- Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has passed the 450 meters mark in drilling operations at the Aluto-Langano geothermal project in Ethiopia.
- Drilling commenced in April this year. Read more
- This is the first of eight geothermal wells that KenGen will be drilling for Ethiopia’s state-owned electricity producer, Ethiopia Electric Power Company (EEPC).
“The first 450 meters is the most difficult phase of the entire geothermal well drilling process which can go up to a depth of 3,000 meters,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano adding, “this particular one is being done under peculiar circumstances including unforeseen delays occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“We will be drilling at a rate of about 50 meters per day going forward and therefore expect to complete the remaining part on schedule in about two months,” said Mrs. Miano.
In February 2019, KenGen won a joint contract with Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Company and Shandong Kerui Oilfield Service Group to offer geothermal drilling services. Read more
“We are glad that the progress of drilling at Aluto-Langano is remarkable and optimistic our team will deliver it within the set timelines. We commend our team for surpassing the 450 metres depth of drilling, overcoming all the challenges usually encountered at the initial stages of drilling a geothermal well,” said Miano.
She added: “We have a team of experts comprised of aerated drillers, directional drillers, and reservoir engineers actively working on this project and have also dispatched a team to mobilize a second rig to fast track the process and achieve our goal of drilling eight wells much faster.”
The drilling of the second geothermal well under the Aluto-Langano project started earlier this month and was at a depth of 36 meters by Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
Source: KenGen
