University of Omar Al-Mukhtar

Engineering College
Mechanical Engineering Department
Geothermal Energy

Presented by
Lecturer Fadeel Al-Areeda
5𝑡ℎ Lecture Outline

• Geothermal Well Drilling

-Introduction

-Site Preparation and Drilling Equipment

-Drilling Operations

-Safety Precautions
 Geothermal Well Drilling
- Introduction:

The confirmation of the optimistic outcome of the exploration phase

Generally three wells are drilled as the first step in the field
confirmation stage. The wells are sited at the most promising locations
as determined by all the exploration studies. If possible they should
form a triangle in the hope of defining a productive area of the field.
Since these wells must be viewed as a part of the exploration program,
as much information as possible should be collected during their
drilling. This includes the taking of core samples from at least some
portions of the well to help understanding the lithology of the
formation. These data must be combined into the theoretical model of
the field prior to undertaking the next step – the drilling of the
developmental wells.
- Site Preparation and Drilling Equipment:

Geothermal fields are often remote, far from developed areas, and require significant site preparation before drilling can begin. During the scientific
exploration phase, access to the site has to be sufficient only to allow a few people to reach and sample thermal springs and other appearances, to
drive small vehicles, run electrical equipment across the terrain, etc. But for this stage, roads will need to be constructed that can carry heavy
equipment to the designated drilling targets. In volcanic environments, this can be challenging. To minimize the number of drill pads, several wells can
be drilled from a single pad, the wellheads being only tens of meters apart. Directional drilling, however, allows the productive sections of the wells to
be widely separated, perhaps by as much as 500–1000 m, to avoid interference. Generally, the first or “discovery” well is a deep vertical well (say, 2500
m) to allow as much information as possible to be gathered about the formation. A typical well pad with all equipment to support a 3000 m drill rig
with an area of roughly 90 × 45 m is required.
The figure, below, shows the major pieces of equipment used at the drill rig. Note the relative thicknesses of the drill
pipe and the drill collar which holds the bit.
- Drilling Operations:
The creation of the hole depend on the compressive forces exerted on the rock by the multi-toothed drill bit that is shown in the figure below. Rotary
drilling is the standard method in geothermal drilling whereby a string of drill pipe is hung from a derrick and turned by an engine, typically a diesel. The
top section of the pipe, called the “Kelly”, is square in cross-section to allow it to be rotated by the action of a rotary table through which it passes. The
bit is a tri-cone roller bit, based on the 1909 invention of Howard R. Hughes, that applies very concentrated loads on the rock face causing it to crack and
spall.
The drilling fluid, or “mud”, is a critical element in the operation; it serves four vital functions:

● Removes the rock chips

● Cools the drill bit and drill string

● Lubricates the drill string

● Prevents the collapse of the well wall during drilling

The mud is pumped down the center of the drill pipe to the bit where it passes through nozzles that accelerate and
direct it onto the rock beneath the bit. It sweeps up the chips as it flows under the bit and carries them with it as it
returns to the surface through the annulus between the well wall and the drill string, When it gets to the surface it
flows over a screen and shaker to remove the chips which are preserved and examined by geologists. The mud then is
returned to the bottom by the mud pump. When the formation is hot, it is necessary to cool the mud before returning
it to the well using a cooling tower. Due to unplanned deviations of the bit during drilling, the drill pipe may come in
contact with the wall over some length; the mud lubricates the contact surface helping to reduce the friction. Finally,
by exerting pressure against the wall, the mud can keep the formation intact until a permanent casing can be put in
place.
The drilling mud is an engineered fluid; It is basically water with additives that can alter the viscosity and density, Clays
are blended into solution to achieve desired properties.
A severe disadvantage to using mud as the drilling fluid arises when the formation is tight, with little permeability
except for a few narrow fractures bearing the geofluid. The mud can clog the fractures and destroy what little
permeability was there. In such cases, mud can be used until the productive zone is approached, but beyond that
point, the drilling fluid is changed to air or aerated mud. Whereas the ability of air to lift rock chips from a large
diameter hole is poor, at the lower end of the well in the production zone, the well diameter is smaller and air can do
the job effectively.
If the bit meetings a highly permeable zone, the drilling mud may be absorbed by the formation and the return
upflow will be less than the downflow. This is called a “lost circulation” problem; this is a highly desirable outcome
when the well is in the production zone because it signals excellent permeability.
A lost circulation zone within the upper part of the reservoir should be cemented. This is a permanent solution to the
lost circulation problem, but the permeable zone will be lost for any possible production leading the rest of the turn
out to be unproductive. This problem tends to occur in the early stages of field development before a clear picture of
the reservoir has appeared.
The running and cementing of the casings is a critical task . A standard way to perform this operation is shown in the figure below. When a hole is dug to
the desired depth, the casing is lowered into the hole (Fig. A). The cement is mixed and a volume somewhat greater than the annular volume between
the inside of the hole and the outside of the casing is forced down the inside of the casing with a plug (Fig. B), using drilling mud as the pusher. Direct
displacement of the cement should lead to the complete filling of the annulus with cement by the time the plug comes to rest on the float collar (Fig. C).
The return of the excess cement to the surface signals a successful job.
The uncemented annulus is probably filled with liquid. If this
section becomes heated during later operation of the well,
the trapped liquid will heat up, try to expand, and its pressure
will rise dramatically, most likely leading to the collapse of the
casing. This certainly would mean the loss of the well and could
even cause a blowout if the weak section is fairly close to the
surface
As is usual with any kind of deep well, the drilling is done in
stages. A surface anchor casing is cemented into a large hole,
followed by the surface casing. The production casing is the
longest one and terminates just short of the main production
zone, as shown in the figure. The well may be drilled deeper
and left as an open hole or fitted with a slotted liner, set so that
the slots align with the production zone. In some wells, the
production casing is carried all the way to the surface, but in
others it may be hung from the surface casing.
- Safety Precautions:
There is always the risk of a blowout when drilling a geothermal well. This occurs
when an unexpected, high-pressure permeable zone is encountered. Enough of these
dramatic and dangerous events have happened so that there are now strict
regulations in most countries on the proper safety precautions to be followed during
drilling.

The use of blowout preventers is standard practice nowadays, as shown in the figure.
These are a set of fast-acting ram-type valves attached to the surface casing, and
through which the drill pipe rotates. In the event of a “kick” from the well, these
valves are slammed tight around the drill string, effectively closing off the well.
Another valve attached to the wellhead just above the casing allows for controlled
venting of the well to a silencer until the well is brought under control, usually by
quenching the well with cold water.

The presence of toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, H2S, can lead to severe injuries
and even loss of life unless proper procedures are followed . The cellar of a well is a
particularly dangerous place since both H2S and carbon dioxide, CO2, are heavier
than air. If there are any leaks from the well or casing, these gases can gather in the
cellar. H2S and CO2 sensors should be installed wherever there is the possibility of
high concentrations of these gases.