A Taste of Super Steam

What does a steaming-pot, and geothermal well head have in common?

Ouch!!!

That really hurts!

I exclaimed as I quickly retracted my arm. I had accidentally put my arm across the steamy pot, forgetting to watch for the small release vent.

I rushed to pour cold running water over it, the moment is soothing. My brain wanders to the events of the day, and I notice similarities as I look at the stupid steaming-pot.

My colleague and I from VISCAR INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY LIMITED had earlier on travelled to the gates of hell.

Well, technically we got really close - we were at Olkaria Geothermal Development Company Drilling rigs, located in Naivasha near the famous Hell's Gate Resources .

I no longer think of the name as superstitious, neither do I fully contemplate the science of it. Maybe it's because I have a 3hour data accumulation about it all or maybe it's because I haven’t learnt a lot about it, and I’m certain I’m not alone.

To put it all in perspective, they were drilling 3,000meteres - 3km deep into the earth.

And that’s not even the best part, they do this with the hope of getting to tap into super, super heated steam.

My arm feels better now, maybe I should put a band aid over it. But why would I? There’s no bleeding, no open wound - steam is truly a 'silent assassin'.

Deadly! Dangerous!

We talked to the KenGen Kenya crew at length; they were very generous and patient with us. They explained to us the basics -

• How they set-up the rig in not less than a month,
• How they get to work in the grasslands far away from the urban,
• How they get to set up the rig-site complete with a kitchen, dining, control quarters and resting quarters.

Didn’t take much time before we begun talking about the advance staff -

• How #mud-water-compounds, #compressed-air, #hydraulic-fluids and #electric-current form the foundation of the rig.
• How mechanical motion going approximately 2miles deep is achieved using #weight, #gravity, #electric-potential and the force of #fluid-power.
• How redundancy is implemented to ensure protection of the rig, the crew and the environment.

It doesn’t hurt anymore, not as much anyway. I decide to soldier on, more instinctively cautious this time. The steam serves me well as I cook but I’ve had an encounter, now I respect and acknowledge just how bad a master it can be.

I’d employ everyone who's getting a chance to read this, to visit Olkaria. Not only because of my bias to #engineering.

But for the beautiful scenery - from the hills, valleys and craters; to the lake and eroded formations that look like roots of the envelopments.

If you’re feeling tired of looking at domesticated creatures walk on by, then maybe it’s time you saw hyenas, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, baboons and many more wildlings in the wild.

I'd like to thank the entire KenGen Kenya crew for having us and in particular, Eng @BernardKigen for ensuring that our trip to the Rigs was a success.