An advanced geothermal drilling system: Component options and limitations

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:170135

Rowley, J ^[1]; Saito, Seiji ^[2]; Long, R C ^[3]

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1. Pajarito Enterprises, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2. JMC Geothermal Division, Tokyo (Japan)
3. Department of Energy, Las Vegas, NV (United States). Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project

The historical developments of drilling technology for geothermal resources have followed traditional incremental trends. The local expertise and rigs were adapted from existing drill rigs used for mining, civil, and water well projects. In areas with hydrocarbon resources, petroleum drilling hardware has been adapted; and in other countries, these units were imported as depth requirements increased and more robust derricks and downhole tools were needed. This ad hoc approach has provided adequate exploration and production wells. In contrast to the incremental improvements in petroleum rotary drilling system components this paper reviews a new, purpose-developed system that would solve the known major problems by design. Performance goals of 4 km (12,000 ft.) depth, 400 C, (750 F) and penetration rates greater than 8 m/h (25 ft/h) were selected. This advanced system was reviewed extensively and estimates of perhaps 30 to 60% cost savings were projected, depending on the assumed effectiveness and performance improvements provided. This paper continues the design and feasibility study and presents some of the component and sub-system details developed thus far.

• OSTI ID: 170135
• Report Number(s): CONF-950116--; ISBN 0-7918-1288-X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
COST
DESIGN
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WELL DRILLING