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U.S. Department of Energy
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Lost Circulation Materials in Geothermal Drilling: Thermal Degradation, Viscosity, Compression, and Flow Loop Tests

Dataset ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.15121/2473672· OSTI ID:2473672

This dataset provides a set of experimental data on the performance of lost circulation materials (LCMs) used in geothermal drilling operations. It includes results from four distinct tests: thermal degradation, viscosity measurements, compression tests, and high-temperature flow loop experiments. The materials tested, such as cedar fiber, cotton seed hulls, magma fiber, microcellulose, and sawdust, were analyzed under a range of conditions to assess their effectiveness in mitigating fluid losses in geothermal wells. Data on thermal degradation explores mass loss, water loss, and gas release for each material when subjected to temperatures between 90C and 250C. Viscosity measurements capture the behavior of LCM mixtures under different temperatures, while compression tests investigate the structural integrity of both undegraded and thermally degraded materials. The high-temperature flow loop experiments simulate geothermal well conditions, analyzing how different materials and mixtures affect fluid flow and sealing performance in a fractured reservoir environment. In addition to the experimental data, the dataset includes photos documenting the materials, schematics of test setups, and several published manuscripts that provide detailed insights into the experimental methods and findings.

Research Organization:
DOE Geothermal Data Repository; Sandia National Laboratories
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Program (EE-4G)
Contributing Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories
OSTI ID:
2473672
Report Number(s):
1660
Availability:
GDRHelp@ee.doe.gov
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (1)

Time-dependent thermal degradation of lost circulation materials in geothermal systems journal July 2024