Evaluation of saponite and saponite/sepiolite fluids for geothermal drilling
- Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (USA). Dept. of Geosciences
The rheology and other properties of drilling fluids containing saponite and a saponite-sepiolite mixture as the main vicosifier have been systematically evaluated in the temperature range of 300-600{degree}F under appropriate confining pressures up to 16,000 psi. Saponite represents the magnesium analog of the clay mineral montmorillonite, which is the main constituent in conventional bentonite-based fluids. The fluid with 6% saponite exhibits a prominent viscosity enhancement at temperatures above 250{degree}F. This viscosity enhancement is easily controlled by salts and hydroxides of Na and K. The addition of Na-polyacrylates (low- and high-molecular weight polymers) eliminates the viscosity anomaly of pure saponite fluids. These polymers also increase the filtration control of saponite. The anomalous viscosity enhancement of saponite is significantly reduced by the addition of sepiolite (a clay mineral with a fibrous morphology). 12 refs., 31 figs., 26 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (USA). Dept. of Geosciences
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5908401
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-88-7115; ON: DE91009854
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150901* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
ACRYLATES
ADDITIVES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
API GRAVITY
AUTOCLAVES
BENTONITE
BROWN COAL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CLAYS
COAL
COHERENT SCATTERING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DENSITY
DIFFRACTION
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
FILTERS
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
LIGNITE
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSCOPY
MINERALS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
MONTMORILLONITE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYMERS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
RHEOLOGY
SCATTERING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SEPIOLITE
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SMECTITE
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFONATES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VISCOSIMETERS
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELLS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
YIELD STRENGTH