Influence of Human Factors on Timely Completion of Geothermal Wells; A Case Study of Menengai Geothermal Project, Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Geothermal energy is one of the few renewable energy resources that can provide continuous power with minimal visual and other environmental impacts. Geothermal power is a potential major source of power in Kenya; The Kenyan government with aid from donors has taken deliberate steps towards harnessing this source of power in line with the development goals and vision 2030. This paper is aimed at reporting on findings of a research done in Menengai Geothermal Project whose one of the objectives was to ascertain the extent to which human factors influenced timely completion of geothermal wells in Menengai. A survey was conducted on the employees of GDC working in the Drilling Department at the geothermal site at Menengai Crater where purposive sampling design was used to select 112 respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect the data which was analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) and presented in a tabular summaries form. Correlation was used in establishing relationship between selected variables and chi-square tests were employed in rejecting or failing to reject the stated hypothesis that human factors did not have a significant influence on the time taken to complete geothermal wells in Menengai Geothermal Project in Nakuru County, Kenya. The results of this study showed that most of the employees were satisfied with the working environment, remuneration and working atmosphere during the night shifts. From the test of hypothesis it was established that human factors did not have significant influence on the time taken to complete geothermal wells in Menengai Geothermal Project.