Performance of East Olkaria Power Plant and plans for maintaining steam supply in the future
- Kenya Power Company, Naivasha (Kenya)
Olkaria East geothermal power plant has been in operation since 1981. The wells that supply the plant produce two phase fluid from a 240-340{degrees}C hot, low gas, liquid dominated reservoir which is related to volcanic pile and fractures. Separated steam from twenty seven (27) wells, flows to 3 x 15 MWe Mitsubishi direct contact condensing units while the brine is disposed off through infiltration ponds. The plant performance has been excellent with the plant equipment remaining in good shape after fourteen (14) years of operation as a result of favourable chemistry of discharge fluid. As predicted in the Reservoir Simulation studies for this field, there has been gradual decline in steam production from the wells supplying the plant. In order to maintain adequate supply of steam to the plant in the future, two schemes are being advanced. The first scheme is to re-inject water into the reservoir to offset the reservoir pressure drawdown and steam decline and effectively, limit the number of make-up wells to be drilled and connected to the plant. Secondly, leave out re-injection and establish a scheme for drilling and connection of the make-up wells. The cost implication of either of the alternatives has been addressed.
- OSTI ID:
- 175665
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951037-; TRN: 95:008065-0078
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council, Reno, NV (United States), 8-11 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Accomplishments of the past and challenges of the future. Transactions, Volume 19; PB: 604 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Results of injection and tracer tests in Olkaria East Geothermal Field
Summary of modeling studies of the East Olkaria geothermal field, Kenya