EUROPEAN GEOTHERMAL DRILLING EXPERIENCE-

PROBLEM AREAS AND CASE STUDIES

0. Baron and P. Ungemach

Commisslon of The European Communities

Belglum

ABSTRACT

Geothermal d r i l l i n g h a s long been restricted i n Western Europe t o t h e

sole d r y s t e a m f i e l d of L a r d e r e l l o i n I t a l y . I n t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s , a
wider e x p e r i e n c e i s b u i l d i n g up a s a consequence of i n t e n s i f i e d explo-
r a t i o n and development programs c a r r i e d o u t for e v a l u a t i o n and produc-
t i o n of both l o w - and high-enthalpy geothermal resources. A sample Of
some 40 boreholes i n d i c a t e s the following problem areas.
1. Low-Enthalpy D r i l l i n 9
Due t o s i m i l a r s e t t i n g s - - h o t water system flowing i n sedimentary u n i t s
a t t e m p e r a t u r e s and d e p t h s r a n g i n g f r o m 40" t o 140°C (104" t o 284°F)
and from 1,000 t o 3,500 metres ( 3 , 2 8 1 t o 11,484 f e e t ) , r e s p e c t i v e l y - -
t h e technology h e r e i s s t r o n g l y dependent on o i l and g a s d r i l l i n g
practice. S t i l l , s p e c i f i c problems remain i n t h e areas o f m u l t i p l e -
r e s e r v o i r r e c o n n a i s s a n c e and w e l l completion a t p r o d u c t i o n and r e i n -
j e c t i o n l e v e l s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n poorly consolidated fluvio-deltaic
sequences l e a d i n g t o sand c o n t r o l and s w e l l i n g c l a y problems. Exper-
t i s e needs t o be developed t o minimize c o s t s , s e c u r e h i g h p r o d u c t i o n
c a p a c i t i e s , l o n g l i f e t i m e s , and minimum maintenance c o m p a t i b l e w i t h
t h e economics and t h e l a c k of s u i t a b l e workover f a c i l i t i e s .
2. High-Enthalpy D r i l l i n g
E x p l o r a t o r y d r i l l i n g i s c u r r e n t l y combining w i l d c a t t i n g and d e e p e r
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of known f i e l d s . Lost c i r c u l a t i o n , d r i l l s t r i n g corro-
s i o n , t u b u l a r s , mud, cementing, and d e v i a t i o n c o n t r o l a r e t h e m o s t
f r e q u e n t l y encountered d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i l e d r i l l i n g i n h o s t i l e water-
dominated environments. Formation t e m p e r a t u r e s i n excess o f 300°C
(572°F) are o f t e n t h e r u l e , and r e c e n t d r i l l i n g conducted i n v o l c a n i c
areas have h i t f l u i d s approaching s u p e r c r i t i c a l s t a t e . Whenever these
problems do n o t remain under c o n t r o l , t h e y r e s u l t i n r i g standby and
e x t r a costs which e v e r e l y p e n a l i z e an i n d u s t r y which n e e d s s h a r p
improvements t o be l l y r e l i a b l e and cost e f f e c t i v e .
Geothermal w e l l s t i m u l a t i o n i s t h e r e f o r e a f i e l d of growing i n t e r e s t ,
b u t it lacks adequate procedures.
C u r r e n t geothermal d r i l l i n g p r a c t i c e i n Europe i s i l l u s t r a t e d by three
t y p i c a l case s t u d i e s .

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 Ib!TRODUCTION

P r i o r t o 1974 geothermal energy (GE) was more o r l e s s regarded b y European (EC) cii
S t a t e s an e x o t i c c u r i o s i t y o f m a r g i n a l impact although, n o t m e n t i o n i n g Roman ages,
a t l e a s t two c o u n t r i e s h a d - l o n g been i n v o l v e d i n geothermal m a t t e r s -
Italy in
power g e n e r a t i o n from d r y steam sources (Larderello, 19041 and France i n d i r e c t use
of low e n t h a l p y a q u i f e r s (Melun 1'Almont d i s t r i c t h e a t i n g doublet, 1969).

I n t h e 1960's ENEL, t h e i t a l i a n power agency, who had b u i l t up i t s d r i l l i n g

and p r o d u c t i o n experience on t h e L a r d e r e l l o f i e l d f l e x t e n d e d e x p l o r a t i o n t o o t h e r
areas o f Tuscany and N o r t h e r n Latium. T h i s l e d t o t h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e T r a v a l e and
Monte Amiata d r y steam and t h e Cesano p r e s s u r i z e d water systems,

Since then, and as a consequence o f t h e energy p r i c e c r i s i s , EC c o u n t r i e s

r e v i s i t e d GE and a pronounced involvement c o u l d be noticed. I n p a r t i c u l a r a R & D
programme i n GE, common t o n i n e member Statesa, was launched i n 1975 by t h e
Commission o f t h e European Communities (CEC) a d r e s s i n g a l l aspects o f geothermal
research, from e x p l o r a t i o n t o production, i n which w i l d c a t t i n g t o o k a n i m p o r t a n t
part ( 8 ) .

I n s p i t e of a v e r y r e c e n t a c t i v i t y i n d r i l l i n g f o r low grade heat and i n

a c t i v e v o l c a n i c areas, t h e european geothermal w e l l r e c o r d i s n o t n e g l i g i b l e as .
shown i n Table 1. I t p r o v i d e s a l r e a d y a s u i t a b l e data base f o r r e v i e w i n g m a j o r
problem areas, a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e x p l o r a t i o n and p r o d u c t i o n d r i l l i n g , w i t h r e s p e c t t o
(i) d r i l l i n g and c o m p l e t i o n technology, (ii) environmental c o n s t r a i n t s and (iii)
economics.

For t h e sake o f s i m p l i f i c a t i o n , d r i l l i n g i s d i v i d e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e e n t h a l p y
o f t h e geothermal f l u i d , as d r i l l i n g o f h i g h and low e n t h a l p y w e l l s adresses i n
f a c t c o n t r a s t e d g e o l o g i c a l and t h e r m a l environments and d i f f e r e n t usage and
economics.

Three case studies, s e l e c t e d among deep e x p l o r a t i o n p r o j e c t s supported b y t h e

CEC, w i l l i l l u s t r a t e t h e p r a c t i c a l problems encountered i n geothermal d r i l l i n a .

GEOTHERMAL EP!VIRONMENTS

The g e o l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e o f Europe and consequently i t s geothermal environments

a r e commanded by t h e geodynamic e v o l u t i o n o f t h e Eurasian P l a t e . I t d i s p l a y s a
v a r i e t y o f geodynamic s e t t i n g s , most p l a t e t e c t o n i c a t t r i b u t e s b e i n g p r e s e n t except
t h e oceanic c r u s t . Western Europe a t l a r g e i s an area o f o l d and r i g i d c o n t i n e n t a t
c r u s t c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y c r y s t a l l j n e massifs, i n t r a c r a t o n i c and foredeep b a s i n s and
c o n t i n e n t a l r i f t i n g . A younger c r u s t s t r e t c h e s over t h e Mediterranean area, where
-
t h e A f r i c a n and E u r a s i a n P l a t e s c o l l i d e , e x h i b i t i n g t y p i c a l f e a t u r e s subduction,
m a r g i n a l basins, i s l a n d a r c s and e x t e n s i o n a l h o r s t and graben systems.

-aBelgium, Denmark, Federal Republ c of Germany, France, I r e l a n d , I t a l y , Luxembourg,

The Nether lands, U n i t e d Kingdom. Greece w i l l j o i n t h e EC i n 1981.

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i
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These environments a r e i r r e g u i a r l y d i s t r i b u t e d though. An important conse-

quence i s t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of E€ S t a t e s a r e faced w i t h t h e s o l e low e n t h a l p y o u t -
look, h i g h e n t h a l p y sources b e i n g l i m i t e d t o C e n t r a l and Southern I t a l y and t o
Lia s t e r n Greece.

