DRILLING FLUIDS FOR

GEOTHERMAL
OPERATIONS

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

John D. Tuttle
Boart Longyear/Sinclair Well Products
2006 GRC Convention
San Diego, Ca
 GEOTHERMAL EXPERIENCE
JOHN D. TUTTLE

 28 YEARS GEOTHERMAL DRILLING FLUIDS

EXPERIENCE
 EXTENSIVE GEOTHERMAL EXPERIENCE –
USA (CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, IDAHO),
MEXICO, INDONESIA, SWEDEN,
GUATEMALA
 DESIGNED AND FIELD-TESTED NEW
ADDITIVES AND GEOTHERMAL DRILLING
FLUID SYSTEMS; IMPLEMENTED COST-
EFFECTIVE SOLIDS REMOVAL &
HYDRAULICS PROGRAMS
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEMS
GENERAL CONCEPT

 ‘PROJECT-SPECIFIC’ MUD DESIGN

 TEMPERATURE & TIME STABILITY
 SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN (KISS)
 USE OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE and/or
COST-EFFECTIVE MUD PRODUCTS
 EMPHASIS ON SOLIDS REMOVAL
EQUIPMENT AND HYDRAULICS
PROGRAM
 Fluid Loss
Control

Alkalinity Rheology
Control Control

HT MUD
SYSTEM

Lost
Circulation Lubricity
Control

Formation
Inhibition
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEMS
RECENT INNOVATIONS

 Specialty and Blended Additives for

Control of Viscosity, Fluid Loss,
Inhibition, Lost Circulation
 Solids Removal Equipment
 Hydraulics Optimization
 Clay-Free Geothermal Mud System
 Air/Foam Drilling
 Formation Damage Considerations
DRILLED SOLIDS
REMOVAL

Solids Removal Equipment for

Geothermal Drilling
Operations
 SOLIDS REMOVAL EQUIPMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
 What are the criteria for selecting solids
removal equipment?

• Efficient Solids Removal Equipment will Reduce

Treatment and Dilution Costs, Reduce Trouble-
Time, and Improve Hole Conditions
• Well Design Considerations (Hole Volumes,
Directional Considerations, etc.)
• Mud Weights and Relative Mud Cost/Bbl
• Sump/Reserve Pit vs Closed System
• Equipment Rental Cost
 Rig-Owned Equipment -
Minimal cost/day for basic
solids removal equipment
 $1,000+/day for current
state-of-the-art separation
equipment
Dewatering Polymer
Mixing/Injection Unit
Successful Drilled
Solids Removal
Program with
Dewatering
 OPTIMIZED HYDRAULICS
PROGRAM
“Significant reductions in drilling time and well
costs can be realized by implementing an
effective Hydraulics program”

 PROPER BIT SELECTION

 MUD PUMP OPTIMIZATION (triplex v.
duplex)
 BIT NOZZLE SIZING (maximize HHP @ BIT)
 DRILLING FLUID RHEOLOGY
 USE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SUPPORT
 VISCOSITY and
RHEOLOGY CONTROL
Polymer Viscosifiers
 GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
POLYMER VISCOSIFIERS
 Modified PHPA Polymer – Popular Geothermal
viscosifier; provide instant viscosity and sweeps
with a minimal increase in solids – blended for
temperature stability; available in either dry state
or as liquid emulsions
 Blended Synthetic Co-Polymers – Combinations
of old/new generation long chain polymers; good
temperature stability; provide excellent viscosity
 Thixotropic Polymers – PHS, XCD; Provide
superior suspension properties, gel structures,
and shear thinning; inhibitive; good temp
stability; excellent for deviated wellbores
 VISCOSITY and
RHEOLOGY CONTROL
Thinners & Degellants
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
THINNERS
 Tannin and Lignite Thinners/Dispersants – Standard
thinners for low and moderate temperature systems;
effective with higher solids systems

 Blended Polymer Thinners– Combinations of low

molecular weight dispersants & deflocculants,
specifically designed for Geothermal drilling operations;
provide thinning as well as control of HT gelation at
BHT; extended long-term temperature stability

 New 3rd Generation Synthetic Polymer Blends – Starch

derivatives and new interpolymer polyacryalate
polymeric/acid blends; provide excellent thinning and
degelling at elevated temperatures; effective in low
concentrations; cost effective (stable to over 600°F)
FLUID/WATER LOSS
CONTROL
Filtrate Reducers
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
FILTRATE REDUCERS

 Traditional starch and polymer additives

and lignite; provide cost-effective fluid loss
at moderate temperatures

 New Synthetic Polymer Blends – Synthetic

acrylamides and sulfonic acrylamide
copolymer blends, provide HTHP fluid loss
and stability in temperatures >600°F;
resistant to contaminates
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
ALKALINITY CONTROL

 Caustic Soda & Lime – Typical additives

for adjusting pH, controlling H2S, and
treatment of carbonate contamination.

