Clay-based geothermal drilling fluids

Technical Report · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6610183· OSTI ID:6610183

Guven, N; Carney, L L; Lee, L J; Bernhard, R P

The rheological properties of fluids based on fibrous clays such as sepiolite and attapulgite have been systematically examined under conditions similar to those of geothermal wells, i.e. at elevated temperatures and pressures in environments with concentrated brines. Attapulgite- and sepiolite-based fluids have been autoclaved at temperatures in the range from 70 to 800/sup 0/F with the addition of chlorides and hydroxides of Na, K, Ca, and Mg. The rheological properties (apparent and plastic viscosity, fluid loss, gel strength, yield point, and cake thickness) of the autoclaved fluids have been studied and correlated with the chemical and physical changes that occur in the clay minerals during the autoclaving process.

• Research Organization: Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock (USA). Dept. of Geosciences
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6610183
• Report Number(s): SAND-82-7037; ON: DE83005198
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150901* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
ATTAPULGITE
BENTONITE
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLAYS
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
ILLITE
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
MICA
MINERALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
RHEOLOGY
SEPIOLITE
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SMECTITE
VISCOSITY
WELLS