Reservoir Management

Reservoir Engineering:
The Company offers reservoir engineering services from exploration to enhanced energy production phases. Our reservoir engineers work closely with geoscientists and drilling engineers to explore, develop, and manage the geothermal resource in a very effective manner. Our services include both classic reservoir engineering techniques and state-of-the art numerical modeling with 3-D graphical and 3D printed visualizations. Our service includes: well design, reservoir modeling, numerical simulation, history matching, reservoir management planning, field development planning, production optimization and evaluating the reserves potential.

Geothermal Well Testing:
Our well testing services provide the following services: well test design, oversight of well test operations, review of testing plans, implementation of well testing procedures, and analysis of well test data.  The tests are; Single-well tests, Injection tests, Flow tests, Build-up tests and Multi-well tests.

Well Flow tests

Well stimulation for discharge(left) Flow tests (right)

We also offer state of the art logging services including but not limited to; PTS surveys, Borehole Imaging, CBL, CCL, Gamma Ray, Casing Inspections Logs, Calipers, Downhole Geochemical sampling (fluid sampling in wells).

Logging tool and data acquisition system

Production monitoring
To effectively manage the geothermal resources, the fields in utilization are continuously monitored for the response to long-term utilization. Classical pressure differential based techniques are used as well as Tracer dilution technique (TFT) capable of metering two phase flows.

The tracer flow test technique (TFT) for flow metering

Reservoir Simulation:
The Company runs in-house numerical simulations of its geothermal reservoir by use state-the-art software and techniques to numerically simulate geothermal resources and predict the reservoir performance. Our services include: development of multi-disciplinary grid based conceptual models of geothermal reservoirs, conversion of the conceptual model into a numerical model, development of numerical models, upgrading and updating of existing numerical models, and using the resulting numerical model to forecast future reservoir performance.

Feasibility Studies:
Often in the early stages of development little field data exist and KenGen Plc employs both extensive and long term geothermal development experience to carry out feasibility studies for the prospects.

Design and Analysis of Reservoir Tests:
We provide design and analysis of reservoir tests, such as field capacity testing, pressure interference testing, and tracer testing. Data from these types of tests typically are used in support of numerical modeling. Services include: Design, implementation, field oversight, and analysis of data.

Steamfield Management

A geothermal steamfield refers to the infrastructure required to receive the geothermal fluids from the drilled wells, separate the fluids into liquid and steam components and efficiently and safely transport the fluids to the energy conversion units. The geothermal steamfield also includes the infrastructure required to safely dispose the spend fluids leaving the energy conversion units. A geothermal steamfield has to be managed to ensure safe and efficient performance.

A typical cyclone separator for separating steam from brine with over 99.5% efficiency.

A typical geothermal steamfield consist of an array of equipment that include different types of valves, insulated steam and brine pipelines, separators, instrumentation and control equipment, safety and pressure relieving equipment, condensate drain equipment among others.

Olkaria II steamfield showing part of the extensive network of steam and brine 

The role of steamfield management team include design and installation of new steamfield equipment or modification of existing systems to improve efficiency or safety, operating and maintaining existing infrastructure, monitoring performance of the system and respond to any undesirable changes or safety concerns and prepare steam supply system performance reports.

Steam venting at Olkaria V in readiness for  admission into the turbine

The geothermal steamfield at Olkaria is currently providing steam to support about 695MW power generation from 5 main power plants and 15 wellhead units. Over 5000 t/h of steam is continuously delivered to the power plants from 125 production wells. A total of 3500 t/h of brine is produced by the wells and is reinjected into 18 hot reinjection wells. The power plants produce about 1500 t/h of condensate which is reinjected into 8 cold reinjection wells.

Separator station on wellpad OW-923 during commissioning

Connection of well OW-39D to wellhead KWG-15 done by steamfield team

Connection of well OW-39D to wellhead KWG-15 done by steamfield team

Connection of well OW-39D to wellhead KWG-15 done by steamfield team

Connection of well OW-39D to wellhead KWG-15 done by steamfield team