Downhole temperature prediction for drilling geothermal wells

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:7369349

Mitchell, R F

Unusually high temperatures are encountered during drilling of a geothermal well. These temperatures affect every aspect of drilling, from drilling fluid properties to cement formulations. Clearly, good estimates of downhole temperatures during drilling would be helpful in preparing geothermal well completion designs, well drilling plans, drilling fluid requirements, and cement formulations. The thermal simulations in this report were conducted using GEOTEMP, a computer code developed under Sandia National Laboratories contract and available through Sandia. Input variables such as drilling fluid inlet temperatures and circulation rates, rates of penetration, and shut-in intervals were obtained from the Imperial Valley East Mesa Field and the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock Project. The results of several thermal simulations are presented, with discussion of their impact on drilling fluids, cements, casing design, and drilling practices.

• Research Organization: Enertech Engineering and Research Co., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 7369349
• Report Number(s): SAND-81-0036C; CONF-810105-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150903* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Corrosion
Scaling & Materials Development
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
G CODES
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
MATERIALS
SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
WELL CASINGS
WELLS