Geochemical study on the deposition of silica scale at Olkaria well OW-35: A key to understanding the formation mechanisms of silica scale at the Olkaria Geothermal Field, Kenya

Abstract

In the Olkaria geothermal field, Kenya, a silica scale formed from geothermal water at the OW-35 production well was geochemically investigated. The geothermal water is highly alkaline, with a pH of 10.13, while the salinity is low, with a total Cl concentration of 432.4 ppm. The silica scale was precipitated from geothermal water with a high temperature (150–190 °C) in the OW-35 separator. For the mineral composition of the scale sample, it is mainly amorphous Opal-A and crystalline quartz. The SiO2 content was 85.47 wt.%, and the Al2O3 and Fe2O3 contents were high at 3.16 and 1.11%, respectively, despite the fact that Al and Fe concentrations in the geothermal water were low. Based on the enrichment factor, Al was extremely concentrated from the geothermal water onto the silica scale during the formation, suggesting that Al may participate in the formation of the silica scale. For Fe, there was no contribution of Fe to the formation of silica scale, which was present as magnetite. This silica scale is a mixture of crystalline quartz and amorphous opal-A. The deposition mechanism was considered as follows. The quartz was formed by continuous and slow adsorption of monosilicic acid on the surface of the solid due to the slight supersaturated condition. On the other hand, opal-A was formed by a reaction between aluminate ion and monosilicic acid or monosilicate ion on the solid surface.