1,000 HP Rig for Indonesia Geothermal Drilling

Abstract Rig rental and service cost accounts for 40-45% of the drilling cost – the largest drilling cost component. Choosing the right rig size will potentially reduce well costs – enhancing a geothermal project’s overall economic value. Despite rig manufacturers providing maximum rated drilling depth capabilities, drilling team often opt for larger than necessary rig sizes based on past experiences. Statistical data for geothermal drilling in Indonesia with depths between 1,200-3,280 mMD indicates common usage of 1,500-2,000 HP rigs, which was found to be excessive. The study in this paper shows that a 1,000 HP rig is sufficient to drill a geothermal well in Indonesia down to 3,300 mMD. This will potentially enable significant drilling cost savings of around USD 25,000/day.