How a geothermal blowout was controlled
Geothermal wells pose different drilling problems than oil or gas wells. Drilling fluids must be circulated to cool them and prevent conversion to steam. Cement designs must be special. Likewise, if a geothermal well blows out, the techniques to kill it are different than those used to control oil and gas wells. The difficulties are increased if the blowing well is shallow. This was the case when Ormat's 14-6 well blew out near Fallon, Nevada, last January. The well was drilled using the same drilling program followed on other field wells. However, an unexpected fault caused severe lost circulation, and eventually, the well blew out. The operator, Ormat Energy Sytems, Inc., which had an impeccable record for safety and efficiently run operations, immediately responded to the situation by calling in Houston's Neal Adams Firefighters,. Control operations were directed by team leader, Neal Adeams. The nature of the problems required a combination of surface and subsurface control techniques. Time was important because the well was flowing 5,000 gpm of 350/sup 0/F geothermally heated water.
- Research Organization:
- Neal Adams Firefighters, Houston, TX (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 5785131
- Journal Information:
- World Oil; (United States), Vol. 208:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Electric Power Generation from Low to Intermediate Temperature Resources
India gas well blowout capped and killed in 17 days