| Title | Description of a Closed Drilling Mud Recycle System Without a Sump |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bell, Douglas G.; Hill, Richard E. |
| Year | 1986 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Drilling Technology; General; Environmental; Mud Pits; Sumps; Drilling Mediums; Low Mud Weight; Cutting Disposal; Cost Effectiveness; Case Study; Santa Fe Geothermal; Hazardous Waste; Regulation Permits; Pollution; Sumpless Drilling |
| Abstract | Santa Fe Geothermal, Inc. owns and operates an 80 megawatt power plant in the Geysers area near Middletown, California. Two geothermal steam wells were drilled during the summer of 1985 utilizing a closed mud system, with no sump, resulting in substantial savings in drill pad location construction and clean up costs. The closed mud system consisted of a series of shakers, hydroclones, miniscreens, centrifuges and sedimentation tanks. The assembly was operated to clean drill cuttings from the drill mud prior to recycle back to the well bore. |