Fig. 1 displays, a t a broad scale, t h e EC geothermal resource s t a t u s w i t h

i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e areas where a commercial development can be r e l i a b l y envisaged.
Three main systems can be characterized, r e s p e c t i v e l y :

- low e n t h a l p y resources which prove t o be p r o l i f i c and dependable i n foredeep

and i n t r a c r a t o n i c b a s i n s wherever they develop r e g i o n a l a q u i f e r u n i t s . Such l a r g e
sedimentary m u l t i - a q u i f e r systems a r e found i n France ( A q u i t a i n e and P a r i s Basins),
I t a l y (Po Valley), U n i t e d Kingdom (Wessex, East Y o r k s h i r e and N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d
Basins), Germany (Southern Molassic A l p i n e foredeep and N o r t h e r n Munsterland),
H o l l a n d and Denmark. .

- c o n t i n e n t a l r i f t i n g and central, recent but e x t i n c t volcanism which stand

h a l f way between h i g h and low enthalpy resources. Here,an a s s o c i a t i o n o f o f t e n h i g h
temperatures (100 t o 16OOC) and o f complex r e s e r v o i r and heat source c o n d i t i o n s
renders e x p l o r a t i o n d e l i c a t e . R i f t v a l l e y s (Limagne, Rhone V a l l e y and Rhine Graben)
e x h i b i t i n t e n s e compartmenting r e q u i r i n g s o p h i s t i c a t e d seismics, s t r u c t u r a l a n a l y s i s
and t e c t o n i c s as t o i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f a c t i v e f a u l t i n g and p o r o s i t y p a t t e r n s .

-
h i g h e n t h a l y r e s e r v o i r s p l a c e d along t h e mediterranean b e l t , c h i e f l y t h e
Tuscanian d i s t e n s i v e t e c t o n i c system, t h e Northern Latium and Campanian p l i o -
quaternary volcanism and t h e subduction magmatism o f t h e E o l i a n Arc.

DRILLING DATA EASE

i Over 800 r e l l s have been d r i l l e d i n Western Europe f o r geothermal purposes,

s i n c e t h e e a r l y 1900's, w i t h a success r a t i o o f 56 % c l o s e t o t h e w o r l d average.
Note,in T a b l e 1,that f o r t h e L a r d e r e l l o f i e l d t h e success r a t i o i s decreasing i n
t h e p a s t f o u r years w i t h i n c r e a s i n g d r i l l i n g depths. Cow e n t h a l p y d r i l l i n g , which
o f t e n c o n s i s t s o f d r i l l i n g a w e l l pair, t h e so c a l l e d geothermal doublet, f o r
c o n s e r v a t i v e and environmental reasons i s s t i l l i n i t s e a r l y development stage.
F u t u r e developments - about 400 w e l l s scheduled i n t h e n e x t f i v e years, should t h e
i
r i g and manpower be a v a i l a b l e - should markedly improve t h i s r a t i o . Two areas o f
t h e EC a r e already,or l i k e l y t o be, i n t e n s e l y d r i l l e d . One i s t h e L a r d e r e l l o f i e l d
w i t h t h e h i g h w e l l c o n c e n t r a t i o n d e p i c t e d i n Fig. 2. I t i s obvious t h a t e f f e c t i v e
w e l l s t i m u l a t i o n techniques would s i g n i f i c a n t l y improve t h e economics o f t h e
e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h i s f r a c t u r e dominated f i e l d . The second i s t h e P a r i s o u t s k i r t s ,
showri i n Fig. 3, where some 60 planned d o u b l e t s emphasize d r i l l i n g , work over
and r e l a t e d environmental i m p l i c a t i o n s i n urban areas.

I LI
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 LOW ENTHALPY DRILLING " ,

Most o f t h e o i l and gas d r i l l i n g background i s t r a n s f e r a b l e t o h o t water

L
d r i l l i n g which r e q u i r e s a s i m i l a r technology owing t o a s i m i l a r environment -
a q u i f e r s f l o w i n g i n sedimentary rocks a t depths and temperatures v a r y i n g from 40
t o 1 4 O O C and 1000 t o 3500 m r e s p e c t i v e l y . S t i l l , t h e r e a r e a few s t r i k i n g d i f f e -
rences i n t h e areas o f w e l l completion, reconnaisance, d r i l l i n g f l u i d s , environ-
mental c o n s t r a i n t s and,of course,economics.

Basically,low grade heat b e i n g o f low market v a l u e i s n o t y e t t r a n s p o r t a b l e

economically over d i s t a n c e s g r e a t e r t h a n 5 km. D r i l l i n g costs,elsewhere,are high
(see Table 2) - t w i c e t h e N o r t h American f i g u r e s- because o f a shortage o f i n l a n d
r i g s and o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h hydrocarbon e x p l o r a t i o n programmes. I n 1981, a
c o s t o f 2 m i l l i o n US g f o r a 2000 m deep w e l l tends t o become t h e r u l e a l l over
western Europe. As a r e s u l t (i) h i g h w e l l p r o d u c t i v e capacities,say 100 m3/h o r
15,000 b b l / d f o r a commercial b o l e b y 1980 standards a r e r e q u i r e d t o ensure a
decent r e t u r n on investment; which (ii) i m p l i e s s i g n i f i c a n t he3t loads in
t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e w e l l source - t e n t h s o f thousands Gcal/year - which (iii)
bounds develgpment t o d i s t r i c t h e a t i n g o f l a r g e c i t i e s .

Well Completion
---------------
A major d i f f i c u l t y i n geothermal energy i s t h e adequate cementing o f columns
i n c l u d i n g l i n e r hangers, a problem w i t h which one has t o l i v e .

Most carbonate geothermal r e s e r v o i r s a r e produced (and i n j e c t e d ) i n open h o l e

- Dogger i n t h e P a r i s Basin, carboniferous k a r s t i f i e d limestone i n Belgium and
createceous d o l o m i t e i n A q u i t a i n e -
and exhibit,due t o t h e i r f r a c t u r e dominated
porosities, h i g h y i e l d s .

T r i a s s i c c l a s t i c d e p o s i t s (sandstone and interbedded c l a y ) a r e l e s s dependable

r e s e r v o i r s because o f random p o r o s i t y t r e n d s (compaction, diagenesis) and r e q u i r e
s u i t a b l e w e l l completion. The rule,below 1500 m,is t o a v o i d t h e placement o f a
g r a v e l pack which i s considered a t o o r i s k y operation. A good substitute,already
experienced i n underground gas storage,is t o s e t down h o l e w i r e wrapped screens o f
e i t h e r o i l and gas o r superweld t y p e ( 1. A c l a s s i c a l design would be a 0 6" 518
s t a i n l e s s 316L superweld s c r e e $ w i t h a 0.8 mm slot,on a w e l l p r o d u c i n g from a sand
and sandstone m a t r i x . No sand c o n t r o l problems have y e t appeared.

R e i n j e c t e d f l u i d s being cooled f o r m a t i o n f l u i d s , c i r c u l a t e d under pressure,

f l u i d c o m p a t i b i l i t y , s w e l l i n g c l a y and p r e c i p i t a t i o n problems a r e minimum t o date.

