Skip to main content
Article
Northern Thailand Geothermal Resources and Development: A Review and 2012 Update
Geothermal Resources Council, GRC Transactions (2012)
  • Fongsaward Suvagondha Singharajwarapan
  • Spencer H. Wood, Boise State University
  • Natthaporn Prommakorn
  • Lara Owens
Abstract
Northern Thailand has 16 hot spring systems with surface temperatures near or greater than 80°C with potential for binary plant power generation. Presently only Fang system generates power from wells flowing a total of 8.3 1/s of 116°C water to a 300 kW single module Ormat binary plant. Current production is 150-250 KW, which potentially can be increased by constructing new wells and increasing flow by pumping. Of the other 15 systems, 4 are in national parks and not considered for development. Several of the hot springs systems have silica geothermometry >130°C suggesting significant undeveloped resources exist in northern Thailand. Certainly the San Kamphaeng hot springs have the greatest known potential (estimated ~5MW) but like most of the systems it is associated with high-angle faulting and drilling has yet to find permeable zones yielding high flows (>11 l/s). The current project of the Thailand Department of Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) will survey these prospects with the intention of installing a small plant of 2-10 MW.
Keywords
  • Thailand,
  • low temperature,
  • hot springs,
  • flow,
  • geochemistry,
  • geothermometry,
  • silica deposits,
  • power generation
Publication Date
September 30, 2012
Publisher Statement

This document was originally published by the Geothermal Resources Council in Geothermal Resources Council Transactions. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Citation Information
Fongsaward Suvagondha Singharajwarapan, Spencer H. Wood, Natthaporn Prommakorn and Lara Owens. "Northern Thailand Geothermal Resources and Development: A Review and 2012 Update" Geothermal Resources Council, GRC Transactions Vol. 36 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/spencer_wood/11/