| Abstract |
The problem of lost circulation during the drilling of geothermal wells is recognized to be serious impediment to well completion. A viable solution, in term of an "engineered" plugging material, will be enhanced via analytical cognizance of possible down hole plugging mechanism. This paper investigates several plugging strategies that result from rudimentary, mathematical models of the mud rheology (with or without dispersed particulates). Moreover, this analytical modeling effort serves to augment the current experimental research at the Lost Circulation Test Facility of Sandia National Laboratories. |