M u l t i A q u i f e r Reconnaissance
............................
I n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e P a r i s B a s i n c o e x i s t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f producing e i t h e r
t h e Dogger o r t h e T r i a s r e s e r v o i r s . The Dogger i s a r e l i a b l e open h o l e producer but
i s c o o l e r whereas t h e T r i a s i s h o t t e r but random as t o p o r o s i t i e s and moreover i t
r e q u i r e s a completion. Only d i r e c t assessment b y t e s t i n g can o p t i m i z e t h i s balance.
There a r e t h r e e p o s s i b l e s t r a t e g i e s :

i. Target r e s e r v o i r : T r i a s Produced r e s e r v o i r : T r i a s
ii. Target r e s e r v o i r : Dogger Produced r e s e r v o i r : Dogger
iii. Target r e s e r v o i r : T r i a s Produced r e s e r v o i r : Dogger

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 -P r o d u c t i o n o f t h e Dogger by r e l e a s i n g t h e "Ken Flow" through p e r f o r a t i o n s o r
t h e b 8" 112 open h o l e a f t e r p u l l i n g o u t t h e 0 7" l i n e r .
-The 0 9" 5 / 8 becomes t h e r e i n j e c t i o n column.
-D r i l l i n g o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n borehole, o b j e c t i v e Dogger.

O i l Based Muds
_-------------
I n general, r e l u c t a n c e i s f r e q u e n t l y n o t i c e d among p r o f e s s i o n a l s towards u s i n g
o i l base muds d e s p i t e t h e i r many advantages,principally because o f environmental
( d i s p o s a l and f i r e ) and economical considerations.

I n one case use o f these muds i s r e p o r t e d s a t i s f a c t o r y ( 9 ) d u r i n g most o f t h e

d r i l l i n g sequence. The s i t e c o n s t r a i n t s were such -urban area, l i t t l e a v a i l a b l e
space, t a r g e t f o r m a t i o n d i s t a n t from t h e d r i l l i n g p l a t f o r m -
t h a t i t was necessary
t o d r i l l i n a 0 8" 1 / 2 diameter a t a 400 d r i f t angle w i t h l i g h t muds ( d e n s i t y o f
1.04 - 1.051, no r e s e r v e p i t and no p o l l u t i o n o f t h e environment.

O i l based mud were found t o b e s t meet these o b j e c t i v e s by t h e i r a b i l i t y t o

(i) secure f a s t d r i l l i n g r a t e s by m i n i m i z i n g f r i c t i o n and s t i c k i n g r i s k s a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h s l a n t d r i l l i n g , (ii)l i m i t f o r m a t i o n damage and (iii) avoid hydration o f marls
and r e l a t e d s w e l l i n g and caving problems.

The i m p l i c a t i o n s were t h r e e f o l @ (i)

t o keep d e n s i t y under c o n t r o l by a v o i d i n g
discharge, C i i ) t o l i m i t mud losses when removing s o l i d s and (iii) t o reduce
s i g n i f i c a n t l y t r e a t e d and waste volumes. T h i s emphasizes s o l i d treatment. A r a t h e r
standard mud c l e a n i n g d e v i c e was added t o t h e mud c i r c u i t sketched i n Fig. 7.
w
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 I t enabled t o remove 54 % of t h e s o l i d s and t o recover 89 % o f t h e emulsion o f t h e
d e s i l t e r heavy e f f l u e n t s . D r i l l i n g c o u l d be completed i n 20 days from 200 t o 1330 m(
w i t h l e s s than 5 % r e d r i l l i n g time, and below t h e p r o j e c t e d budget. D e n s i t y was
always kept a t 1.05, w i t h a t o t a l mud volume o f 200 m3 and a percentage o f remova-
b l e d r i l l e d s o l i d s equal t o 67 %. Moreover no p o l l u t i o n is reported.

Noise
-----
Conventional, non e l e c t r i c , petroleum r i g s used i n geothermal d r i l l i n g can
generate n o i s e up t o €5 dbA whereas l e g a l environmental regulations set t h e l i m i t s
i n urban areas, w i t h heavy t r a f f i c , t o 45 ?. 15 = 60 dbA and 45 + 5 = 50 dbA d u r i n g
day and n i g h t t i m e . Excess n o i s e margins are o f 5 and 3 dbA r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Waiting f o r e l e c t r i c i t y d r i v e n r i g s , temporary measures can achieve t h e

o b j e c t i v e o f d r i l l i n g a t t o l e r a b l e n o i s e l e v e l s . They consist, among others,of :

-suppressing generator sets,replaced by connections t o t h e grid,

-o r i e n t i n g t h e d r i l l i n g p l a t f o r m and n o i s y engines according t o t h e d i r e c t i o n
o f dominant winds,
-s e t t i n g m u f f l e r s and hoods on engines,
-b u i l d i n g a n t i - n o i s e walls, b a t t e r s or wooden screens,
-a v o i d i n g n o i s y o p e r a t i o n s a t n i g h t : stem manoeuvers, cementing, logging.

They r e s u l t i n a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s estimated a t 100,000 US S..

O i l and gas d r i l l i n g p r a c t i c e versus geothermal r e s e r v o i r e v a l u a t i o n

--------------------___________c________-------------~--------------

The f o l l o w i n g case study (6) may w e l l i l l u s t r a t e t h e problems l i k e l y t o be

encountered when a p p l y i n g s t r a i g h t forward petroleum r o u t i n e t o geothermal explora-
tion.

Type o f w e l l : w i l d c a t .
O b j e c t i v e : e v a l u a t i o n o f h o t water b e a r i n g formations i n f e r r e d i n T r i a s s i c
f l u v i o c o n t i n e n t a l deposits; r e s e r v o i r rocks = sand, sandstone, interbedded clay.
P r e d i c t e d down h o l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s : TD = 3000 m, BHT = 130-150OC, p r e s s u r e =
hydrostatic.
L o c a t i o n : populated suburban d i s t r i c t , optimized by a v i b r o s e i s m i c survey.
Regional background knowledge : p r e v i o u s hydrocarbon e x p l o r a t i o n and produc-
t i o n d r i l l i n g s , some 20 km apart, and playback o f a continuous seismic coverage
enable t h e geology o f p o s t i r i a s s i c t e r r a i n s t o be r e l i a b l y assessed.
Technical column : 0 13" 3/8 casing (1200 m), 0 9" 5/8 l i n e r (1100-1900 m),
0 7" l i n e r (1800-2600 m) - Reservoir ; e i t h e r open hole, w i r e wrapped screen
(b 4" 1 / 2 1 o r s l o t t e d l i n e r ( 0 4" 1/21.
Mud programme : b e n t o n i t i c , b e n t o n i t i c + l i g n o s u l f o n a t e and baryte, s a t u r a t e d
brine.

The outcome was t h e f o l l o w i n g :

P r e d i c t e d and a c t u a l f i g u r e s stand i n r a t h e r c l o s e agreement as t o TD (3200 m),

temperature ( 1 4 O O C ) and f o r m a t i o n pressure. Reservoir t o p i s h i t a t 2700 m and a
n e t pay o f 150 m i s assessed from t h e CNL-BHC p o r o s i t y cross p l o t ( c u t - o f f
p o r o s i t y : 8 %).

