Handbook of Best Practices for Geothermal Drilling
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SANDIA REPORT SAND2010-6048 Unlimited Release Printed December 2010 Handbook of Best Practices for Geothermal Drilling John Finger and Doug Blankenship Prepared by Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 and Livermore, California 94550 Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. Approved for public release; further dissemination unlimited. Issued by Sandia National Laboratories, operated for the United States Department of Energy by Sandia Corporation. NOTICE: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. 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This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. Available to DOE and DOE contractors from U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Telephone: (865) 576-8401 Facsimile: (865) 576-5728 E-Mail: [email protected] Online ordering: http://www.osti.gov/bridge Available to the public from U.S. Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Rd. Springfield, VA 22161 Telephone: (800) 553-6847 Facsimile: (703) 605-6900 E-Mail: [email protected] Online order: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.asp?loc=7-4-0#online 2 SAND2010-6048 Unlimited Release Printed December 2010 Handbook of Best Practices for Geothermal Drilling John Finger and Doug Blankenship Prepared for the International Energy Agency, Geothermal Implementing Agreement, Annex VII by Sandia National Laboratories P.O. Box 5800 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 Abstract This Handbook is a description of the complex process that comprises drilling a geothermal well. The focus of the detailed Chapters covering various aspects of the process (casing design, cementing, logging and instrumentation, etc) is on techniques and hardware that have proven successful in geothermal reservoirs around the world. The Handbook will eventually be linked to the Geothermal Implementing Agreement (GIA) web site, with the hope and expectation that it can be continually updated as new methods are demonstrated or proven. 3 Acknowledgements This Handbook was funded by the US Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Program and has been made possible with support and guidance from Jay Nathwani. The Handbook was prepared for the International Energy Agency, Geothermal Implementing Agreement, Annex VII. Drafts of the Handbook have been extensively reviewed, and the authors’ gratitude for extremely valuable comments is extended to Steve Pye, Lindsay Fooks (Geothermal Associates NZ Ltd), and James Coda (Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA), as well as present and previous staff members—Steve Bauer, David Raymond, Randy Normann, Steve Knudsen, Chip Mansure, Ron Jacobson, and Joe Henfling—in the Geothermal Research Department at Sandia National Laboratories. 4 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction to Geothermal Energy ...........................................................................................9 Occurrence of Geothermal Energy ............................................................................................. 9 Heat Flow and Temperature ................................................................................................. 10 Tectonic Controls .................................................................................................................. 10 Types of Geothermal Systems .................................................................................................. 12 2. Overview of Geothermal Drilling ............................................................................................13 Background ............................................................................................................................... 13 Approach in this Handbook ...................................................................................................... 13 Nature of Geothermal Formations ............................................................................................ 14 Well Cost Drivers ..................................................................................................................... 15 Well design ............................................................................................................................ 16 Drilling Hazards ................................................................................................................... 17 Rate of penetration (ROP) .................................................................................................... 17 Bit and tool life...................................................................................................................... 17 3. Planning a Geothermal Well ....................................................................................................18 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 18 Drill Rig Selection .................................................................................................................... 20 Rig capacity .......................................................................................................................... 22 Rig footprint .......................................................................................................................... 22 Pump capacity ....................................................................................................................... 22 Fluid cleaning ....................................................................................................................... 23 Drill string and BHA ............................................................................................................. 23 High-temperature capability ................................................................................................. 23 Rig instrumentation ............................................................................................................... 23 Support .................................................................................................................................. 24 Crew and training ................................................................................................................. 24 Case Histories of Two Geothermal Wells ................................................................................ 24 Steam Well ............................................................................................................................ 24 Brine Well ............................................................................................................................. 24 4. Wellbore Design – Casing and Cement ...................................................................................26 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 26 Casing design ............................................................................................................................ 27 Cementing ................................................................................................................................. 29 Completions .......................................................................................................................... 31 5. Drilling Fluids ..........................................................................................................................33 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 33 Drilling fluid functions ............................................................................................................. 34 Drilling fluid system ................................................................................................................. 34 5 Planning the mud program ........................................................................................................ 37 6. Drilling Tools ...........................................................................................................................38