中國石油公司為開發自產能源,在台灣各地鑽探地熱,其中在宜蘭之清水地區發現大量有經濟價值之高溫熱水汽。行政院國科會為推動國內再生能源之利用,曾先後在清水地熱田建造試驗用電廠及先導型電廠,獲致地熱發電的寶貴經驗。清水3,000kw先導型地熱發電廠經12年半之發電運轉後,發現多項問題,諸如:產量降低、井內化學物結垢、套管破損及頹毀,以及生產時各井互相干擾等現象,這些問題國外之地熱田也曾發生過,然均能找到解決之方法。清水地熱田所發生之問題有必要作更深入之探討與改善,以作為未來大規模地熱發電營運之用。地熱儲積於開放式之地層內,在評估潛能時尚須作多項測試,清水地熱溫度高達200~240°C,依地熱活動因子區分,可採用發電效率較高之閃發蒸汽發電,而本先導型發電廠未設置冷凝器,也是發電效率偏低的原因之一。
Chinese Petroleum Corporation, intending to make every effort to develop the valuable indigenous energy resource drilled geothermal exploration wells around Taiwan and succeeded in finding enormous amount of hot water and steam at Ching-shui district. National Science Council of R.O.C., promoting the effective utilization of indigenous renewable energy carried out some power generating tests and a pilot power plant at I Ching-shui geothermal field started to operate and gained experiences in geothermal I power generating. The major types of serious problems encountered during the 12-year operation of Ching-shui geothermal power station of 3,000 KW including depletion of production, scales, damage & collapse of casing and disturbance of production wells, which also encountered in the operations of other worldwide fields and solved by taking some specific remedial measures. In order to start the commercial operation in the future and to be a geothermal power plant by public utility, the problems encountered at Ching-shui Field have to be investigated the situation has to be improved.The heat source of geothermal engrgy, hot water and steam stayed under the impermeable cap rock and formed a geothermal reservoir. The potential of the reservoir has to be confirmed by testing and geothermal reservoir evaluation. The temperature of Ching-shui field is up to 200.C to 240.C. According to the geothermal activity index, the Ching-shui power station should adopt flash system to generate steam and make more effective heat utilization. Not epuipped with condenser maybe is one of the reasons why the pwer polant could not operate effectively.