Update on Eburru, Kenya wellhead plant

Alexander Richter 5 Eki 2012

This week at the 2012 GRC Annual Meeting, Reno-based Geothermal Development Associates (GDA) presented an update on its Eburru 2.4 MW wellhead at the 2012 GRC Conference.

KenGen began site studies in Eburru (just north of the city of Karagita and Lake Naivasha) in 1987, where 6 wells were drilled by 1990. In 2006, additional geophysics studies were performed, and KenGen has estimated that 30MW of potential capacity exist on site.

The entire construction, which cost a little under $10MM, is at 2600 meters of elevation, and with a wellhead temperature of 157 degrees Celsius. For the construction phase, GDA provided support, start-up and commissioning supervision, as well as training for local KenGen personnel. The plant’s applications include use power-to-grid and power-to-drilling capabilities, use of non-commercial wells for larger projects, and functionality for long-term reservoir testing.

GDA’s presentation also touched on some highly positive attributes of the plant, including its portability for relocation to newly-drilled wells, simplicity of installation, operation, and maintenance. It is also proving to be highly-reliable, with low operating costs.

In large, the project serves as a testament to the successful application of the geothermal wellhead plant concept and shows that a small single-flash, condensing geothermal power plant can be a viable alternative to other technologies.