Kawerau Geothermal Field

2006-2008
Ngatamariki, New Zealand
Mighty River Power (now Mercury)

Dr. Dan Hoyer managed the capital and operations & management budgets, construction schedule, hired the employees, and coordinated the construction inspection, turnover, and operation of the 100 MWe power plant, resource production facilities, and wells. He developed the procurement strategy, managed the budget, schedule, and reported to the Board monthly. The project has eight production wells delivering ~60,000 tons/day and 7 injection wells. The wells are 1800 to 3,000 meters deep and were drilled within budget and schedule requirements. The $300 million project was approved by the Mercury’s Board and successfully completed within budget and on schedule. Construction commenced in 2007 and was completed in September 2008. Today, Kawarau is a commercially successful two-pressure flash power plant with an installed capacity of 100 megawatts (MW). The station normally runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and produces 700-gigawatt hours of electricity annually.

Stages:
4. Well Drilling, Resource Production, and Power Plant and Transmission Line Construction