IJOG : Indonesian Journal on Geoscience
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Identification of Natural Recharge Characteristics Based on Time-Lapse Microgravity Data for Sustainability Utilization at Lahendong Geothermal Field, Indonesia

Agung, Lendriadi (Unknown)
Syamsu Rosid, Mohammad (Unknown)
Tofan Sastranegara, Mochamad (Unknown)
Lolla Riandari, Baiq (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Feb 2026

Abstract

The sustainable utilization of geothermal resources heavily relies on maintaining the fluid mass balance within the reservoir. Excessive fluid extraction without sufficient natural recharge can cause significant declines in reservoir pressure, thus threatening the long-term sustainability of geothermal energy production. This study specifically addresses the challenge of accurately characterizing natural recharge dynamics in the Lahendong Geothermal Field, where ongoing exploitation activities have led to considerable fluid mass deficits. To tackle this issue, time-lapse microgravity monitoring was conducted annually from 2015 to 2023 across 118 gravity benchmark stations strategically distributed throughout the reservoir area. The collected microgravity data were analyzed using Gauss's theorem to quantify the changes in reservoir mass balance over time. The calculated reservoir mass changes based on microgravity data were validated against mass balance estimates derived from actual well flow rate measurements. The findings indicate that natural recharge in Lahendong varies significantly, ranging from 0 to 3 M ton/year, exhibiting a clear cyclical pattern with approximately three-year intervals. On the average, natural recharge supplies approximately 1 M ton/year to the reservoir. The results validate time-lapse microgravity monitoring as a robust tool for detecting reservoir mass changes, offering critical insights into adaptive fluid injection strategies.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJOG

Publisher

Subject

Earth & Planetary Sciences

Description

The spirit to improve the journal to be more credible is increasing, and in 2012 it invited earth scientists in East and Southeast Asia as well as some western countries to join the journal for the editor positions in the Indonesia Journal of Geology. This is also to realize our present goal to ...