Effect of Boiling and Cooling of Geothermal Fluids on Precipitation of Secondary Minerals: A Case Study of Olkaria Fields, Kenya

The main drawback in the utilization of geothermal resources arises from precipitation secondary minerals within wells, pipelines, steam separators, turbines and other surface equipment form scales. Scale formation is an outcome alteration various rocks dissolved fluids that find their way into a reservoir. Once ascend to surface, hydrostatic pressure decreases toward phase separation level permits gases such as CO2, H2S H2, separate liquid by “boiling”. Stripping these volatiles may increase fluid pH, leading deposition minerals. study sought establish relationship between water-rock interaction mineral precipitates at deep different temperatures during depressurisation boiling cooling. Samples were collected selected Olkaria wells; OW-38A, OW-910 OW-910A. analysis results outlined Alkali-Chloride waters steam-heated Alkali-Bicarbonate acidic Sulphate-Chloride waters. Various models suggested adiabatic boiling, conductive cooling possible mixing dilution wells. Hydrothermal found be equilibrium with varying temperatures, controlled chemistry Silica-saturated solutions precipitated silica OW-910A, which have resulted rapid following cold water.