5-6
!
Major events : incomplete cementing o f t h e 13" 3 / 8 -9" 5 / 8 l i n e r hanger. A t
2000 m a mini e r u p t i o n o f o i l and d i s s o l v e d gas i s c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e crew. I t causes
l a s t r e n g h t e n i n g o f s a f e t y r e g u l a t i o n s : w e l l head change and a n t i - e x p l o s i v e m o d i f i -
i c a t i o n s brought t o t h e r i g . D r i l l i n g resumes w i t h a b e n t o n i t e l i g n o s u l f o n a t e mud o f
t
d e n s i t y 1.13 a t r e s e r v o i r t o p (1.08 f o r h o l e c o n t r o l and c u t t i n g recovery, 0.05 f o r
5 bars/1000 m over pressure c o n t r o l ) . T o t a l l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n a t 2850 m. Mud losses :
185 m3. A f t e r c o n t r o l , d r i l l i n g progresses t o TD w i t h a b e n t o n i t i c mud ( d : 1.03 -
1.04). Mud losses : 290 m3. An a c i d f r a c j o b i s performed and a 600 m 0 4" 1 / 2
I

s l o t t e d l i n e r s e t down h o l e b e f o r e move-out. Number o f cores : t h r e e ( t o p -

i
reservoir - basement). Number o f casing DST's : 3 ( f i r s t : dry, second : productive;
t h i r d over t o t a l open h o l e s e c t i o n : l e s s productive).
i
D i a g n o s t i c : r e s e r v o i r plugged by a bentonic mud i n a h o t (14OOC) a q u i f e r
environment; u n s u f f i c i e n t r e s e r v o i r reconnaissance; no f u r t h e r r e s e r v o i r i n v e s t i g a -
t i o n s p o s s i b l e (flowmeter, s i d e w a l l c o r i n g ) owing t o a nonremovable s l o t t e d l i n e r .
F a i l u r e reasons a r e t h r e e f o l d : blow o u t fears, inadequate mud, budget l i m i t a t i o n s .
The f i r s t caused denser d r i l l i n g f l u i d s and exaggerated h o l e control, t h e second
r e s u l t e d i n f o r m a t i o n damage, t h e t h i r d i n a funnel shaped columr),the cheapest mud
formula and t o o f a s t d r i l l i n g r a t e s a t r e s e r v o i r l e v e l .

Consequences : s i d e t r a c k from r e s e r v o i r top, w i t h s a l t w a t e r as a d r i l l i n g

f l u i d and a m o d i f i e d h o l e geometry (7" casing t i e d back t o t h e former 7" -
9" 5/23
l i n e r hanger). Subsequent e x t r a c o s t s a r e estimated a t 1.2 m i l l i o n US 8 .

H I G H ENTHALPY DRILLING

Genera 1
-------
For many years h i g h enthalpy d r i l l i n g - w a s bound t o Tuscan d r y steam f i e l d s
and i t i s o n l y r e c e n t l y t h a t more d i v e r s i f i e d s e t t i n g s have e n t e r e d t h e geothermal
d r i l l i n g and p r o d u c t i o n p i c t u r e . O f t h e 814 w e l l s d r i l l e d a t temperatures above
1 5 O O C about 30, d r i l l e d i n t h e p a s t decade, d e a l t w i t h water dominated systems.
Relevant environments can e x h i b i t f o r m a t i o n temperatures i n excess of 4OOOC and a
bottom h o l e t e m p e r a t u r e o f 300OC i s a q u i t e common f i g u r e . CO c o n t e n t s a s h i g h as
2
80 % a r e sometimes n o t i c e d i n t h e e a r l y producing stage ( T o r r e ALfina). R e s e r v o i r
rocks include : q u a r t z i t e , p h y l l i t e and a n h y d r i t e (Larderello, Travale, Monte
Amiata, P i a n Castagnaio) - Carbonate (limestone and d o l o m i t e ) rocks (Larderello,
Travale, T o r r e A l f i n a , Cesano, L a t e r a l - a l k a l i n e t u f f a c e o u s p r o d u c t s (Mofete,
San V i t o ) - micaschists, c r y s t a l l i n e and metamorphic rocks (Milos). But i n g e n e r a l
i t i s l e s s t h e n a t u r e o f t h e rock t h a n i t s f r a c t u r e d p o r o s i t y , t h e dominant f e a t u r e
o f geothermal r e s e r v o i r s , which i s a problem. Hard and a b r a s i v e rocks a r e d r i l l e d
a t e s w i t h conventional t o o l s . Lengths f 75, 100 and even 125 m d r i l l e d
w i t h t h e same t o o l a r e n o t uncommon i n geotherma b i t records. I t i s more a m a t t e r
o f t o o l t o f o r m a t i o n adequacy t h a n o f adequate t o o l a v a i l a b i l i t y .

Fractures, e s p e c i a l l y when massive as i n t h e L a r d e r e l l o f i e l d , a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

h i g h temperatures cause t h e major problems as t o l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , cementing
jobsand s e t t i n g o f m u l t i p l e c a s i n g s T h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s a r e t h e major reasons t o
t h e t w o f o l d i n c r e a s e o f geothermal d r i l l i n g c o s t s as compared t o e q u i v a l e n t o i l and
gas operations. S t a t i s t i c s , c a r r i e d out on a sample o f 20 w e l l s d r i l l e d a t depths
o f 1000 t o 1500 m w i t h s i m i l a r technologies show (Munier Jolain, p e r s o n a l communi-

iucation, 19801, f o r hydrocarbon versus geothermal : t o t a l d u r a t i o n (days) 30/50,

 e f f e c t i v e d r i l l i n g t i m e (%I 35/20, t o o l l i f e t i m e i d e n t i c a l , c o n t r o l (losses, cement-
ing. ..) and i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n (%I 13/30. LJ
Although l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n s a r e n o t t o be overlooked (see example f u r t h e r ) t h e y
a r e u s u a l l y k e p t under c o n t r o l by cement p l u g s -
up t o 17 a r e r e p o r t e d o n a j o b a t
120 m depth. So cementing i s t h e major p u z z l e e s p e c i a l l y when c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t
squeeze and stage cementing a r e r u l e d o u t i n geothermal wells. A r u l e f r e q u e n t l y
adopted c o n s i s t s o f p l a c i n g t h r e e successive columns (17" 112 13" 3 / 8- 9" 518 - -
7") continuously, cemented b u t n o t f i e c e s s a r i l y over t h e e n t i r e length, w i t h expansion
s p o o l s a t w e l l head. S l o t t e d l i n e r s a r e more a makeshift t h a n a need. A standard
cement u t i l i z e d i n t h e EC i s t h e I t a l c e m e n t i (ieotherm Class G cement, based o n
40 % S i l i c a f l o w e r which copes M i t h temperatures o f 3OOOC u s i n g adequate a d d i t i v e s
and r e t a r d e r s ( 4 ) .

A t y p i c a l h i g h temperature w e l l i s shown i n Fig., 8 .

Here a t L a t e r a (7) i n a
volcano sedimentary context, EhiEL u t i l i z e d a mud based o n a s e p i o l i t e - b e n t o n i t e -
chromo-lignite formula w i t h XP20 Resinex r e s i n a d d i t i v e s and p o l y a c r y l a t e s . Other
mud formulae used i n I t a l y a r e ( 4 ) : asbestos-fiber muds p r e t r e a t e d w i t h chromo-
l i g n i t e s and non-ionic surfactants; b e n t o n i t i c muds w i t h FCL/CL s t a b i l i z e d b y
Synergetic Polymer Blend; b e n t o n i t i c muds w i t h h i g h ferro-chromo-lignosulfonate/
chromo-Lignite contents, p r o t e c t e d and s t a b i l i z e d by a s p h a l t i c o i l d i s p e r s e d
products.

I t can be seen i n Fig. 8 t h a t a s i g n i f i c a n t s e t o f c o n v e n t i o n a l w i r e l i n e

l o g s were r a n down hole. I n general h i g h temperature do n o t cause major problems
p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s adequate cooling. Some l o g g i n g companies c l a i m temperature t o l e -
rance up t o 26OOC f o r main t o o l s but these l i m i t s were n o t checked i n h o l e i n EC
wells. As t o bottom h o l e measurements Ameradas and p r e f e r a b l y K u s t e r mechanical
devices m o d i f i e d f o r h i g h temperature service,are found t h e most r e l i a b l e and have
been used up t o 370OC o v e r s e v e r a l hours. S i n g l e shot i n s t r u m e n t s mounted o n t h e r -
mal s h i e l d s have proved e f f e c t i v e a t 4OOOC and 1.5 hours, ( 4 ) . Open h o l e packers
have f a i l e d a f t e r 12 hours o p e r a t i n g i n a 2OOOC environment i n t h e Phlegreaen
f i e l d s . Down h o l e h i g h temperature hardware i s being developed w i t h t h e support o f
t h e EC i n t h e f o l l o w i n g areas : pressure and temperature gauge (3OO0C, 500 bars),
flowmeter-caliper (240OC, 250 bars), f l u i d sampler (24OoC, 250 bars). Research i s
a l s o conducted f o r t h e design o f an i n h o l e o p t i c a l f i b e r p r i n c i p l e f o r power and
s i g n a l t r a n s m i s s i o n A l o g g i n g f a c i l i t y w i t h a 4000 m T e f l o n i n s u l a t e d c a b l e i s
currently operating i n I t a l y .

