EXPLORATION HISTORY of OLKARIA Using GEOPHYSICS
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EXPLORATION HISTORY of OLKARIA using GEOPHYSICS By Mariita, N.O. KenGen 38oE North Island 4oN L. Turkana ETH IO PIA Central Island H u ri Location of South Island Cenozoic Barrier Volcano Mesozoic volcanics sediments Namarunu Olkaria UGAN DA Emuruangogolak Mt. Elgon Silale KKEENNYYAA within the Paka Korosi L. Baringo Arus-Bogoria Nyambeni Kisumu o Rift Mt. Kenya O Menengai Homa Hills Eburru L. Naivasha Olkaria Longonot Suswa Mozambique Nairobi metamorphic OLKARIA Ol'Esakut belt Olorgesaille L. Magadi 2oS 0 50 100 150 Shombole Kilometers Chyulu T Ol'Doinyo Lengai AN Z A Basalt-Trachyte-Rhyolite centers NIA Nephelinitic centers Alkaline centers Kilimanjaro Lakes Geothermal Prospects Geothermal Fields o o Rift Faults 36 E 38 E Olkaria manifestations Fumaroles Hot Grounds Lake Bogoria Kapedo Springs Silali Volcano Discharge T=550 C 100 MWt produced from this spring alone Paka Volcano Olkaria chosen The exploration (based on Resistivity/seismic) resulted in: the drilling of two wells X-1 and X-2 which encountered high temperatures at depth Olkaria and Environs….. Geophysical investigations • Geophysics = X-Raying the Earth INVOLVES • Sending signal into the earth • Monitoring natural signals from the earth Early Exploration Exploration for geothermal resources in Kenya started in the 1950’s with mainly geological/geophysical investigations between Olkaria and Lake Bogoria Early Methods…. During the early stages of development Geophysical methods included: ¾Dipole ¾Schlumberger ¾Electromagnetic ¾Head-on ¾Gravity and Magnetics ¾Seismics ¾Magnetics Various levels of success were achieved Main GEOPHYSICAL METHODS used in Geothermal energy Exploration in Kenya •Gravity •Resistivity •Magnetics •Seismic More work Between 1973 and 1980 The exploration then gained momentum with support of the (UNDP) = more extensive geophysical investigations + additional wells drilled Resistivity…..most used May indicate presence of reservoir and permeable structures (faults) – targets for drilling Resistivity signatures of Olkaria 100 Type 1 [a] Type 2 [c] Type 4 10 [b] [d] Type 3 Resistivity (Ohm-m)Resistivity 1 10 100 1000 10000 Depth (m) Resistivity distribution at 1400masl from TEM measurements Ohm-m 9908000 100 Olkaria N-E 75 9904000 50 Olkaria East Olkaria West 30 Northings 9900000 Olkaria Domes 20 15 9896000 10 0 9892000 188000 192000 196000 200000 204000 208000 Eastings Resistivity data findings • Low resistivity (less than 20 Ωm) anomalies at depths of 1000 masl define the geothermal resource. • The geothermal resource boundaries are controlled by linear structures in the NE-SW and NW-SE directions. Resistivity data findings… • Some of the high resistivity regions coincide with recharge areas associated with NE and NW trending faults that act as conduits for cold water flow from the Rift Valley scarps. • Fluid up-flow zones occur at the intersections of these regional faults in the vicinity of a heat source Other Geophysical methods g.u. Gravity 9910000 -1650 9905000 Olkaria N-E -1750 -1850 Olkaria East Northings Olkaria West -1950 9900000 Olkaria Domes -2050 -2150 9895000 -2250 190000 195000 200000 205000 Eastings Other Geophysical methods…… 9910000 nT Magnetics 34000 9905000 Olkaria N-E 33875 Olkaria East 33750 things Olkaria West r 9900000 No Olkaria Domes 33650 33500 9895000 33350 185000 190000 195000 200000 205000 Eastings Other Geophysical methods…… Seismology ? F3 F6 F5 F1 F2 F10 F4 Olkaria NE . F7 F ria O Olka l o l B u t Olkaria Peak o t F11 (2,433m) o F . F12 OlkariaS West u F8 s w F9 a Olkaria East L in e a m e n t F . Olkaria Domes ? Why Geophysics methods ??? Note: •All geophysical techniques are expensive, although some more than others •BUT still much, much cheaper than drilling Experiences/Trends in Geophysical Exploration at Olkaria • Experience shows: – Some methods are more suitable than others – Combination of several methods yields better interpretation – For siting of wells, there is need to incorporate other disciplines: Geology, Geochemistry – Information from the first exploration wells need to be used to review the initial geophysical model Experiences/Trends in Geophysical Exploration at Olkaria…. • NEWER equipments, faster computers, software have had to be purchased over the years. • BETTER/EFFICIENT methods been deployed over the years. Experiences/Trends in Geophysical Exploration at Olkaria…. Example - Resistivity Schlumberger –DC -Needs external current -Needs about 10 workers -Needs long cables > 8km Integrated Geophysical Model INTERGRATED GEOPHYSICAL SECTION FROM MAU ESCARPMENT TO LONGONOT THROUGH THE GREATER OLKARIA GEOTHERMAL FIELD MAIELA OLKARIA E.P.F DOMES LONGONOT WEST 2000 0 -2000 200 -4000 HEAT SOURCE 100 50 HEAT SOURCE 40 -6000 HEAT SOURCE 30 20 ELEVATION (M.A.S.L.) 15 -8000 10 5 -10000 0 188000 190000 192000 194000 196000 198000 200000 202000 204000 206000 208000 210000 212000 214000 EASTINGS LEGEND Cold inflow Upflow Gravity High Micro-earthquake 0 5000 10000 hypocentres KenGen 2002 Olkaria and Environs Olkaria Geothermal Field Olkaria I power plant & generation curve 400 300 200 Steam shortfall and drilling of Make-up wells Generation (GWh)Generation 100 0 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Time (year) Olkaria II power plant (70 MWe) Olkaria III power plant (12 Mwe) Oserian plant (1.8 Mwe) Thank you !.