Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2005

Antalya, Turkey, 24-29 April 2005

A Poissons Ratio Distribution From Wadati Diagram as Indicator of Fracturing of

Lahendong Geothermal Field, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Silitonga T. H., Siahaan E. E., Suroso
Mailing address, PT. Geodipa Energi, Jl. Karawaitan No. 32, Bandung 40264, Indonesia
E-mail address, thsilitonga@geodipa.co.id

WHP 0 up to -0.8 bar. It is believed that local changes in

the stress field are obviously caused by production and reinjection; however; the induced seismicity is not confined
to the immediate regions of production and re-injection, but
also occurs at greater depths (Figure 2).

Keywords: Poissons ratio, Wadati diagram, fracturing,

permeability.
ABSTRACT
Poissons ratio from Wadati Diagram using micro
earthquake monitoring is relatively simple and useful for
direct indicator of fracture. A short term micro earthquake
monitoring in the Lahendong geothermal field shows two
distinct shallow and deep hypocenters distributions. This
paper describes the Poissons ratios distribution from
Wadati method in the Lahendong geothermal field. The
higher Poissons ratio associated with shallow hypocenters
indicated by the fractured rocks, and the lower Poissons
ratio associated with deeper hypocenters and un-fractured
rocks with silicified rocks.

DATAMARK LS-8000SH is a high precision data logger

capable of recording induced or tectonic earthquakes data.
Since it is synchronize with UTC by GPSs time calibration
function, each logger can record the data independently. It
has been claimed by the manufacture that the time accuracy
is 5 sec.
In the Lahendong geothermal field, the typical micro
earthquakes, see Figure 3, are as follow: duration < 50
second, the depths < 5 km, and the time differences
between P and S arrival (S-P) < 3 second. Therefore, a
simple assumption that model is a horizontal layered
velocity structure, assuming constant, isotropic velocity
within one layer, is reasonable enough to get a quick
interpretation as preliminary result.

1. INTRODUCTION
The Lahendong geothermal field situated in the North
Sulawesi Province which is approximately 30 km from the
capital city of Manado.

A small error in picking of the arrival time and the

inaccuracies of velocity model can produce a large error in
determining the hypocenter and epicenter location.
Therefore, both factors must be controlled, carefully.

One of the geophysical method used to detect reservoir

permeability is micro earth quake. Each event of micro
earthquake can be associated with permeable zone. As a
result, this geophysical method is very helpful to develop a
geothermal field.

Firstly, as we know, it is easier to pick P wave than S wave,

so P wave data from 4 stations is much better than P and S
wave data from 3 stations. Using this procedure, which
controlled by data from the shortest station usually
associated with good event, it is expected to minimize the
error.

Poissons ratio is one of the important parameters that can

be used as a fracture indicator through simple calculation of
Wadati diagram. Whereas, well data like cores, minerals
and loss circulation can provide reservoir permeability are
very expensive and limited.

Secondly, sensitivity analysis was used to obtain the

representative velocity of the area. Since there is no direct
velocity measurement, and no velocity data from
petrophysics, the whole micro-earthquakes data were
calculated using a simple linier inversion program (Gede
Swantika) with various velocities ranges from 2.5 to 4 km
/sec. Most of data converged quickly to provide satisfactory
hypocenter locations using a compressional wave velocity
of 3.5 km/sec.

This paper describes the calculation and interpretation of

Poissons ratio derived from the short monitoring of micro
earthquake at the beginning of production in the Lahendong
geothermal field. More over, one layer modeling of
earthquake distribution and Poissons ratio calculation by
using Wadati diagram indicate different fracture intensity
between shallow and deep reservoir.
2. MICRO-EARTHQUAKE DISTRIBUTION
The Lahendong geothermal field is confined to an area
about 12 km2 as shown Figure 1. Five MEQs stations with
spacing less than 2 km were utilized to cover interest area.
Two seismometers L4-C (3-components) and three
seismometers SS-1 ranges (1-component) with natural
frequency 1 Hz were connected to DATAMARK LS8000SH. By using sample interval of 10 msec, gains 100
times, pre trigger data 1000, and low pass filter 30 Hz were
applied to detect micro-earthquake with magnitude < 3
Richters scale focal depths < 5 km.