I n Europe a h i g h enthalpy w e l l i s considered commercial f o r a n e t p r o d u c t i v e

c a p a c i t y o f 1.5 MW .
Costs o f geothermal w e l l s sunk a t depths o f 2 000 and 2 500 m
average 1.9 and 2.8 m i l l i o n US 8 r e s p e c t i v e l y . S l i m h o l e ( p r o j e c t e d n o t a c t u a l )
costs f o r s i m i l a r depths amount t o 500,000 and 650,000 US 8 . Environmental cons-
t r a i n t s may add 30 % t o t h e b i l l (Campi F l e g r e i ) .

According t o j o i n t AGIP and ENEL c a l c u l a t i o n s (Ceron, p e r s o n a l communication,

1979) t h e s t r u c t u r e of geothermal m i n i n g costs i s d i v i d e d a s f o l l o w s (50 % versus
70 % success r a t i o s i n percentage of t o t a l m i n i n g c o s t ) : s u r f a c e e x p l o r a t i o n
(1.5/2), deep d r i l l i n g (77.5/70), r e s e r v o i r engineering (9.5/14), production
engineering (9.51131, d i s p o s a l (9/11).

5-8
 S l i m hole w i l d c a t t i n g

New tendancies a r e shaping i n h i g h enthalpy e x p l o r a t i o n d r i l l i n g . S l i m h o l e

w i l d c a t s p r o g r e s s i v e l y r e p l a c e t h e so c a l l e d shallow g r a d i e n t holes u t i l i s e d i n t h e
p a s t f o r heat f l o w mapping purposes. These s l i m holes, d r i l l e d e s s e n t i a l l y on geo-
p h y s i c a l i n d i c e s down t o depths of 2000 m w i t h a 0 6" t e r m i n a l open h o l e diameter,
a r e shown t o be t h r e e t i m e s cheaper t h a n an o r d i n a r y e x p l o r a t o r y borehole. They a r e
n o t designed as p r o d u c t i o n w e l l s and t h e i r use i s t h e r e f o r e r e s t r i c t e d t o g e o l o g i c a l
reconnajssance, pressure - temperature measurements and r e s e r v o i r e v a l u a t i o n . As a
r e s u l t , s l i m h o l e w i l d c a t t i n g should enable,(i) t o speed up e x p l o r a t i o n , (ii) t o cut
down e x p l o r a t i o n costs, (iii)t o c a l i b r a t e geophysics and d e r i v e r e l e v a n t conceptual
models and, therefore,(iv) t o reduce speculations. S l i m holes a r e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g
d r i l l e d o r planned i n t h e near f u t u r e o n t h e f o l l o w i n g prospects : Somma Vesuvius
(Ottaviano permit, Campania, I t a l y ) , S a b a t t i n i and C i m i n i (Northern Latium, I t a l y )
and Mont Dore (Massif Central, France) ( 8 ) .

Deep d r i l l i n g case s t u d i e s

I n known and r e c e n t l y discovered fields,deep d r i l l i n g (below 3000 m) aimed a t

i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e e n t i r e r e s e r v o i r sequences,is becoming systematic. T h i s procedure,
although i t poses severe problems associated w i t h h i g h e r temperatures and d r i l l i n g
through successive producing layers; i s necessary w i t h respect t o o p t i m i s a t i o n o f
f u t u r e p r o d u c t i o n and r e s e r v o i r management. I t i s a l s o t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e s u b s t i t u t e
o f p a s t m i n i n g p r a c t i c e o f t a k i n g t h e b e s t p a r t o f shallower producing horizons.
a

Two w e l l s d r i l l e d r e c e n t l y i n I t a l y defended t h i s concept.

A f i r s t one was d r i l l e d a t Sasso i n order t o e x p l o r e t h e deeper p a r t s and

l o c a t e t h e water phase o f t h e tong e x p l o i t e d L a r d e r e l l o d r y steam system which i s
p r e s e n t l y b e i n g produced i n t h e upper carbonate r e s e r v o i r f o r m a t i o n s (see l o g i n
Fig. 9 1. Target depths of 4500 m were estimated, based on t h e f o l l o w i n g arguments,
(i) t h e presence o f a regional, continuous and e n e r g i c seismic r e f l e c t o r and,(ii;
source temperature o f 3 5 O O C i n f e r r e d from gas geochemistry which a t t r i b u t e d a deep
o r i g i n t o 50 % o f t h e gasses trapped i n t h e upper f i e l d . As a whole t h i s p r o j e c t
ought t o be regarded as a combined e x p l o r a t i o n and d r i l l i n g technology research
venture.

t h e second w e l l has j u s t been completed a t San ita, i n Campi Flegrei,a pressu-

r i z e d water system developing i n an a c t i v e vo o n t e x t (see map i n Fig. 11)(5).
Here t h e o b j e c t i v e was t o step out o f t h e Mof ock, a t present i n t h e e v a l u a t i o n
stage,and t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e adjacent and lower compartment c l o s e t o a normal f a u l t
t r e n d i n g r a d i a l l y t o t h e P o z z u o l i caldera. A depth o f 3000 m was assianed t o t h e San
V i t o h o l e a g a i n s t 2000 m f deepest w e l l i

The Sasso 22 deep d r i l l i n g

-----------_-----_-______L

stinguished, name

o f t h e upper producing r v o i r s which ended a f t e r one

t i n g and cementing o f t h e 0 9" 5/8 casing. T h i s phase i s dominated
by l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n (see Fig. 9 1.

6d
5-9
 - second,
t h e d r i l l i n g below 3000 m, i n a harsh environment as t o rocks and
temperatures. I t i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n , t o o l deviation, d r i l l p i p e
corrosion, breakage, f i s h i n g and s i d e t r a c k i n g (see.Fig. IO). I t l a s t e d e l e v e n
LJ
months.

I f phase one c o u l d w e t 1 be regarded as one eyed, phase two was d e f i n i t e l y

blind. To our knowledge,very few wells,if any,have e x h i b i t e d so many d i f f i c u l t i e s
and hardware f a i l u r e s a t t h e same t i m e (2).

S t a r t i n g from 608 m t h e h o l e was d r i l l e d i n t o t a l l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n u s i n g p l a i n

water as a d r i l l i n g f l u i d w i t h viscous p l u g s pumped i n a t each stem move. L o s t
c i r c u l a t i o n i s caused by l a r g e f r a c t u r e s and c a v i t i e s and cannot be c o n t r o l l e d
n e i t h e r by chemical - -
p l u g g i n g agents nor mechanical - bento b l o c k- means.
Consequently,no r e t u r n c i r c u l a t i o n being possible,the c u t t i n g s a r e n o t recovered
and l i t t l e s t i f f e n i n g i s a p p l i e d t o t h e d r i l l i n g s t r i n g . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t no
s t a b i l i z e r s c o u l d be used. S t i l 1 , t o o l blocking, stuck d r i l l c o l l a r s and breakage o f
bottom h o l e assemblies were sometimes n o t i c e d b u t remained under c o n t r o l . I n p a r t i -
c u l a r t t h e i n j e c t i o n o f c o l d water and i t s subsequent shrinkage proved e f f e c t i v e i n
g e t t i n g unstuck.

