Self-contained, rigid-foam placement tool for plugging lost-circulation zones

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5573246

Polk, G; Baughman, K; Loeppke, G E

A solution to the lost-circulation problem in well-drilling operations has been sought for years without establishing a universally satisfactory technique or material. Recently, laboratory investigations of polyurethane foams examined their potential for plugging loss zones in geothermal wells. The data from these tests indicated that rigid foams with excellent properties for use in plugging operations could be produced under geothermal conditions. Subsequently, a concept for a family of tools for in-hole mixing and placement of rigid foams was designed, and in 1984, a prototype tool was fabricated and successfully demonstrated. After the demonstration, specifications were established for a field prototype tool for use in geothermal wells along with the development of suitable high-temperature chemical formulations. Field application of the tool began in a Known Geothermal Resource Area in the Spring of 1985. 2 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: NL Baroid/NL Industries, Inc., Sandia Park, NM (USA); Poly Plug, Inc., Bedias, TX (USA); Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5573246
• Report Number(s): SAND-85-0937C; CONF-850801-33; ON: DE85011192
• Resource Relation: Conference: International symposium on geothermal energy, Kailua Kona, HI, USA, 26 Aug 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
PLUGGING AGENTS
FIELD TESTS
FOAMS
LOST CIRCULATION
POLYURETHANES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TESTING
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
150901* - Geothermal Engineering- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware