Drifting Cement Plugs for Geothermal Wells
- Key words
- Cement plug; balanced plug; drift plug; geothermal cementing; lost circulation
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2012
- Session
- Lost circulation plugs
- Language
- English
Abstract
Typical geothermal formations are highly fractured or poorly consolidated; these conditions inherently lead to lost circulation. When losses occur, lost circulation material is typically applied first, followed by cement plugs. Cement plugs may be used to seal lost circulation zones, allowing drilling to continue through and below the loss zone with good returns to surface. Innovative drift plug technologies may be used in place of conventional balanced plug methods, achieving better results in severe loss zones.
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