Cementing, w i t h stinger, o f t h e 9" 5/8 casing c o u l d n o t be achieved over t h e

r e q u i r e d length, r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e o f t e n ambiguous i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e CBL,'owing t o
t h e presence o f s e v e r a l f i s s u r e d absorbing horizons. So, p e r f o r a t i n g and squeeze
were necessary.

Otherwise,the b i t r e c o r d proved s a t i s f a c t o r y w i t h average 50 hours and 95

meters f i g u r e s and t h e f o l l o w i n g w i r e l i n e logs c o u l d be r u n : HRT BHC GR - - -
DLL -
BHC - LS -
C and flowmeter.

Below t h e 9" 5 / 8 casing shoe t h e presence, i n a d d i t i o n t o i m p o r t a n t l o s t

c i r c u l a t i o n s h i t a t 3000 m, o f h a r d and h i g h l y heterogeneous metamorphic rocks -
gneisses and a m p h i b o l i t e s - caused t h e d e v i a t i o n s and severe dog l e g s d i s p l a y e d i n
Fig. 10. I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h h i g h temperatures, c o r r o s i o n was another puzzle. '

Breakage o f d r i l l p i p e o f t e n occured and even s e v e r a l r i n g elements o f t h e a n n u l a r

BOP were found down hole. Frequent f i s h i n g jobs took p l a c e which, owing t o bottom
h o l e temperatures i n excess of 350OC, could n o t c a l l upon e x p l o s i v e and h y d r a u l i c
(back off, bumper sub,etdrecovery techniques. When f i s h i n g f a i l e d and d e v i a t i o n
d r i f t s showed e x c e s s i v e s i d e t r a c k i n g was t h e r u l e . P l a c i n g of cement plugs, t o
keep t h e whipstock s t a t i o n a r y , n o t being possible, s h o r t c u t s . w e r e r e q u i r e d t o s i d e
t r a c k w i t h o u t r e e n t e r i n g t h e hole. A f t e r a f i r s t f a i l u r e t o d e v i a t e from t h e f i r s t
s i d e t r a c k (see Fig. 101, a second whipstock based on a c o n v e n t i o n a l .design was
manufactured by a s e r v i c e company. A f t e r p o s i t i o n i n g down h o l e a t a p e r m i l l opened
a one meter long guide h o l e f o r t h e b i t . Therbcombinations o f i n s e r t b i t s and o f
v a r i o u s bottom h o l e assemblies enabled t o pass t h e f i s h and c o n t i n u e d r i l l i n g u n t i l
a depth o f 4094 m was reached t h u s e s t a b l i s h i n g a new r e c o r d i n geothermal d r i l l i n g .

Finally,the p e r s i s t a n c e o f t h i s h o s t i l e environment caused t h e w e l l t o be

abandoned soan a f t e r a t h i r d s i d e t r a c k had been attempted. The 9" 5/8 casing was
i n so bad shape a f t e r many s t r i n g manoeuvres and shocks i n an empty space (down
t o 2200 m) t h a t t h e w e l l had t o be plugged. Further analyses o f samples o f t u b u l a r s .
recovered down h o l e proved t h a t s t r e s s c o r r o s i o n had been aggravated b y t h e use o f
steam condensates, from t h e nearby geothermal power plant,as a d r i l l i n g f l u i d .

kid

5-10
 However, t h e outcome o f t h i s deep d r i l l i n g venture was n o t n e g l i g i b l e . From a
geothermal s t a n d p o i n t i t proved a t a second r e s e r v o i r was developing down t o a
u d e p t h o f 3800 m. Over one m i l l i o 3 o f water were i n j e c t e d which demonstrated t h e
h i g h a b s o r p t i o n c a p a c i t y o f t h e f r a c t u r e d basement rocks. Core analyses l e d a l s o t o
a r e f i n e d s c e n a r i o o f t h e temperature h i s t o r y o f t h e Tuscan geothermal f i e l d . Para-
genesis study showed, i n p a r t i c u l a r , a h i g h temperature event a s s o c i a t e d w i t h ana-
t e c t i c magmatism f o l l o w e d by a r e c e n t hydrothermal a c t i v i t y . As f a r as d r i l l i n g
technology i s concerned, t h e major conclusions can be summarized as f o l l o w s :

- d e v i a t i o n c o n t r o l i s a b s o l u t e l y v i t a l i n these environments. I n no way a r e

h i g h temperatures an o b s t a c l e t o standard s i n g l e shot o p e r a t i n g p r o v i d e d t h e i n -
j e c t e d water c o o l s down t h e h o l e t o t h e r e q u i r e d l e v e l .

- i t i s recommended t h a t future j o b s i n s i s i i l a r c o n d i t i o n s make use o f non

s t a b i l i s e d heavy d r i l l . c o l l a r s (Uranium, Tungsten) t o prevent excessive d e v i a t i o n s .

- s i d e t r a c k i n g over 350OC cannot r e l y on cement plugs, n e i t h e r on diamond

b i t which t o t a l l y f a i l e d nor on turbines.

-
new s p e c i f i c a t i o n s as t o tubular, w e l l heads, BOP'S and p a r t i c u l a r i t y s e a l
requirements and i n s p e c t i o n a r e u r g e n t l y needed f o r h i g h temperature operation.

- chemical composition and a g r e s s i v i t y o f i n j e c t e d waters should be c a r e f u l l y

t e s t e d w i t h respect t o s t r e s s corrosion.

I n c i d e n t a l l y t h i s d r i l l i n g t r i g g e r e d two research p r o j e c t s , adressing,(i)

t h e design and t e s t i n g of a mechanical device t o beat l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n i n e x t e n s i -
v e l y f r a c t u r e d media and,(ii) -
t h e implementation o f l i g h t weight ( d .C 1.5) geo-
t herma 1 cement s l u r r i e s .

The San V i t o W e l l (1)

--------_--_-----
T h i s e x p l o r a t o r y h o l e d r i l l e d by AGIP, operator o f an EMEL-AGIP j o i n t venture,
w i t h an I D E C O super 711 r i g , i s a good example o f t h e problems encountered w h i l e
d r i l l i n g i n a v e r y h i g h temperature v o l c a n i c environment, which r e q u i r e d two major
instrumentations.

D r i l l i n g o f t h e upper ;!OOO meters proved r e l a t i easy as i t b e n e f i t e d from

t h e experience a c q u i r e d w h i l e d r i l l i n g t h e t h r e e p r e v i o u s w e l l s a t Mofete (see
l o c a t i o n i n Fig. 111,sunk a t s i m i l a r depths. I n p a r t i c u l a r , i t can be n o t i c e d from
Fig. 12 t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l s e t o f w i r e l i n e logs c o u l d be run down t o 2200 m, by

A f i r s t f i s h i n g j o b was attempted a t a depth o f 2330 m (see Fig. 13) t o reco-

ver t h e bottom h o l e as bly. A f t e r s e v e r a l unsuccessful t r i a l s t h e f i s h i s aban-
doned down hole.

The w e l l i s then s i d e t r a c e open h o l e section,just below t h e 9" S / 8

casing shoe (Fig. 13). D r i l l i n g n t i n u e s down t o 2488 m.. Here,further t o t h e stop-
p i n g o f c i r c u l a t i o n , t h e mud i s g e l l e d and coagulates. The r e l e a s e o f t h e assembly
i s attempted by sending a 0 1" 112 s c a l l o p gun down t h e s t r i n g t o p e r f o r a t e and
r e e s t a b l i s h c i r c u l a t i o n . I t f a i l s because t h e h i g h temperatures b u i l d i n g up i n h o l e
decompose t h e e x p l o s i v e charge. A second t r i a l w i t h a c o i l e d t u b i n g (0 22 mm) a l s o

ufaiLs=
5-11
 Again,the bottom h o l e assembly i s l e f t down h o l e and a back-off i s planned i n a
shallower h o r i z o n (2013 m, some 30 m above t h e 9" 5/8 casing shoe) where lower
f o r m a t i o n temperature c o u l d secure t h e operation. The j o b succeeds and t h e assembly
LJ
i s released b u t 395 m of 0 6" 3 / 4 d r i l l c o l l a r s remain a t bottom hole.