Since full production began, as well as during

commissioning, four production wells in the Southern
block were used to produce 20 MWe. The brine from a
production separator were injected into the ground by using
one injection well, also in the Eastern block.
Although the mechanism which causes induced seismicity
is not understood yet, but it has been studied that injection
of fluid into the ground already deformed by regional stress
can cause man made earthquakes. Another way,
detailed study of the Geyser reservoir showed that
seismicity can also increase due to production (Denlinger et
al, 1981)

The Lahendong geothermal field was produce steam about

160 tonnes/hr and about 75 tonnes/hr brine were injected
back into the earth through an injection well LHD-5 at
1

Silitonga et al.
0

Legend :
: 0<M<1
: 1<M<2
: 2<M<3
: Deeper
:Shallower

: Proposed development area

LHD-3

: Interpreted Natural recharge

1 : Sta. Numb. & Seis. 1-component

5: Sta. Numb. & Seis.

3-component

: Production Well
: Injection Well
: Shutin Well]

LHD-2
6

20
21
41

LHD-5

22

44
53
6
17
25
THE LAHENDONG

16

PROSPECT AREA

18

barrier ?

Recharge

5
33

27

45

30

48

19
28

11
3

34

42

39

26

LHD-1340

LHD-7 4

37
12 46
24
50
32

F8

54 47

52
43

31

Southern block

35

38

51

36

23 49

2LHD-4
10

LHD-6

North

LHD-1

Eastern block

14

SW

1 km

Figure 1 The map of the Lahendong geothermal field showing the prospect area, production and injection wells, microearthquakes distributions in the period Desember 2000 - Februari 2001 (Modified from Sudarman S.)

NE W

Mt.Lengkoan
LHD-4

LHD-13

10

17
25 40
26 30
34
43

Z (km)

Legend :

-1
: Production Well

-2
: Injection Well
9

: Microearthquake & No.

-3
0

54

22
23

Shallow Resrvoir

16

LHD-7

LHD-5
39

24

41

+ + +

20

53 42

49
+
35
+
+
+ + 21
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
Propilitik +
+ + + +
+ + +
+
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
+
+ + +
+
52 6
+
+
+
+
+ +44+
+
+ Deeper Reservoir
+
+ + +
+ +
+
+ + + + + + +
++
+
+ + +
+ +
+
+ +
31 + 1 +

Mt.Tampuso

A=13km2

37
4

12

N
a
(In tur
te al r
rp
re ech
te
a
d) rge

SW

<100C

48

51

9
36 46 50

10 km

Figure 2 The cross section of the Lahendong geothermal field showing vertical distribution of micro-earthquake and
injection and production wells (Modified from Sudarman S.).

Silitonga et al.

0.6
Fig. 3b

ST3-NS

0.4

mV

0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
9:40:32

9:40:37

9:40:42

9:40:47

9:40:52

9:40:57

0.6
Fig. 3a

S T3-UD

0.4

mV

0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
9:40:32

9:40:37

9:40:42

9:40:47

9:40:52

9:40:57

0.6
Fig. 3c

S T3-EW

0.4

mV

0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
9:40:32

9:40:37

9:40:42

9:40:47

9:40:52

9:40:57

West Indonesian Time (Hr:mnt:sec)

Figure 3 A Typical of micro-earthquake record from a 3-component seismometer in the Lahendong geothermal field,
during monitoring (Fig. 3a, record from a vertical component, Fig. 3b and 3c record from horizontal components)
3. WADATI DIAGRAM
Wadati diagram is important in processing microearthquake data for two reasons. The first is that we can
control the correct picks of travel time of P wave and S
wave (ts and tp) from record data. The second reason is that
we can compare the origin time of earth-quake (To, if the
time of S and P are equal, it means the rock are fractured)
with To from a computer program e.g. linier inversion.

