••..•••.•••.••••••.••. 30 4. Aquaculture•.••...•............•..•....••...•.•....•...... 31 5. Other Uses......................................................... 33 - i - TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page V. POTENTIAL MARKETS IN THE IDENTIFIED GEOTHERMAL AREAS ••• ~ •••••••••••• 36 A~ Puna District, Big Island•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 36 B. Ka'u District, Big Island•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 40 C. North Kona District, Big Island•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 41 D. Kawaihae Area, Big Island•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 42 E. La Perouse Bay, Maul .•••..•..........•....•..•..•.. -........... • 43 F. Haiku/Paia Area, Maui••...... e· ••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 43 G. Olowalu/Ukumehame-Lahaina/Kaanapali Areas, Maui •••••••••••••••• 44 H. Lualualei Valley, Oahu ......••••....•.•••..•..•...••..•.•...... 44 VI. WELL-DRILLING TECHNOLOGY •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 46 A. Introduction ~ ..•......•.......•.........•... .- 46 B. Drilling ,Equipment ..........................•.................. 46 1. Water or Mud ....•.•••••.•.•••••••••.....••.••.•••.•....•.. 46 2. Air Mixed with Water and a Foaming Agent •••••••••••••••••• 46 3. Air Alone "..•.....•......••..•.•..•.....•...•... 48 . C. Well Design Consideratlons ••••••••••••·••••••••••••••••••••••••• 48 } D. Casing Types ••.....•...•..•.•••••....•••.••·•••....•.•••••••.••• 49 1. Anchor Casing at the Top of the Well 49 2. Surface Casing ......•....:....•....•.•..•....'...•......••.. 49 3. Production Ca~ing .....•..•........•••.•••...,..... -~ ..•.•.•.. 49 E. Geothermal Well-Drilling Problems •••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••• 49 O 1. Caving in of the Hole ......•....•. •••••••••••••••••••••••• 50 2. Avoiding the Use of Heavy or Unnatural Fluids in the Suspected Production Zone ••••••••••••••••••••• • •••• 50 - ii - TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page F. Geothermal Well-Drilling Safety Considerations••••••••••••••••• 52 1. Temperature ; 52 2. Free-Flowing (Artesian) Wells••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 52 3. Casing Thermal Expa~sion •••••••••••-. •••••••••••••••••••• •• 53 4. Containment of Drilling Fluids and Well Production•••••••• 53 VII. HYDROTHERMAL .FLUID TRANSPORT......................................... 54 A. Introduction..........••.............................•......... 54 B. Background Review•..•••.•...••...•.•.........••....•....•.... e-. 54 C. Physical Characteristics of Hydrothermal Fluid Transmission Lines.••••.•.•.••.•••..••..•.•••.••••••..•.•••.••• 55 1. Flow.........••..•...........•....•.....•...".........•.... 55 2. Condensate '. ................................. .. 56 3. Types of Pipes -.. ..• . ....• ....•..•.................. .. 56 a. Metallic Pipe•••...•••••.•.•••••••••..••••.••••.••••.• 57 b. Non-metallic Pipe••..••.•••.••••••••.•.••••••••.•••.•• 57 4. Expansion Allowances.......•..••.•......-. ......•......•. •. 58 5. Corrosion and Materials Selection••••,••••••••••••••••••••• 58 D. Transmission Line Routing, Safety, and Security Factors•••••••• 60 E. Transmission Line Visual and Environmental Factors••••••••••••• ·60 VIII. ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION. (OVERLAND) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 62 IX. ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION (SUBMARINE) •••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ ••••••• ~ 63 - iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page X. COMMUNITY ASPECTS OF GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 66 A. Introduction••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 66 B. Rural Lifestyle•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 66 c. Visual IInp.acts •••••••••-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 67 D. Economic Activity•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 68 E. Utility Ra.tes •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 69 XI. LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL AN]) LA.ND OWERSHIP••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••-•• 70 A. Introduction 70 B. History of Mineral Rights Uncertainty•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 70 C. Legal Questions Regarding Resource Ownership Uncertainty•• '•••••••••••• -. •••••••••••••• ~ •••••••••••••••••••••• 71 D. Resource Ownership Uncertainty as a Barrier to C01lIlIlercia1izat1on•••••••••• ~ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 71 E. Resolution of Ownership Uncertainty•••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 72 F. Surface Land Ownership Patterns'and Rights••••••••••••••••••••• 73 XII. LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 74 A. Introduction••••••••••• " •••.••••••••••••••••.••••••••••.•••••••••• 74 B. Geothermal ~esource Exploration and Field Definition Phase••-•••••••••••• a -•••••••.74 c. Site Survey ,_ al••••••••••••••• e_': e ••••••••••