A second s i d e t r a c k i s completedby m i l l i n g t h e 9" 5 / 8 casing,over a l e n g t h o f

25 m (between 2025 and 2050 m, Fig. 1 2 1 , u t i l i s i n g a p o s i t i v e displacement motor and
a l o 30" bent sub. A f t e r 5 days of o p e r a t i o n d r i l l i n g resumes and progresses down
t o 2500 m where t h e 7" s l o t t e d l i n e r i s set. D r i l l i n g continues i n 0 6" t o 3045 m
(TD). A d e v i a t i o n o f 50 i s measured, t h e r e t u r n mud temperature b e i n g s t a b i l i s e d a t
1oooc .
Bottom h o l e temperatures were recorded on an Amerada gauge a t 2500 m and
reached 301OC a f t e r 43 hours. A t t o t a l depth, a f t e r one week, BHT c o u l d n o t be
measured anymore w i t h standard equipment and a temperature o f 419OC was i n f e r r e d from
t h e m e l t i n g o f a z i n c sample.

The w e l l was then k i l l e d a f t e r a s h o r t p r o d u c t i o n t e s t showed r a p i d i n c r e a s e s

i n temperature a t t h e w e l l head, n o t r a t e d f o r temperatures i n excess o f 300OC.
A new w e l l head i s being designed t o cope w i t h temperatures o f 400% and pressures
of 220 bars and a l s o t h e presence o f COz. Environmental c o n s i d e r a t i o n s the well -
i s d r i l l e d i n an a c t i v e v o l c a n i c and occasionaly densely p o p u l a t e d area - require
d r a s t i c s a f e t y and m o n i t o r i n g r e g u l a t i o n s b e f o r e any p r o d u c t i o n t e s t be undertaken.
There a r e a l s o s t r o n g e x p e c t a t i o n s t h a t t h e geothermal f l u i d i s i n a s u p e r c r i t i c a l
s t a t e which has obvious i m p l i c a t i o n s on b o t h p r o d u c t i o n and r e s e r v o i r physics.

Experience gained d u r i n g d r i l l i n g can be summarized as f o l l o w s :

-
i mud can be used as a d r i l l i n g f l u i d p r o v i d e d i t i s designed f o r h i g h
temperature usage.

-
ii a t San Vito, muds contained a t t a p u l g i t e ( o r s e p i o l i t d suspended i n a polymer
s o l u t i o n w i t h K C l as a s w e l l i n g i n h i b i t o r i n a t u f f a c e o u s a l k a l i n e r o c k context.

-
iii mud d e n s i t y ought t o be increased and kept as c l o s e as p o s s i b l e t o t h e
1.35 target, t a k i n g i n t o account losses.

iv -
keeping t h e mud below 100°C, and p r e f e r a b l y around 90OC,is e s s e n t i a l . I t
i s achieved by r a p i d c i r c u l a t i o n and by a c o o l i n g f a c i l i t y (tower) a t surface.

v - l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n s , a f t e r deduction o f evaporation losses o c c u r i n g i n t h e

c o o l i n g tower, must be c a r e f u l l y monitored anclwhenever t h e y exceed t h e 2 m3/h
t h r e s h o l a a cement p l u g i s t o be s e t down hole.

vi - i t i s necessary, by a l l a v a i l a b l e means, t o s h o r t e n i n t e r r u p t i o n s o f
c i r c u l a t i o n and t o c a r r y o u t p a r t i a l c i r c u l a t i o n d u r i n g manoeuvers.

vii - u t i l i s a t i o n o f jars, bumper subs and f l o a t v a l v e s above t h e t o o l a r e

s t r o n g l y recommanded t o a v o i d s t i c k i n g .

viii - stabilised r o t a r y bottom h o l e assemblies a r e necessary.

ix - p e r i o d i c a l cleaning o f d r i l l p i p e i s mandatory t o o p t i m i z e c i r c u l a t i o n . LJ

5-12
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
W T h i s work forms p a r t o f t h e f i r s t and second R 8 D programmes on a l t e r n a t i v e
energy sources (subprogramme Geothermal Energy) sponsored by t h e Commission o f t h e
European Communi.ties, D i r e c t o r a t e G e n e r a l . f o r Research, Science and Education.

The a u t h o r s a r e indebted t o t h e Geothermal d i v i s i o n s o f EF!EL (UNG), A G I P SpA.,

BRGM, Geoservices H y d r o l o g i e and E l f - A q u i t a i n e and i n p a r t i c u l a r t o M r Messeti,
Concas, Gimenez, Leandri, Munier J o l a i n and V a t h a i r e f o r s t i m u l a t i n g d i s c u s s i o n s
on v a r i o u s aspects o f geothermal d r i l l i n g and production.

REFERENCES

'AGXP S.p.A., 1980. Mofete 1 and 2 wells. F i n a l Report, San Donato Milanese,
30 June, 1980. EC c o n t r a c t GE 01/79, 23 p., 15 fig., 9 tab.

2Baron, G., 1980. Commentaires sur l e Forage Geothermique Sasso 22 d'Explora-

t i o n Profonde du Champ de L a r d e r e l l o . Contrat CEE 627-78 EGI. Rapports de M i s s i o n s
du 18-19/4/79 e t du 27/02/80 (Unpublished).

3 B e r t i n i , G,. G i a n e l l i , G., Giovannoni, A., Puxeddu, M., Stefani, G.C. and

Squarci, P., 1980. Deep E x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e L a r d e r e l l o F i e l d . The Sasso 22 D r i l l i n g
Venture. I n : A.S. S t r u b and P. Ungemach (Fditors), Advances i n European Geothermal
Research, R e i d e l Pub. Co., Dordrecht, pp. 303-311.

4Cataldi, C,. 1980. High Temperature D r i l l i n g and Hardware. A C o n t r i b u t i o n t o

t h e Hot Dry Rock Working Party. Commission o f t h e European Communities. Brussels,
22 May, 1980 (Unpublished).

5Cioppi, D., Ghelardoni, R. Pauci, G., Sommaruga, C. and Verdiani, G,. 1980.
Demonstration P r o j e c t . E v a l u a t i o n o f t h e Mofete High Enthalpy R e s e r v o i r (Phlegreaen
Fields). I n : A.S. Strub and P. Ungemach (Editors), Advances i n European Geothermal
Research, R e i d e l Pub. Co., Dordrecht, pp. 291-302.

6Elf-Aquitaine, 1980. Rapport Technique de F i n de Sondage de Cronenbourg ( W e l l

Completion Report). Permis de Strasbourg Geothermie. M i s s i o n France, S e r v i c e Forage
MF/PRO No 80.678. Boussens, 10 October, 1980. EC c o n t r a c t 626-79-EGF.

7ENEL ( U n i t 2 N a t i o n a l e Geotermica), 1980. L a t e r a 1 E x p l o r a t o r y W e l l (Northern

Latiurn). F i n a l Report, Pisa, A p r i l , 1980. EC c o n t r a c t 571-78-1-EGI. 13 p., 7 fig.,
8 tab., 2 ann. (Well Completion Report).
8
Ungemach, P., 1980. From E x p l o r a t i o n t o P r o d u c t i o n t h e Geothermal Case, An
I n s i g h t t o t h e F i r s t R & D Programme o f t h e European Community. Paper p r e s e n t e d a t
t h e 7 t h annual meeting of t h e European Geophysical Society, Budapest, 24-29 August,
. 1980. I n press.
9
Vathaire, J.C., Garcia, C. and Bouvier, A,, 1979. Nouveaux Developpements en
MatiCre de Traitement des S o l i d e s des F l u i d e s de Forage. Forages, Revue de 1' A.E.
M.S. -I.F.P., 85 : 49-67.