Table 1 The corrects picks of micro-earthquacke data

on 1st January 2001
Tp
(second)
2
22.501
5
22.700
1
22.740
3
23.470
To (Wadati)
To (Inversion)
Error
Poissons ratio
Sta.

In many cases, it is hard to pick S wave accurately even

though we use 3-component seismometers. Particularly, in
the Lahendong geothermal field we only use 2
seismometers 3-components. Therefore, the use of Wadati
diagram is very important to control the correct picks.
After picking all of the ts and tp from all micro-earthquake
stations as shown in Tabel-1, we can construct a Wadati
diagram by plotting all Ts Tp vs Tp for all the receiver
stations, as shown in Figure 4.

Ts
(second)
23.041
23.520
23.510
25.110

Ts Tp
(second)
0.540
0.820
0.770
1.640
22.327
22.197
0.006
0.36

Silitonga et al.
M ic r o -e a r th q u a k e d a te : 1 st J a n 2 0 0 1 tim e : 1 5 :3 8 :2 2 .3 2 7

The graph of Poisson's ratio versus depth

Shallow reservoi r

depth (Km)

Ts-Tp (Second)

y = 1 ,1 2 8 5 x - 2 4 ,8 4 7
R 2 = 0 ,9 9 3 4

0
2 2,0

-1
-2
-3

deeper reservoir

-4
0,25
2 2,5

2 3,0

2 3,5

0,3

0,35

0,4

0,45

Poisson's Ratio

24 ,0

T p ( S e co n d )

Figure 5: The graph of Poissons ratio value of

Lahendong geothermal field versus depth relative to sea
level.

Figure-4: Wadati diagram of micro-earthquakes on 1st

January 2001
4. POISSONS RATIO CONCEPT
Basically Poissons ratio is defined by the ratio of the strain
perpendicular to either type of deforming force to that in the
direction of the force itself. In other way, by using
compressional velocity and transversal velocity or the
comparison of both velocity from Wadati diagram the
Poissons ratio is defined as follow :

0.5

Frac
tu
Lahendong
shallow reservoir

0.4

consolidated
Soft, poorly

(Vp 2 2Vs )
=
2(Vp 2 Vs 2 )

Lahendong
deeper reservoir
(Andesit)

0.3

Wairakei (greywacke)

where , Vp dan Vs are Poissons ratio, the

compressional wave velocity (longitudinal) and the shear
wave velocity (transversal) respectively.

ring

Ciero Prieto,Mexico

Most crustal rocks

0.2

Poisson's ratio

If we assume that the ray-paths are confined to

homogeneous geology, experimental and theoretical results
indicate that additional fracturing of a fluid-filled rock will
cause an increase in the Poissons ratio. The P-wave
velocity decreases slightly and the S-wave velocityis
significantly reduced. This phenomena is observed in a
survey on Hawaii near the successful HGO well (Butler
David).

Coso, California

Geyser

0.1
Steam dominated
Hot water dominated

hard, rigid r

0
1

Vp/Vs

Figure 6 Poissons ratio of some geothermal fields (from

Soengkono, S.; Dobrin) over the world wide versus
Vp/Vs.

The study of refraction survey indicates the anomaly of the

velocity structure in the high temperature; the velocity of
the compression wave (Vp) reduced by the fluid
composition and temperature; velocity of transversal wave
also influenced by temperature but not affected by fluid
composition. (Ito vide Soengkono 1999). In the steam
dominated system, Vp decreases faster than Vs. The two
parameters provide poisson ratio lower than 0.25. In the
water dominated system at the higher porosity pressure, the
Poissons ratio is bigger than 0.25. The Vs decreases faster
than Vp.

