| Keywords |
Drilling; Drilling, drilling fluids, lubricity, torque, drag, geothermal drilling, mud, potassium, rheology, filtrate control, fluid loss, TORKease, SHALease, Polythin HT, thinner, deflocculant, lost circulation, stuck pipe, inhibition, formation damage |
| Abstract |
The scope of this paper is to introduce some of the current technical trends in geothermal drilling fluids, with special focus on those systems and additives which can be used in some of the more extreme geothermal drilling environments (500- 600°+F, 260-316°C). Benefits to Geothermal Operators have included increased penetration rates, improved hole stability, reduced drilling ‘trouble-time’, enhanced control of lost circulation, and reduced drilling mud and overall well costs. |