 KOH – Caustic Potash; provides effective

pH increase while also providing K+ ion
inhibition (preferred over Caustic Soda in
sensitive or hydratable clay zones)
FORMATION STABILITY &
INHIBITION
Shale Control, Clay Swelling,
and Inhibition
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
FORMATION INHIBITION
 Gilsonite/Asphalt-based additives;
provide shale stability primarily
through mechanical inhibition
 K+-ion Inhibition – K-Lignite,
TORKease, KCl, Others – As needed
for specific stability issues
 Silicate Blends – Proprietary blend of
sulfonated salts and metal complexes
(Al+3, etc.); provides shale and clay
stability through ionic inhibition
 Formation Inhibition
Potassium and Aluminum Ions

 K+ ion Inhibition (from KOH, KCl, K-

Lignite, others): Provides stability for
mixed layer clays and illites; destabilizes
kaolinite (turning inactive kaolinite into
active illites)

 Al+3 ion Inhibition (from Aluminum Silicate

specialty blends): Provides superior
stability for all clays, including kaolinite.
Temperature stability for geothermal
drilling operations
 Formation Inhibition
 Relative configuration of clay crystal
lattice and various cations/anions
- +
Al+3 - -
+
Na+ Al+3
- + -
- -
OH- +
+
Al+3
- - +
K+
- + - -
- +
Na+
+ - -
OH-
Clay lattice structure
MUD LUBRICITY
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
LUBRICITY
 TORKease® – Renowned geothermal
lubricant for over 30 years; provides
excellent lubricity qualities at
temperatures in excess of 600°F;
reduces open hole torque and drag at
low concentrations; frees stuck pipe;
environmentally friendly;
resistant to contaminates;
non-damaging
LOST CIRCULATION
 GEOTHERMAL MUD SYSTEM
LOST CIRCULATION
 COTTONSEED HULLS/SAWDUST – Conventional LCM
additives; provide effective loss control; degraded
over time by temperature
 MAGMA FIBER – Spun rock wool; highly effective
LCM, and totally acid soluble; temperature stability
in excess of 800°F
 POLY-PLUG™ – Proprietary, time-released resin with
sized LCM; one-sack system; creates rubber-like
consistency; excellent plugging action and moderate
temperature stability (~400 degrees F)
 CEMENT PLUGS
 FOAM/AIR DRILLING – Stiff foams using PHPA or
other viscosifier, Corrosion/Scale Inhibitor, HT
Foamer, Caustic Soda
POLY-PLUG LCM PLUG
 GEOTHERMAL FORMATION
DAMAGE
 WHAT IS DAMAGING TO THE
PRODUCING FORMATIONS? Drilled
Solids, LCM, Bentonite, Polymers,
Cement, etc.

 TO WHAT EXTENT IS FORMATION

DAMAGE CORRECTABLE?

 HOW DO WE MINIMIZE FORMATION

DAMAGE?!
GEOTHERMAL DRILLING OPERATIONS
FORMATION DAMAGE CONTROL

 DRILLED SOLIDS – Contamination of

production intervals; poor hole cleaning;
drilling blind (solids go into formation)
 LOST CIRCULATION MATERIALS – Utilize
degradable materials (Magma Fiber, etc)
 LOST CIRCULATION MATERIALS – Partially-
degradable materials (Sawdust, Cottonseed
Hulls, Drilling Paper, etc.)
 BENTONITE – Minimize when possible
 INHIBITION – Use ionic inhibition (K+, Al+3)
where appropriate
GEOTHERMAL BENTONITE -
FREE MUD SYSTEM
 Minimizes
production zone
damage
 High ROPs
possible
 Readily available
products
 Mud properties
are easily
maintained
 System is cost-
effective
 BENTONITE-FREE MUD SYSTEM
COMPONENTS

 Viscosifier – Proprietary high-temp

blended PHPA, especially for sweeps
 Fluid Loss – Modified PACs and 3rd
generation synthetic acrylamide
copolymers (temp stable to >400°F)
 Inhibition – KCl, KOH, Aluminum Silicate
Blends
 Lubricity – TORKease
 Other Additives – Corrosion & Scale
Inhibitors, Foamers, pH Modifiers
 Final Questions to Ponder

 Do we really need HTHP fluid loss?

 Drilled Solids Removal – how do we
cost-effectively implement?
 LCM Product Degradability – Is this a
critical issue?
 How do we maximize penetration
rates & reduce overall well costs?
 Can we drill ‘Bentonite-free’?
 THANK YOU
 I appreciate the opportunity to make
this presentation for the attendees of
the GRC Annual Convention

 For further or personal discussions

regarding innovative drilling fluids
additives for Geothermal
applications, I can be contacted at
Sinclair’s GRC display at Booth #36