Scientific and Borehole Results of Olkaria NE Field, Kenya

Abstract

In 1986, a decision was made to more clearly delineate Olkaria NE for a 60 MWe power plant by drilling 3 wells and carrying out a workover on OW-702. Well OW-701 which had already been drilled in this area was producing about 4 MWe at 5 ba. By May of 1988, 4 wells had been drilled in the Olkaria NE and the workover of OW-702 completed. OW-705 and OW-706 produce an average of 2.5 MWe. OW-703 cycles severely between 7 and 3 bars and has an output of about 1-2 MWe. OW- 704 has not produced yet and encounted very low temperatures below 900m. Scientific data indicate that there is a production boundary to the field north of OW-703 and that OW-704 is outside the field. However, an area of about 12 km* exists south of OW-703 and 704, which includes Olkaria East Field and extends as far west as the Ololbutot fault. By exploring and proving the area to the west of Olkaria East Field, in which make up wells for the present power plant could be drilled, an area of about 8 km* with capacity of over 60 MWe for 25 years for NE has been proved and fully committed for power production.