Chemical logging of geothermal wells

Patent · Mon Dec 21 23:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5515289

Allen, C A; McAtee, R E

The presence of geothermal aquifers can be detected while drilling in geothermal formations by maintaining a chemical log of the ratio of the concentrations of calcium to carbonate and bicarbonate ions in the return drilling fluid. A continuous increase in the ratio of the concentrations of calcium to carbonate and bicarbonate ions is indicative of the existence of a warm or hot geothermal aquifer at some increased depth.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4306879
• OSTI ID: 5515289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150303* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Exploratory Drilling & Well Logging
ACID CARBONATES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUIFERS
BOREHOLES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL LOGGING
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENGINEERING
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
SURFACE WATERS
WATER RESERVOIRS
WELL DRILLING
WELL LOGGING
WELLS