The Use of Beta-C Titanium for Downhole Production Casing in Geothermal Wells
- Key words
- Drilling; Brine Technology; Production; Well Completion; USA; California; Imperial; Salton Sea; Casing; Failures; Grades; Corrosion; Chemical Analysis; Composition; Chemistry; Brine; Carbon Dioxide; Hydrogen Sulfide; Metallurgy; Well Casing
- Location
- Salton Sea, California; Imperial Valley
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1988
- Session
- Well casing; Corrosion; Titanium; Durability testing; Econom
- Language
- English
Abstract
The hot, hypersaline brines of the Salton Sea geothermal field contain vast amounts of recoverable energy. However, conventional carbon steel tubulars have been corroded in these brines at rates greater than 1000 mpy. This severe corrosion has been a major impediment to development of the field. Field testing of both coupons and full size tubulars since 1983 has shown that Beta-C titanium is immune to corrosion and resistant to hydriding in these geothermal brines. A manufacturing procedure has been developed to produce thin wall Beta-C titanium in Range III lengths with yield strength greater than 100 ksi and diameters larger than 8-5/8". Although special consideration must be given to titanium casing string, Beta-C titanium completions are a cost-effective option for geothermal production wells in the Salton Sea field.
Copyright 1988, Geothermal Resources Council. Readers who download papers from this site should honour the copyright of the original authors, and may not copy or distribute the work further without the permission of the original publisher.