5-13
 ... . . ~ - ... . . . -. ..- ~ . ~ . . .. 1 , .. .-.. -.

Table 2
Table 1 I

T y p i c a l cost f i g u r e s o f a geothermal
EC Geothermal Well Record
d i s t r i c t h e a t i n g scheme

Geothermal F i e l d s Number o f Wells Success Ratic

x Characteristics :
d r i 1l e d productive -
t a l depth : 125 m3lh
1800 m (2 v e r t i c a l holes)
Temperature above 15OoC :
aoduction r a t e :
,ttom h o l e temperature : 94 oc
-I-t LaL aal yrr dd ee rr eelllloo (1904-1976) 513 338 66 rat l o a d :
i l savings :
2000 e q u i v a l e n t dwellings,
2500 TOE'S y e a r l y
each 185 m3 ' .

-- Monte (1976-1978)
Amiata, P i a n Castagnaio
66
63
39
33
38
20
50
60
51
, t a l c o s t (1981) : 6 m i l l i o n US S

-- Travale, Radicondoli
T o r r e A l f i n a , Cesano, Vico, L a t e r a 19
7
10
5
53
71
- Vulcano, Sciacca, Mofete, San V i t o
Viterbo, Campi Flegrei, I s c h i a (1940-1960) 105 5 5 Breakdown o f c o s t s :

Greece
cost (1,000 us $1 x
-
- Milos 2 2 100
rilling 1380 23
T o t a l High Enthalpy 814 45 1 55
roducts, services 450 7.5

mer 150 2.5

Temperature below 150°C(*)
ubulars, w e l l heads, p r i m a r y c i r c u i t p i p i n g 1140 19
France
- P a r i s Basin 18 17 94
- Aquitaine 7 6 86 umping (production, reinjection, feed) 240 4
- Limagne 1 0 0
- Rhine Graben 1 1 100 rocess engineering 360 6

o t a l s u b s o i l investment 3720 62
Germany
- Rhine Graben 1 0 0
u r f a c e equipment
(*) 360 6
Denmark tiping 1440 24
- Danish B a s i n 1 0 0

Belgium
- Hainault 2 2 100
: o n s u l t i n g fees -
480 -8

Total 6000 100

Italy
- Po V a l l e y 1 0 0

U n i t e d Kingdom Ratios :
- Wessex B a s i n
_c_

1 1 100
sayback t i m e : 13 years
?ate o f r e t u r n : 8.5 X
T o t a l Lou Enthalpy 33 27 82
- Grand T o t a l 847 478 56
(*I T i t a n e p l a t e heat exchanger and degassing unit
(*I i n c l u d i n g r e i n j e c t i o n w e l l s and w i l d c a t s

6
 Legend

1
o w ma m a moa-

P a r i s Basin
-
2
- __
Aquitaine Basin
3 Bas-Qhhe Langucdoc
.I PO V a l l e y
5 Wcssex Basin
6 East Yoikshire Basin
.7 Northern I r e l a n d Basins
8 Alpine Forcdecp
9 Northern Germany,
Munstcr land, Net her land’ Basins
0 Danish Embayme&
1 Limagnc
2 Rhane R i f t V a l l e y ’
3 Rhinc Graben
4 Campldana Crdben
6 Centrat Turerny
Northern Latium
7
* tampania
E o l i a n Arc

Figure 1 - An o u t l i n e o f EC geothermalresource status.

Reservoir temperature range a t depths varying from 1 t o 3.5 km
( a f t e r Sommaruga and Haenel)

5-15
 i
3 0
c,c,
L
0 0
QaJ
act
I
M
Q,
L
3
. .
tJ,
.I-
LL
.
n
v)
0 aJ
L
0 % 3
.
f c,
Q m
m L
E aJ
Q
C E
.
0 0,
e
a
0

. 0
*E .
c)
j0 .
e
N
0,
0
..
 I I

Silex chalk

Grey c h a l k U P P E R

v
C R E T A C E o u

so0
I
CENOMANIAN I
I
Marly chalk

L O Y E R
C R E T A C E O U

PURBLCKIAN
PORTLANDIAN A l t t r M t i n 9 1i m e s t o n e
marts a n d s a n d s t o n e
KIMMERIDGIAN

4--
I 71
.? 1y

-=
. ....,.:.,
-:.---;---=E..
-0 8 a..O O--.,
, A;r.-r:
-6:.
* -rr.t..
ar.

L<
- OXfOPDIAtl

CALLOVI AN
SATHONIAN
IMJOCIAN
io1 AALEMIAN
L i m y s e r i e uith
interbedded marl

Black marl

Marts: O o l i t i c reference
G r a v e t l y and o o l i t i c l i m e s t o n e

Zoogenic m a r l
M A L M

O O G G E R

L I A S
SINERUR IAN
-__ -
HETTANCIAN A l t e r n a t i n g m a r l and d o l o m i t e
-._ -
RHETIC Clayey sandstone
T R I A S
Fine g r a i n e d s a n d s t o n e a d

-conglorerate

Schist C A L L O f O I C
-... -I II

v1
I
Fig. 4 - MD ruilltli i na gq uand
i f e r reconnaissance.
w e l l design
Fig. 5 - Synthetic lithostratigraphic log i n the
centre of t h e P a r i s Basin
P
4 ( a f t e r Geoservices Hydrologie)
 ralld pumpln9 t o waste
cuttlnpr cleaner c i r c u l a t ion fluids

t touardr
sepa r a t o r
d s d l i n g on i n c l l n e d concrete p 3 t
concrete s l a b
I I

B e n t o n i t i c mud
O i l based mud

Fig. 6 - Borehole geometry. Comparison between Fig. 7 - S i m p l i f i e d mud c i r c u i t ( a f t e r Vathaire e t a l l

two geothermal w e l l bores d r i l l e d w i t h
a c o n v e n t i o n a l b e n t o n i t i c an4 o i l based
muds ( a f t e r Geoservices Hydrologie)
c
n
4.

‘p
oa
. , . ...
 0
II '
4
2

1000 "

13'

2000 "

3000 _.

4000 .'

1) Fmcenic Ligurian Nappe:flysch sequence of shaley and sandy sedi-

ments. 2)Oligocenic sandstone( 'macigno') .3)Stratified cherty lime-
stone.4)Massive limestone. 5)Marly dolostone. 6)Carbonate and anhy-
drite (Eurano Formation). 3) to 6) are of Mesozoic age. 2)to 6)
belong to the Tuscan Nappe. 7) Trias,sic slightly metamorphic quartz
pebble conglomerate and coarse quartz-arenite (basal levels of the
.
%can Verrucano) 8)Quartzite ,phyllite,metagreywacke,metabsite of
Lower Paleozoic'Filladi inferiori'Group. 9)Garnet-bearing plagio-
clase micaschist (Lower Paleozoic-Pre-Cambr ian?) 1O)Fine-grained.
-
meisses and thin interbedded amphibolite levels (Lower Paleozoic-
Pre-Cambrian?) .
Recessed sonic log on th right refers to the interval 1600-2900 m
of the basement. 11) Higher permeability horizons.

Fig. 9 - Well Sasso 22. L i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h i c , sonic and t e m p e r a t u r e l o g s

( a f t e r ENEL)
i
n f
c
5-21
 P
S
L'
0
L
n
Q
6
w
Ea
"I
:
5-22
. .