Evaluation of saponite and saponite/sepiolite fluids for geothermal drilling
- Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (USA). Dept. of Geosciences
The rheology and other properties of drilling fluids containing saponite and a saponite-sepiolite mixture as the main vicosifier have been systematically evaluated in the temperature range of 300-600{degree}F under appropriate confining pressures up to 16,000 psi. Saponite represents the magnesium analog of the clay mineral montmorillonite, which is the main constituent in conventional bentonite-based fluids. The fluid with 6% saponite exhibits a prominent viscosity enhancement at temperatures above 250{degree}F. This viscosity enhancement is easily controlled by salts and hydroxides of Na and K. The addition of Na-polyacrylates (low- and high-molecular weight polymers) eliminates the viscosity anomaly of pure saponite fluids. These polymers also increase the filtration control of saponite. The anomalous viscosity enhancement of saponite is significantly reduced by the addition of sepiolite (a clay mineral with a fibrous morphology). 12 refs., 31 figs., 26 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (USA). Dept. of Geosciences
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5908401
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-88-7115; ON: DE91009854
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DRILLING FLUIDS
RHEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
WELL DRILLING
ACRYLATES
ADDITIVES
API GRAVITY
AUTOCLAVES
BENTONITE
CLAYS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
FILTERS
FILTRATION
ION EXCHANGE
LIGNITE
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
MONTMORILLONITE
PH VALUE
POLYMERS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
SEPIOLITE
SMECTITE
SODIUM CARBONATES
SULFONATES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VISCOSIMETERS
VISCOSITY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
YIELD STRENGTH
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
BROWN COAL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
COAL
COHERENT SCATTERING
DENSITY
DIFFRACTION
DRILLING
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSCOPY
MINERALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
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