Formed-in-place Ceramic Systems for Sealing and Flow Control in Geothermal Applications
- Olympic Research, Inc., Port Townsend, WA (United States)
- isol8 Ltd., Port Townsend, WA (United States)
Conventional oil and gas tools are frequently unsuitable for downhole applications in geothermal wells, largely due to uncased well configurations and their extreme thermal/chemical fluid conditions. Consequently, relatively common O&G tools like bridge plugs and sand control screens are difficult or at times impossible to implement in geothermal wells. In commercial oil and gas, thermite-based tools are being developed for intervention and decommissioning applications, and gaining field experience and credibility. We are developing and testing such systems for geothermal applications, with the objective of forming ceramic sealing and flow control features in-situ. The process uses self-propagating thermite reactions, in which a metal is combined with an oxidizer to release significant amounts of energy in a controlled, non-explosive manner. These solid phase reactions can be engineered to generate ceramic products with specific physical and flow characteristics. We are developing and testing formulations and wireline deployment tools which yield low to high permeability as needed, and preferentially expand to fill boreholes in both large diameter and slimhole wells. Near term applications are bridge plugs for P&A operations, screens for sand control and borehole stabilization, and lost circulation control during drilling. Laboratory tests have demonstrated the ability to form these products under high temperature and pressure conditions. Field tests are in planning to demonstrate the full-scale performance of these tools. This paper will present the status and results of this demonstration project, in its first year of advanced development for the DOE geothermal technologies program. New developments utilizing thermite tools in the HP/HT oil and gas domain will also be highlighted, particularly those which may have utility in geothermal applications.
- Research Organization:
- isol8 Ltd., Port Townsend, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0017209
- OSTI ID:
- 1774196
- Journal Information:
- Transactions - Geothermal Resources Council, Vol. 43; ISSN 0193-5933
- Publisher:
- Geothermal Resources CouncilCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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