| Title | A Full-Scale Facility for Evaluating Lost Circulation Materials and Techniques |
|---|---|
| Authors | Loeppke, G. E.; Caskey, B. C. |
| Year | 1983 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Drilling; USA; New Mexico; Albuquerque; Sandia National Laboratory; Simulated Wellbore; Accumulators; Triplex Mud Pump; Blender; Cross Flow; Mud Rheology; Formation Damage; Foam Rheology; LCM |
| Abstract | Lost circulation is often a problem during well drilling and completion, and can be especially severe in naturally fractured geothermal formations. Sandia National Laboratories has designed and built a full scale facility for the evaluation of lost circulation materials and technique under simulated downhole geothermal wellbore conditions. System capabilities include a maximum temperature of 400°F, maximum allowed working pressure of 1150 psi, and a variable pumping rate up to 280 gpm at 1000 psi. The system will be utilized to evaluate candidate lost circulation materials and techniques that may be useful to solving geothermal well drilling lost circulation problems. |