Figure 6 shows the significant differences between

Poissons ratio in the shallower zone and deeper zone. The
best explanation of the Poissons ratio anomaly is where the
rocks type is different from in the anomalous area.

5. POISSONS RATIO OF THE LAHENDONG

GEOTHERMAL FIELD.
The Poissons ratio of the Lahendong geothermal field
indicate a significant differences between shallower and
deeper zone. In the shallower zone, the Poissons ratio
varies between 0.35 up to 0.43. In the deeper zone, the
Poissons ratio varies from 0.27 to 0.35.

Silitonga et al.

2.

6. CORRELATION OF POISSON RATIO WITH

WELL BORE DATA
The value of Poissons ratio with depth in the Lahendong
geothermal field can be divided into two zones which
correspond to shallower and deeper zone. The shallower
zone with interval of Poissons ratio varies from 0.35 to
0.43 has depth from surface to 2000 meter depth and the
deeper zone with interval of Poissons ratio varies from
0.27 to 0.35 has depth is deeper than 2000 meter. The
correlation between cores and Poissons ratio data provide
the two reservoir zones.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank Pertamina Geothermal
Management for permission to publish this paper.
REFERENCES
Hochstein M. P : Geothermal Exploration-665.603,
Geothemal Institute, The University of Auckland,
1999.

The shallower zone is distinguished by the intensively

fractured rock, the loss circulation, partial loss circulation
and drilling break. All the steam in Lahendong field derived
from this zone which is the main target to develop another
2X20 MWe. In the deeper zone, the rock is silicified
without loss circulation zones, see Figure 7.
depth:
(m)
800

POISSON'S RATIO - MEQ

Well LHD-1
(Western side)

Well LHD-4
(Southern side)

TD= 2303 m

TD= 2307m

Higher Poissons ratio is associated with deeper

hypocenters characterized by un-fractured rocks
and the silicified alteration.

Butler David : Notes on Seismic Exploration for

Geothermal Energy, MicroGeophysics Corporation,
10900 W. 44th Aveneu, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033,
1982.
Dobrin M. : Introduction To Geophysical Prospecting,
1999.

Well LHD-5
(Eastern side)
TD= 1897m

TLC
TLC
Fractured
Rock

Shallow
Reservoir

Denlinger, R. P.; Isherwood, W. F.; Kovach, R. L : A

Geodetic Analysis of reservoir Depletion at The
Geysers Steam Field (Denlinger et al, 1981)

Fractured
Rock

steam
kick

drilling
break

PLC
600 lpm

drilling
break

Fractured
Rock

PLC
200 lpm

-1000

TLC

-1
-2

Gede Swastika , Pembuatan Program Inversi Linier Untuk

Menentukan Hypocenter Gempa, a Report in Master
of Science Program, Bandung Institute of Technology,
1999.

PLC
20 - 300 lpm

- Silicification
- No loss circulation
- Tight permeability

Deep
Reservoir

-2000

PLC
300 - 1000 lpm

Note:
TLC = Total Loss Circulation
PLC = Partial Loss Circulation

Siahaan E.E. : Hydrothermal Mineralogy and veining

system in well LHD-1, LHD-4, LHD-5, 1999

-3
-4
0.45
0.35
0.4
0.3
0.25
0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45

Siahaan E.E. : Interpretation of Land sat and Aerial Photo

of Lahendong (internal report Geothermal Pertaminaunpublished), 2000.

poissons vs fracture

Figure 7 Poissons ratio versus fracturing system (Total

Loss Circulation) and lithology (Modified from Siahaan,
E. E.)

Soengkono, S: .Geothermal Geophysics Passive Seismic

Method (665.612) Geothemal Institute, The University
of Auckland, 1999.

7. CONCLUSIONS
1. Lower Poissons ratio is associated with
shallower hypocenters, indicative of fractured
rocks.

Sudarman S. : Review of Lahendong Model and

Development Strategy, (Internal Report, Geothermal
Pertamina-unpublished)