New and different geothermal drilling fluids system

Conference · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6166986

Conners, II, J H; Otto, M J

The traditional geothermal drilling fluid in Southern California has consisted of sepiolite clay as a viscosifier and a large quantity of lignite as a filtration control agent. Occidental Geothermal Inc., has tried and successfully tested an alternative mud system for Geothermal drilling. Its main components are IML-TEMP additive for high temperature rheological control and either CHEMTROL-X additive or DFE 104 for filtration control. The use of Wyoming bentonite, often avoided because of its tendency to gel excessively at high temperatures, can and should be used in this mud system to promote better wall cake characteristics and filtration control. An examination is made of Occidential's Rutherford No. 1 well in the East Brawley area of Southern California, a geothermal well that successfully used this alternative mud system.

• OSTI ID: 6166986
• Report Number(s): CONF-800920-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150901* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
BENTONITE
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CLAYS
COAL
DRILLING FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
MINERALS
RHEOLOGY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TESTING
WELLS