Improvements in rotary seals for downhole motors in geothermal applications

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5913117

Wilson, J G; Tibbitts, G A; Black, A D

The major limitation of downhole mud motors for geothermal well drilling as well as straighthole and oil well drilling is the bearing section. Reduced bearing life has been a direct result of the inability to seal lubricant in the bearing section. A reliable rotary seal is needed to extend bearing life and to allow high pressure drops across the drill bit for improved bottomhole cleaning and increased drilling rate. The endurance of high temperature rotary seal candidates is being measured in a full-scale laboratory seal tester capable of simulating the pressures and temperatures of geothermal well drilling. A description of the currently most successful high temperature seals and seal test results and findings are presented.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5913117
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-7084C; CONF-790906-30
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150901* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BEARINGS
BERYLLIUM
CARBON
COPPER
DRILL BITS
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ELASTOMERS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GRAPHITE
Geothermal Legacy
LUBRICANTS
METALS
MOTORS
NONMETALS
POLYMERS
SEALS
SERVICE LIFE
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELL DRILLING
WELLS