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Title: Sandia/DOE geothermal drilling and completion technology development program

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6046212

The high cost of drilling and completing geothermal wells is an impediment to the development of geothermal energy resources. Technological deficiencies in rotary drilling techniques are evidenced when drilling geothermal wells. The Division of Geothermal Energy (DGE) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated a program aimed at developing new drilling and completion techniques for geothermal wells. The goals of this program are to reduce well costs 25% by 1982 and 50% by 1986. Sandia Laboratories has managed this technology development program since October 1977, and this paper presents an overview of the program. A statement of program goals and structure is given. The content of the FY-79 program is presented and recent results of R and D projects are given. Plans for development of an advanced drilling and completion system are discussed.

Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
6046212
Report Number(s):
SAND-79-1398C; CONF-790906-1
Resource Relation:
Conference: Geothermal Resources Council annual meeting, Reno, NV, USA, 24 Sep 1979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English